They are found in both red and white wine but are more concentrated in reds. Tannins are also found in other drinks such as tea, coffee, and chocolate. The astringency from tannins is what causes the dry feeling in the mouth when consuming these beverages or eating foods high in tannins, such as unripe fruit.

The link between alcohol and headaches

Alcohol reduces your levels of B vitamins, making it harder for your body to metabolize and eliminate alcohol. Figure 2 shows data on two individuals selected at random among those who tracked more than 600 days. Although alcohol has long been suspected to be a common migraine trigger, studies have been inconclusive in proving this association. People who cannot stop drinking should talk with a doctor about treatment for alcohol use disorder, which is a serious but treatable condition. Brandy, red wine, and rum have the highest levels of congeners, while gin and vodka contain fewer of these chemicals. Of the 1,547 participants, 783 said that alcohol was a trigger, and 195 were not sure.

Other alcohol-related headaches

• Only few studies 46, 48,49,50, 52 provided the data about the period in which alcohol drinking was considered and measured.
• Studies show support groups play an instrumental role in helping people develop healthy social networks that result in continued sobriety.
• If you develop a cocktail headache, stop drinking alcohol and go somewhere you can rest comfortably.
• Don’t listen to all the weird, outlandish recipes that are purported to help “cure” a hangover.
• Vives-Mestres acknowledged the evidence suggesting that even low doses of alcohol can cause headache in people with migraine.

Top-shelf brands not only taste better but may also be less likely to prove a migraine trigger. I caution patients to order a specific brand of alcohol when ordering a cocktail rather than relying on well drinks or lower-quality brands. While some research shows that the correlation between migraines and alcohol-related headaches might be weaker than once stated, roughly 30% of people who experience migraines report alcohol as a trigger. If you have chronic headaches, identifying and avoiding your triggers can substantially improve your quality of life. To determine if drinking (which may have a weaker correlation with migraines than previously thought) is one of yours, it’s helpful to learn the signs of alcohol-induced headaches. Headaches are one of the most common neurological symptoms related to the sensation of pain 1 and cause a decrease in patients’ quality of life 2.

Content Types

Thirdly, certain additives in alcoholic drinks, such as histamines, tannins, and congeners, can also trigger headaches, especially if you are sensitive to them. Finally, genetic factors may also play a role, with certain genes influencing alcohol sensitivity and the likelihood of experiencing headaches after small amounts. Alcoholic drinks contain chemicals called congeners, which are byproducts of the fermentation process. alcohol headache Congeners are found in higher concentrations in darker alcohols such as red wine, brandy, and whiskey.

The brain adapts to chronic alcohol exposure by adjusting the function of alcohol in the brain. Those who drink a lot can drink more without feeling the immediate effects of drunkenness. However, this is actually a negative sign that could indicate dependency. After tolerance is developed, once alcohol is removed, the brain experiences what is called hyperexcitability. Headaches are a common consequence of this altered neurological state.

Skip the hangover recipes

• Of the studies included in our analysis, 19 were based only on questionnaires while five included interviews with patients.
• The correlation between alcohol and migraines, though, might not be as strong as once reported.
• This is especially true for people prone to headaches or migraine without alcohol.
• Therefore, there was insufficient data to analyze the relationship between alcohol and aura, and the data that does exist is inconsistent 65, 86.

Some people with migraines find that vodka and whiskey do not trigger their migraines. Vodka is often recommended as a drink that https://www.dottmauriziopiarulli.it/2021/05/25/the-emergence-role-and-impact-of-recovery-support/ is less likely to cause a hangover headache. Whiskey is also an option, as it has a lower level of sulfites, which are often a cause of headaches. However, it’s important to note that triggers are individualized, and what works for one person may not work for another. While it’s true that any alcoholic drink can trigger a headache, certain types of beer may be less likely to cause that throbbing sensation. The key here is to choose brews with lower levels of congeners—substances produced during fermentation that can contribute to headaches.

Relationship between alcohol and primary headaches: a systematic review and meta-analysis

While dehydration and vasoconstriction are part of why we feel cocktail headaches, there’s a deeper layer to the story. Alcohol influences neurotransmitters in the brain, including serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates our mood and perception of pain. Alcohol has many undesirable effects on our body, and cocktail headaches are one of those uncomfortable symptoms. Cocktail headaches Alcoholics Anonymous happen due to an interplay of different factors.

Herbal Supplements for Migraine: What to Know

• In these cases, it’s not surprising to see withdrawal last longer, and symptoms like anxiety and headaches may take more time to go away.
• This is the period in which delirium tremens is most likely to occur, which requires immediate medical attention.
• Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here.
• If you’ve ever had just one beer and got a headache not long after, you’re seeing the principles in the list above in action.

Stress can cause a spike in headaches even when alcohol or alcohol withdrawal isn’t factoring into the equation. Combine the added stress of quitting drinking with the other neurological causes of headaches during alcohol withdrawal and the severity and frequency of headaches can easily become unbearable. Stress triggers the release of cortisol and other stress hormones, which can contribute to headaches by affecting blood pressure and causing tension in the muscles surrounding the skull. When someone has been drinking regularly and chooses to quit, alcohol withdrawal can result in a series of uncomfortable symptoms, and some of them can put a person’s health at risk.