Can Alcohol Trigger Migraine Attacks?

03 Apr Can Alcohol Trigger Migraine Attacks?

In a survey of college students who drank, 57% reported eating something they were “craving” after consumption. But the next day, that greasy meal they enjoyed can become a source of anxiety. While dehydration does not cause anxiety, these conditions are related. Its main limitation is the fact that its data is based solely on self-reported questionnaires. Migraine diagnosis was based on these questionnaires and the students were not examined by a neurologist. A recall bias may be present regarding hangover symptomatology during the last year.

Poor Food Choices

A 2022 study in people with migraine, however, found that drinking alcohol didn’t affect the probability of a migraine attack 24 hours after drinking. Distribution of daily alcoholic beverages consumption (total daily quantity and by type of alcoholic drink), for all person‐days, within‐person means, and within‐person SDs. In addition to red wine, other alcoholic beverages, including beer, white wine, and liqueur, have also been reported as headache triggers. The similarity between the symptomatology of these two common disorders, migraine and hangover, has led us to compare alcohol hangover symptoms in migraine sufferers and nonsufferers. We hypothesized that migraine sufferers are more susceptible to specific aspects of the hangover symptomatology complex, namely those that are similar to the migraine attack.

The study also found that it was the ethanol consumption that was responsible for a majority of the hangover symptoms. If both stress and alcohol are migraine triggers for you, combining them won’t do you any favors. In addition to this, people are sometimes more likely to drink more when they are feeling stressed and a little reckless.

Additives in different types of alcohol

• If your support system is lacking, consider joining a support group.
• Include how you felt the prior 48 hours as well as any stress or anxiety you were under at the time.
• Genes that play a role in opioid, serotonin, and dopamine systems also influence alcohol sensitivity.
• Whether alcohol acts as a trigger is really a case-by-case basis for people with migraine.

“Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMD) is the medical term for pain in the temporomandibular joint (commonly called TMJ).” Other symptoms may include jaw pain and cracked or chipped teeth. It’s not unusual for someone to wake up after a night of drinking feeling social embarrassment and regret. Some of the main effects of alcohol intoxication involve disinhibition, increased impulsivity (loss of self-control), and behaviors focusing on current thoughts, feelings, or emotions without regard for social norms.

Of the studies included in our analysis, 19 were based only on questionnaires while five included interviews with patients. However, these limitations are to some extent discounted by the number of studies included and the cultural diversity of participants. There were a total of 2990 embedded missing days (2990/46,820, 6.4%) resulting in 43,830 days (90 for each individual) eligible for analysis. Migraine days after the first day of attack (3665 migraine days) were removed from the models, leading to a dataset with 40,165 diary entries. A total of 32,911 complete cases including 4679 migraine attacks were analyzed.

Subjects were classified as suffering from migraine with or without aura and nonsufferers according the International Classification of Headache Disorders 2nd Edition (ICHD-II). The 13 hangover symptoms were divided by the researches into migraine-like and other nonmigraine-like symptoms. She specializes in patient-centered care, expert diagnostics, and interdisciplinary treatment. She translates complex neurological issues into clear concepts, empowering patients along every step of their healthcare journey. In that case, people try a variety of things to give them relief. Usually, most patients find that laying down in a dark and quiet room is helpful.

• Moreover, certain foods can cause inflammation in the body, leading to heightened sensitivity and increased likelihood of a migraine.
• And though the immediate effects might lessen some of the worry or dread you feel, this change is short-term, and the long-term consequences can make matters worse.
• The quality of the alcohol consumed may be a factor in whether it triggers a headache.
• Mocktails are easier to find these days; you can always lean on them.

Study characteristics

Drinking alcohol triggers the hormone vasopressin, which regulates your body’s water and salt levels. It signals the kidneys to take in more fluid and produce urine, increasing how much you urinate (pee). Alcohol delays and suppresses or limits rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and may cause you to wake up, resulting in poor-quality, lighter sleep and less time in restorative deep sleep. As the alcohol is metabolized and wears off, your brain works to restore chemical balance. It lowers levels of GABA—making you feel less calm—and boosts glutamate, which increases anxiety. Perhaps inflammatory mechanisms and the known vasodilatatoric effect of alcohol are the link between hangover and migraine.

Waking Up With Headaches? Experts Reveal the Causes and How to Prevent Head Pain in the Morning

And for about one-third of people who have migraines, alcohol is also a trigger. In addition to headaches, common symptoms include daytime sleepiness, fatigue, irritability, trouble thinking, focusing and remembering and slowed reaction times. You may also notice signs of poor sleep hygiene such as frequent trouble falling and staying asleep through the night.

Unfortunately, this may lead to inflammation throughout the body, which can trigger migraines in some people. Migraine is a symptom of an underlying condition, and one of the elements of a migraine is a headache. A migraine is headache with other symptoms such as sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, vomiting, aura and more. We know that if we treat the underlying cause, we can make great strides in helping migraine patients live pain-free. People who cannot stop drinking should talk with a doctor about treatment for alcohol use disorder, which is a serious but treatable condition. People who get hangovers that trigger a migraine may also wish to avoid alcohol with high levels of congeners.

But now, a new prospective cohort study suggests that alcohol may be less important as a trigger factor than previously assumed. This information is not designed to replace a physician’s independent judgment about the appropriateness or risks of a procedure for a given patient. Migraine.com does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Use of the site is conditional upon your acceptance of our terms of use. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Should you eat or avoid certain foods to prevent migraine attacks? Learn how to make healthy nutritional and dietary choices while managing migraine symptoms. While anyone can experience DAIH, people with migraine are more susceptible. Even a modest amount of alcohol can cause people with migraine to develop a delayed headache or trigger an attack. In a 2007 study, Austrian researchers examined a number of factors related to migraine, specifically considering consumption of alcohol and other nutritional factors the day before the onset of a headache. They found limited importance of nutrition, including alcohol intake, in the triggering of migraine.

Migraine attacks can be debilitating, and most people who experience them will do anything to find relief. Avoiding personally known triggers can be a useful way to reduce the number of potential attacks. Alcohol is a common trigger for migraine attacks, but some types may be less likely to cause problems than others. Let’s explore the best and worst types of alcohol for people with migraine. Quantity is definitely a factor in whether drinking alcohol will trigger a headache, and the quality of alcohol probably plays a role as well.

However, a headache after drinking will usually resolve itself over time. Other criteria for a person to have a migraine diagnosis include nausea or vomiting and sensitivity to light or noise. 2020 research shows that females are more likely to experience hangovers, memory problems, and liver disease from consuming alcohol. In a 2017 study, researchers found that people of East Asian ancestry drink less than members of other groups.

People who get migraine attacks during or after drinking should consider reducing or eliminating alcohol. If they find this too challenging, they may have alcohol use disorder, which warrants treatment. To prevent an alcohol-related migraine headache, try sipping your drink slowly or avoiding triggers.

Still, in population-based studies in various countries, including the U.S., Japan and Italy, researchers found that fewer people with migraine consume alcohol than those without migraine. This indicates that people with migraine and other headache diseases may be more likely to give up alcohol because they perceive it as a possible migraine trigger. Migraines affect millions of people worldwide, often causing debilitating pain that impacts daily life. While various factors can trigger these intense headaches, diet plays a pivotal role in many individuals’ migraine experiences. Understanding which foods can cause migraines is essential for anyone looking to manage or alleviate their symptoms.

“Studies have shown that if you normally drink two cups of coffee per day, and on one day, you drink four or five cups of coffee, then you’re more likely to have a migraine,” he says. When it comes to headaches, “caffeine is a two-edged sword,” says Martin, who is also president of the National Headache Foundation. If you have a bad migraine, alcohol triggers migraines a stiff cup of coffee or other caffeinated beverage may actually help your headache. In fact, many over-the-counter analgesic medications, such as Excedrin, contain caffeine along with the pain-relieving ingredient. Other supplements like riboflavin (Vitamin B2) and coenzyme Q10 have shown promise in reducing the frequency of migraines as well.

If you have any questions or concerns, please talk to your doctor. Tannins are naturally occurring compounds (called polyphenols) found in grapes, certain fruit juices, and beer. People who suffer with cluster headaches are particularly sensitive to dark beers, according to Dr. Aurora. Those who are triggered by alcohol usually feel the attack coming on within a few hours, although some reported that the next day was when they felt it. Different types of alcohol are made through a fermentation process. Alcohols like gin and vodka are fermented first from a mash of foods that contain starch and sugar.