So, the question of who is drinking more with a primary headache is still to be addressed. Additionally, only a few of the studies divided participants into migraine with and without aura. Therefore, there was insufficient data to analyze the relationship between alcohol and aura, and the data that does exist is inconsistent 65, 86. As mentioned in the discussion above, alcohol consumption assessment is strongly based on patients’ honesty. If there is misleading data in questionnaires or during medical interviews, their overall subsequent analysis is also distorted. The relatively low number of cluster-headache studies also does not allow an assessment of any correlation with alcohol drinking.
Top 10 Migraine Triggers and How to Deal with Them
Whether or not alcohol is a migraine headache trigger is debatable. While some people do experience migraine headaches after drinking alcohol, not everyone does. Nausea and/or vomiting is just one of many symptoms a person living with migraine might experience. Because migraine is a highly nuanced disease, it is important to learn about all possible symptoms that may appear before, during or after a migraine attack, including less common ones such as aura. Always drink responsibly—which includes minimizing the chances that alcohol will affect your migraine. Current medical opinions on alcohol consumption are evolving with research, so it’s important to educate yourself on the effects of alcohol on your health.
- Some have infrequent attacks, but others may have frequent disabling attacks.
- Some studies on the alcohol habits in migraine patients show a low percentage of drinkers in migraine patients.
- However, a few negative experiences cannot justify the media and scientific information on alcohol as a major headache trigger and the suggestion of abstinence.
Make yourself a signs you were roofied top priority when you’re having a migraine attack and reduce the likelihood of attacks through lifestyle adjustments. Have a consistent schedule, get adequate sleep, and learn strategies to cope with the stresses of life using mindfulness and meditation. Empower yourself to manage migraine with lifestyle changes and migraine specific treatment options. Together you and your doctor can manage the disease of migraine.
If you notice consistent patterns, then chances are it’s the alcohol that’s causing your migraine headache. Alcohol has different effects on the body depending on when you drink it. These are called immediate and delayed alcohol-induced headaches. People who cannot stop drinking should talk with a doctor about treatment for alcohol use disorder, which is a serious but treatable condition. We recommend taking a look at our patient guides, which include useful information like how to talk to your doctor about migraine.
Feel like you should be drinking less? Start here
You might have tried some alternative therapies, but did you know about these complementary and integrative treatments? For more information on alternative migraine treatments, visit our Resource Library. 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.
Can Chia Seeds Trigger Migraine Attacks?
Talk with a doctor about ways to identify your migraine triggers and what to do if you develop these headaches. Researchers don’t know exactly what causes alcohol-induced migraine attacks. While in some cases it is likely the presence of alcohol itself, it is also possible that specific components of different alcoholic drinks act as triggers. Much like food triggers for migraine, people may have a higher sensitivity to certain organic components commonly found in alcoholic drinks.
Meaning if a parent has migraine, there’s about a 50 percent chance that a child may develop migraine as well. 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.
Migraine vs. Headache: What’s the Difference?
They’re usually visual but can also include other disturbances. Each symptom usually begins gradually, builds up over several minutes and can last up to 60 minutes. In 2022, experts from Stanford University explained that before dietary interventions can be recommended bigger studies are required. Sulphites could trigger headache through the release of histamine, as they cause symptoms only during a period of enhanced histamine sensitivity 51. Certain additives can increase the chance of developing a headache after drinking. People prone to headaches may be at a higher risk of experiencing alcohol-related headaches.
Recent studies show that alcohol acts as a trigger at least occasionally in a percentage similar to that of the previous studies (37%), but as a frequent/consistent trigger in only 10% of the patients 22,24. Curiously, in some countries, the percentages of alcohol or wine as migraine triggers were negligible, 6.1 25 and 1.4% 26, perhaps depending on the degree of alcohol habits. In this article, we’ll consider research on the potential effects of alcohol on your migraine symptoms and treatment. Ultimately, the decision of whether or not to consume alcoholic drinks is up to you. However, knowing the effects alcohol may have on your body and migraine attacks could help you make up your mind.