How to Avoid Migraine Symptoms After Drinking Beer

Headaches from beer often stem from several key factors, impacting your enjoyment of this popular beverage. MWP and BB was involved in the conception and visualization of the study. MWP, MW, MS2 and SB revised the final version of the manuscript. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript..

Understanding the Link Between Alcohol and Headaches

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. The is the art of the “mocktail,” formerly known as the virgin cocktail (we’re not talking Shirley Temples).

Proper Alcohol Preparation and Handling

Alcohol can cause mild euphoria and make you feel more confident and outgoing. Increased alcohol consumption can lead to a number of less pleasant effects, including nausea, slurred speech, impaired thinking, balance and coordination. GammaCore nVNS is also clinically proven to prevent migraines and headaches when used twice daily, in the morning and at night.

Data sources and search terms

Opting for lighter-colored liquors like vodka or gin may be a better choice for those prone to alcohol headaches. Certain types of alcohol and ingredients found in alcoholic beverages can act as triggers for headaches. By identifying and avoiding these triggers, you can prevent alcohol headaches from occurring. However, congeners can also have negative effects on the body, including triggering headaches. They are thought to cause blood vessels to expand, leading to increased blood flow and potential headaches.

You might also want to take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. You’re out with your friends, enjoying a few drinks and having a great time. As long as you don’t eat meals containing other triggers, this is one of the best things you can do. Try to stick to just a glass or two and eat enough for the food to soak up some of that alcohol. Dr. Mark Youssef is an expert in migraine and other headache disorders. He has been personally battling chronic migraine since his teenage years.

Dr. Michael Yang is a board-certified neurologist and headache specialist at the Gundersen Health System in Wisconsin. He is an active member of the American Headache Society and the American Academy of Neurology. Dr. Yang is currently actively involved in several research projects on migraine. Remember, part of the reason why alcohol gives me (and you) a headache is that it dehydrates you. For example, your genetic makeup may be such that you just can’t tolerate a lot of alcohol, or you may have a naturally-low body weight. That also doesn’t allow for much alcohol in general, beer or otherwise.

Dehydration and the Role of Alcohol

While your body’s natural metabolism can actually turn some of the components in gin and other alcohols drug addiction treatment into nutrients and energy in the body, alcohol can also act as a diuretic. Analysis of the 22 included studies revealed 5 cohort studies 36, 45, 52, 55, 58, 11 cross-sectional 26, 27, 44, 46–48, 51, 56, 57, 59, 60 and six case-controls 49, 50, 53, 54, 61, 62. The majority of cohort studies were within the range of 3–7 points, thus receiving a high risk of bias 52, 55, 58. A detailed description of risk of bias assessment for the cohort studies is presented in Table 3.

• Consequently, it seems likely that people with migraine to some extent avoid alcohol, which would be one interpretation of our results.
• People who get migraine attacks during or after drinking should consider reducing or eliminating alcohol.
• Sulfites are preservatives commonly used in winemaking to prevent oxidation and bacterial growth.
• However, identifying a single reason is challenging due to people’s varying reactions to alcohol.
• Many people confuse this with a regular hangover until the intensity of the migraine sets in.

For example, histamine intolerance is a condition where the body has difficulty breaking down histamine, a naturally occurring compound in some alcoholic drinks. Identifying and avoiding trigger ingredients can help reduce the likelihood of experiencing alcohol-related headaches. First of all, why does rum give me a headache the existing studies present data in a heterogeneous way, which may have led to inaccurate results, and do not provide an exhaustive array of information.

While for some people alcohol makes sit easy to fall asleep, for other people it can disturb the rest and result in headache the next morning. Additionally, factors such as hormones, Acetaldehyde, dehydration, insomnia, and more can influence your chances of getting a headache from drinking. Tannin, a component in red wine, has been long considered the culprit. It has also been found that a specific flavonoid in red wine inhibits an enzyme that metabolizes certain components of red wine, contributing to a build up chemicals that can cause a headache.

If you’re sensitive to sulfites, you’re more likely to experience breathing problems than headaches, though. Alcohol can dilate blood vessels in your brain, which can cause a headache. Red wine, in particular, has long been known as a migraine trigger. It’s important to remember that this article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice.