Why Alcohol Frequently Triggers a Migraine

12 Feb Why Alcohol Frequently Triggers a Migraine

As long as you don’t eat meals containing other triggers, this is one of the best things you can do. Try to stick to just a glass or two and eat enough for the food to soak up some of that alcohol. On the other hand, there are many foods such as dried fruits, chips, raisins, soy sauce, pickles and juice fruits containing concentration of sulphites even ten times higher than that of wine.

That’s why many have tried to take control of their headaches by tracking triggers in a journal or one of many available apps. Though research is sparse, many find their symptoms heightened after consuming caffeine— although some find it helps stop their migraines. Changes in air pressure, foods containing MSG or histamine, have also been known to cause migraines, as well as simply not drinking enough water. Hangover headaches are one of the most common effects of alcohol.

Caffeine and Headaches

People who suffer from migraine are more prone to these reactions — even after drinking less alcohol than people who don’t get migraine headaches. Alcohol is identified as an occasional trigger in about a third of people who experience migraine headaches, but it’s only a consistent trigger in about 10 percent of migraine sufferers. In a forward-looking study published in 2007, Austrian researchers examined a large number of factors related to migraine. After an advanced data analysis, they found limited importance of nutrition, including alcoholic beverages in the precipitation of migraine. This work considered alcohol and other nutritional factors taken the day before onset of headache.

The fundamental question still remains to be made definitely clear. Is alcohol or another component of the drink does alcohol cause migraines responsible for triggering headache? To provoke a migraine attack a combination of factors may be necessary.

Conflicting evidence about alcohol and migraines

But there are a few secrets to consuming alcohol without the alcohol-induced headache. I realized that if I drink one glass of beer after I notice the pain, it helps me relax and even reduces the feelings of pressure in my head. But chances are, your migraines aren’t really stemming from sulfites. It is one possibility, but researchers have found that less than 1% of the U.S. population actually has a sulfite sensitivity. You might see more congeners in darker alcohol, such as red wine, rum, or brandy. I admire their ability to function despite the pain, & other symptoms that may accompany migraines.

When enjoying a night out on the town, there are several triggers you may expose yourself to including bright flashing lights, loud music, food and alcohol. A slice of cheesecake or pizza can do far more damage for some people than others. Wine and other grape products have been shown to have an endothelium-dependent vaso-relaxing activity, probably via nitric oxide -mediated pathway; ethanol and resveratrol cause no relaxation . Alcohol-free red wine polyphenol extract increases endothelial NO release . However in vivo studies show that only the ingestion of red wine with alcohol, but not of dealcoholized red wine, provokes arterial dilatation and thus the effect of wine is due to ethanol . Also oral intake of pure alcohol produces significant vasodilatation in man . The principal substances of the alcoholic drinks thought to be involved in headache provoked by alcoholic drinks are successively discussed.

How Long Does It Take for Alcohol to Trigger a Migraine?

Gatorade or other fitness drinks may be better than water alone, but there is no scientific proof. A chemical called N-acetyl-cysteine may be useful in detoxifying the body from acetaldehyde buildup, but this too is an unproven treatment. Light exercise may be helpful, provided you stay well-hydrated. Many other possible causes of migraine headaches have been found, including feeling tired or tense, stress, changes in the weather or atmospheric conditions, and certain foods and drinks. It makes sense, then, to think about how the use of alcohol may play a role in the development of migraines. Put a cork in it.Even people who are not prone to headaches will get a headache after a night of heavy alcohol consumption.

If vasodilatation is not responsible for alcohol-related headache, what other explanations might explain this effect? Perhaps an action on nerve transmitters involved in central pain control is responsible. Population surveys show that illicit/recreational drugs such as MDMA/ecstasy and ‘party pill’ BZP/TFMPP , both serotonin or 5-HT releasing drugs, provoke headache in a high percentage of users. Young adults use recreational drugs very commonly in combination with alcohol (90%). Controlled studies show that BZP/TFMPP provoke headache/migraine in 2/3 of subjects.

How do I advise my patients to avoid an alcohol-induced headache?

Wine, in particular, has been linked to headaches dating back to antiquity. Despite this common belief, there is little scientific evidence to suggest that wine is more likely to trigger a headachefrom drinking than another type of alcohol. A 2014 study found https://ecosoberhouse.com/ that alcohol-triggered migraines can set in within just a few hours. In the study, participants who drank 300 milliliters of red wine developed a migraine within 30 minutes to 3 hours. For example, one medication used to treat migraines is gabapentin.