Avoiding alcohol isn’t the only way to avoid an alcohol-related migraine headache. There are some health benefits to moderate alcohol consumption, but the key is knowing what types of alcohol cause your headaches, in what amounts, and what other factors might be involved. The mechanism through which alcohol can trigger these distinct headache disorders is not well understood. A cocktail headache is a headache that occurs within as little as three hours after drinking alcohol.

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If you’re unsure whether alcohol is triggering your migraine, keep a detailed migraine journal that includes any foods and alcohol consumed throughout the week. This will be a valuable resource for you and your doctor to start identifying more specific migraine triggers. One of the reasons certain types of alcohol may be more likely to trigger migraine attacks is the presence of congeners. These are by-products of the fermentation process, and they’re found in higher concentrations in dark liquors. Congeners can also include chemicals like histamine, which can trigger migraine attacks and headaches. Remember, everyone’s experience with migraine and migraine triggers is different.

How Alcohol Affects Your Eyes

You can take your diary to your doctor and they’ll help you work out what might be triggering your attacks. If you experience migraine headaches after drinking alcohol, it may be best to avoid alcohol. Talk with a doctor about ways to identify your migraine triggers and what to do if you develop these headaches. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ In a 2018 study involving 2,197 people with migraine, 25% of the participants who had stopped or always avoided drinking did so because alcohol triggered migraine attacks. More than a third of the participants said that alcohol had this effect, with about 78% naming red wine as the most common alcohol trigger.

More on Migraine & Headaches

But if you are a heavy drinker—which means consuming alcohol more than a few times per week or binge drinking—you will likely experience health issues as a result. It is hard to predict whether you will develop effects that harm your liver, heart, nerves, or eyes, and you can experience a combination of these. If you drink excessively, be sure to see a healthcare professional so you can get help cutting down before the effects on your health get worse.

• Health Union reaches millions of people through condition-specific online health communities and a Social Health Network of patient leaders across virtually all health conditions.
• About two-thirds of people who drink alcohol develop these headaches.
• Then consider joining the Move Against Migraine support group on Facebook so you can connect with others who live with migraine.

But now, a new prospective cohort study suggests that alcohol may be less important as a trigger factor than previously assumed. People can talk with their doctors about possible methods to prevent or ease alcohol-induced headaches. Research still needs to determine which remedy is most effective. However, a headache after drinking will usually resolve itself over time. Migraine is more common, affecting around 12% of people in the United States. For example, on average, females tend to weigh less than males.

The alcohol in the blood increases more quickly with liquor than with beer. For example, if a person drinks liquor before beer, they are likely to feel the effects of the alcohol sooner. 2021 research also linked lifestyle alcohol and headaches factors with alcohol drinking and smoking to cluster headaches and their severity. 2020 research shows that females are more likely to experience hangovers, memory problems, and liver disease from consuming alcohol.

Alcohol and headaches

The most severe migraine attacks may last up to 3 days and make it impossible to do anything. This prospective study looked at migraine diaries spanning up to 90 days. Wine, beer, and spirits did not elevate the risk of migraine with aura, but sparkling wine did.

Why Does One Beer Give Me a Headache?

The most common symptom of migraine is the intense throbbing head pain. This pain can be so severe that it interferes with your day-to-day activities. It can also be accompanied by nausea and vomiting, as well as sensitivity to light and sound. However, a migraine can look very different from one person to another.

There have been several proposed explanations for how alcohol causes headaches. Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Keep reading to learn more about the connection between migraine and headache. Consider these complementary and integrative treatments, and search our Resources Library for more. Some tests can be performed by a doctor to rule out other causes of neurologic symptoms. Fetal alcohol syndrome can occur when a person is exposed to alcohol before birth.