The number of drinks you have, what you are drinking, and what’s going on in your life may be the primary culprits, rather than alcohol itself. Drinking alcohol can result in several different types of headaches with unique characteristics. Research still needs to determine which remedy is most effective. However, a headache after drinking will usually resolve itself over time. A 2016 study showed that alcohol consistently induced migraine in 10% of people.
How can I reduce the risk of a migraine attack from drinking?
In spite of this, there are some people for whom combining alcohol with a tendency toward migraines. Patients often make this decision after experiencing a strong connection between alcohol and migraines firsthand. The UK Chief Medical Officers’ low risk drinking guidelines are designed to help all adults keep the health risks from drinking alcohol to a low level. Cutting back on drinking has plenty of benefits, including reducing your likelihood of getting a headache. But “cutting back” doesn’t necessarily have to mean cutting out.
Support Group: How to address anxiety while managing your drinking
Chemicals called congeners are also a component of alcoholic drinks. These chemicals may also trigger migraine headaches in certain people. If you’re prone why does alcohol give me a migraine to migraine attacks, it’s wise to avoid alcoholic beverages altogether. However, if you do drink, be sure to do so in moderation and stay hydrated.
Delayed Alcohol-Induced Headache
- Attacks can last for several hours or days after the headache stage eases.
- While some people try to prevent headaches by taking over-the-counter pain medications before drinking, this can be dangerous.
- These prescription medications differ from the omega-3 dietary supplements you find at the drugstore, which are not approved by the U.S.
Menstruation was found to increase the likelihood that food and drinks would be more likely to trigger an attack. This is linked to the threshold theory, or Bucket Theory, where a stacking of triggers will induce a migraine attack. “Alcohol consumption is one of the most common dietary triggers for migraine sufferers,” https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/alternatives-to-alcohol/ says Dr. Sara Crystal, Cove Medical Director, noting that alcohol causes two specific types of headaches. It has been suggested that a tendency to experience alcohol-induced headaches could be genetic. And researchers suggest that experiencing an unpleasant effect from drinking alcohol may alter alcohol consumption.
Will alcohol help a headache?
- Sometimes, migraines don’t plague patients until the next morning, just as their blood-alcohol content level is back to normal.
- Research has shown that adding omega-3 fatty acid medication to statins for lowering triglyceride levels can also substantially reduce the risk of stroke.
- Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions.
- In this study we focused on the role of alcohol as a potential trigger of migraine attacks within 24–48 h after consumption.