Assessment of alcohol consumption is challenging, because the results are dependent on the patient’s honesty. Patients sometimes have a tendency not to admit their drinking habits 90. It has been proved that self-reported alcohol consumption by patients can be underestimated; therefore, more reliable methods such as toxicological hair analysis may help to provide stronger evidence 91. 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.
How to Know if You Have Migraine or Sinus Headache
Participants who registered to use alcohol and migraines the platform through physician referral, or via the website or the App Store, between October 2014 and March 2018 were eligible. If you’re a chronic migraineur who has decided to have a drink or two, a safe bet is leaving it at that. Resveratrol is a plant compound that may have some health benefits, like lowering blood pressure, though more research is needed.
What is the best alcohol for migraine sufferers?
These headaches cause very intense pain that often primarily affects the area behind one eye. More than half of those who experience cluster headaches say that alcohol is a trigger. But if you’re prone to migraine headaches, you’ll need to be careful about how much you drink. A 5-ounce glass of wine (or 12 ounces of beer or a 1.5-fluid-ounce shot) may be OK every now and then, so long as it doesn’t bring on a headache. After a night on the town, it’s easy to blame a headache on too much alcohol. But if you’re prone to migraine headaches, drinking even a small amount of alcohol can bring on an attack.
Cluster Headaches vs Migraines: Understanding the Differences
In this cross-sectional study, university students were asked to fill structured questionnaires assessing headache history, alcoholic consumption, and hangover symptoms (using the Hangover Symptom Scale (HSS)). 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.
- Understanding how alcohol can impact migraine headaches is crucial for managing this condition effectively.
- By being mindful of your caffeine and sugar intake, practicing good sleep hygiene, staying hydrated, and maintaining a balanced diet, you may be able to reduce the likelihood of experiencing headaches when consuming alcohol.
- Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol.
- Additionally, patients and physicians should consider the latest medical knowledge to avoid perpetuating the myths about alcohol consumption and primary headaches.
- Be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about your “cocktail headache” plan.
In cases of conflict between authors in terms of the inclusion of a particular paper, the fourth researcher (MWP) decided upon a solution to the problem following discussion. This leads to excessive urination and dehydration, which may cause a headache after a small amount of alcohol. As long as you don’t eat meals containing other triggers, this is one of the best things you can do.
The rest alcoholism of the studies were based on information obtained during a medical interview 26, 27, 44. Remaining hydrated is one way to reduce migraine attacks, but the type of beverage you choose matters. Nonalcoholic beverages with little to no added sugar are the best drinks for migraine. These include water, electrolyte drinks, bone broth, and diluted fruit juices.
Red wine has also been frequently cited as a trigger due to its histamine content and ability to raise serotonin levels. Adjusted marginal absolute risk of having a migraine headache on the day following alcohol consumption among 98 participants with episodic migraines followed for 6 weeks. The observed adjusted estimates of absolute risk for each number of servings of alcohol are shown with the circles and vertical lines (95% confidence intervals). This is especially true for people prone to headaches or migraine without alcohol.
Keep a diary to understand your triggers
Migraine Again follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions. Sulphites could trigger headache through the release of histamine, as they cause symptoms only during a period of enhanced histamine sensitivity 51. Moreover, there were significant trends of decreasing prevalence of migraine and non-migraine headache with the increasing number of alcohol units consumed 28, 31. Over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen may help ease migraine symptoms.
Seven articles used International Headache Society (IHS) criteria from 1988 46, 47, 50, 51, 56, 59, 60. 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. More research is necessary to understand why some people experience particular headaches and others do not. In a 2017 study, researchers found that people of East Asian ancestry drink less alcohol than members of other groups. Certain genes may influence the tendency to drink and alcohol tolerance to quantities of alcohol.
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