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Migraine sufferers may also experience nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound among other symptoms. To understand more about the symptoms experienced with migraine attacks, read our articles on vestibular migraine or different types of headaches. Migraine attacks can be disabling, but there are ways to manage the disease and to empower yourself to get the care and the support that you need.
After a migraine attack, you might feel drained, confused and washed out for up to a day. Hi, I’m Dr. Amaal Starling, a neurologist at Mayo Clinic specializing in headache disorders. Who gets it, the symptoms, the diagnosis, and most importantly, the treatment.
Avoiding migraine attacks when you drink
Talk to your doctor about any concerns and about whether it is safe to drink alcohol with any medications you are taking. Alcohol can trigger headaches, including migraines, cluster headaches, and tension-type headaches. In fact, around 30 percent of people who experience recurrent migraines report alcohol as a trigger. Staying hydrated and keeping alcohol consumption to a minimum can decrease the chance of experiencing a headache. Individuals who experience severe headaches after drinking alcohol may also avoid alcohol altogether. Keep a record of any symptoms that occur after consuming alcohol and discuss them with your doctor.
- Talk with a doctor about ways to identify your migraine triggers and what to do if you develop these headaches.
- Test to see if alcohol (beer, wine, clear liquors, bourbon etc.) is a trigger by consuming a modest amount and then waiting 30 minutes to 3 hours to see if a migraine attack ensues.
- These can be subtle warnings such as constipation, mood changes, food cravings, neck stiffness, increased urination, or even frequent yawning.
- Tannins give wine its astringent taste, and they can also contribute to headaches.
Then consider joining our Move Against Migraine support group on Facebook so you can connect with others who live with migraine. The American Migraine Foundation is committed to improving the lives of those living with this debilitating disease. To learn more about all of your migraine treatment options, visit the AMF Resource Library. For help finding a healthcare provider, check out our Find a Doctor tool. People who consume greater quantities of alcohol report more alcohol-related headaches, according to several studies.
Medical Professionals
Once the initial effects of alcohol wear off, our nervous system becomes overexcited, leading to anxiety. Because anxiety can trigger or worsen headaches, these two hangover symptoms are often related. https://ecosoberhouse.com/ Ethanol is also a diuretic, meaning it increases urination, which then leads to electrolyte loss and dehydration. Dehydration causes brain cells to contract temporarily, also resulting in headaches.
In fact, prospective studies report a limited importance of ADs as migraine trigger. If ADs are capable of triggering practically all primary headaches, they should act at a common pathogenetic level. The mechanisms of alcohol-provoking headache were discussed in relationship to the principal pathogenetic theories of primary headaches.
How can I treat a migraine attack from drinking?
Aim to drink plenty of water before, after, and during alcohol consumption. 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.
However, this does not mean that if you get a migraine attack, that it’s their fault, that you should feel any guilt or shame for your symptoms. Hormonal changes, specifically fluctuations and estrogen that can occur during menstrual periods, pregnancy and perimenopause can trigger a migraine attack. Other known triggers include certain medications, drinking alcohol, especially red wine, drinking too much caffeine, stress. Sleep changes, weather changes, skipping meals or even certain foods like aged cheeses and processed foods. Alcoholic drinks (ADs) have been reported as a migraine trigger in about one-third of the migraine patients in retrospective studies.
Sometimes you might get an attack because multiple triggers are working in combination. For example, you might have overslept and skipped breakfast, and be tired and stressed from a busy week at work. Adding alcohol into the mix could then tip you over the threshold for having an attack. With Christmas over and Dry January in full swing, you might be noticing differences in your migraine attacks if you’ve drunk more or less than normal recently. If there seems to be a connection between alcohol and your migraine, you’re not alone.
- These individuals commonly cite wine, especially red wine, as a migraine trigger.
- Pregnancy can add another complicated layer to your migraine journey, but having a strong support system will make it easier to navigate the ups and downs.
- The nitrates and nitrates used to preserve processed meats like salami, cold cuts, sausages, or bacon are also reportedly triggers.
People who experienced migraine with alcohol were more likely to have migraine with aura and to experience more migraine days and more frequent attacks. Always drink responsibly—which includes minimizing the chances that alcohol will affect your migraine. Current medical opinions on alcohol consumption why does alcohol give me a migraine are evolving with research, so it’s important to educate yourself on the effects of alcohol on your health. If you are struggling with alcohol abuse or other dependency issues, there are many resources that are ready to help. Alcohol’s exact role in triggering a migraine isn’t fully known.
