Best and Worst Types of Alcohol for People With Migraine

Known as congeners, they are thought by some researchers to trigger headaches – as a general rule, darker drinks tend to have more congeners. This could potentially explain why some people with migraine find they can’t drink certain darker why does alcohol give me a migraine drinks like beer or red wine, however, more research is needed to find out. 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 be hard to narrow down a single cause of a headache after drinking, and some attacks just happen without a clear cause. To determine if beer triggers an attack, allow yourself a modest https://ecosoberhouse.com/ portion, and wait between 30 minutes and 3 hours to see if you get a headache. If you regularly have signs and symptoms of migraine, keep a record of your attacks and how you treated them.

Medical Professionals

This is thought to be due to the presence of beta-phenylethylamine, an organic compound that stimulates the central nervous system and brain. There’s nothing wrong with enjoying a few drinks, but try to limit the amount of alcohol you consume on a regular basis. Beer and wine can certainly be enjoyed as a special treat, even if you think you’re sensitive to it.

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. Migraine is more common, affecting around 12% of people in the United States. While there is some research on each possible reason why alcohol causes headaches, study authors have not definitively proven the link between the two. Meanwhile, 2020 research showed that 95% of participants experienced alcohol-induced headaches. Relaxation techniques may help ease stress-related migraines, and they may make migraine episodes feel less severe when they happen.

What to know about headaches after alcohol

Learn more about the short-term and long-term effects of alcohol. If a headache persists or worsens, visit a doctor for an examination and treatment recommendations. However, the research suggests that alcohol may not be the only trigger and may also depend on other factors. Keep reading to learn more about the connection between migraine and headache. Consider joining our Move Against Migraine support group on Facebook so you can connect with others who live with migraine.

• Other types of headaches, including severe headaches, can occur as a result of alcohol consumption.
• Some studies have reported that alcohol can trigger a migraine headache in people who are sensitive to it in as little as 30 minutes — or it could take 3 hours.
• Migraine attacks can be debilitating, and most people who experience them will do anything to find relief.
• Whether you’re looking for answers for yourself or someone you love, we are here to give you the best information available.

The type of alcohol does not seem to affect whether a person gets a headache. While red wine has been described as a dominant trigger of migraines and cluster headaches, white wine, champagne, sparkling wines, and beer have also been linked to headaches. Quantity is definitely a factor in whether drinking alcohol will trigger a headache, and the quality of alcohol probably plays a role as well. We do not know for sure, though, how any specific type of alcoholic beverage will affect people with migraine. If alcohol is a confirmed trigger for your migraine, then avoiding alcohol is the best solution.

Sensitivity to specific ingredients in alcohol

If you’re interested in connecting with more people in the migraine community, we recommend joining our Facebook support group, Move Against Migraine. There, you will find a wonderful community of people who are ready to listen and lift each other up. No matter what you call it—a headache journal, migraine diary, headache tracker—keeping track of your symptoms can be a versatile tool to help better manage your health. It can help you identify patterns over time and help your doctor identify if you are experiencing migraine.

Of course, everyone is different and will have different triggers. Some people may be able to drink red wine or whiskey without any problems, while others may find that even clear liquors are problematic. Understanding certain food components of some alcoholic beverages will help you understand your choices when it comes to selecting the best alcohol to avoid migraine. One of the more interesting migraine facts is that triggers are additive.