Chemicals called congeners are also a component of alcoholic drinks. These chemicals may also trigger migraine headaches in certain people. As the name suggests, an immediate alcohol-induced headache makes Alcoholics Anonymous itself known shortly after you begin consuming alcohol. It’s less common and is often felt as a pulsing sensation on the sides of the head. Many people will find it worsens with further alcohol consumption as well as intense movement.

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Clear liquors, like white rum, vodka, and gin, have significantly fewer congeners and may cause fewer headache symptoms. Although, as we’ll discuss below, there are other factors that can lead to headaches no matter what form of alcohol you consume. And many people are surprised to find out that it doesn’t take much alcohol to trigger them.

• Avoiding alcohol-related headaches involves a combination of responsible drinking and making smart choices before, during, and after consuming alcoholic beverages.
• Generally, the more alcohol you drink, the more likely you are to have a hangover the next day.
• People prone to headaches may be at a higher risk of experiencing alcohol-related headaches.
• Avoiding alcohol isn’t the only way to avoid an alcohol-related migraine headache.
• There are exceptions to this rule, however, such as tequila—a light-colored liquor that nevertheless carries high levels of congeners.
• Once you’ve reached this important milestone, talk to your doctor, a therapist, or a counselor who can help recommend treatment for alcohol dependence.

Hangover Headache

Alcohol is identified as an occasional trigger in about a third of people who experience migraine headaches, but it’s only a consistent trigger in about 10 percent of migraine sufferers. Histamine has been known to cause headaches for almost 100 years.² When it enters the bloodstream it dilates blood vessels, which leads to headaches. While all alcohol contains high levels of histamines, red wines have a significantly higher amount than other beverages, and therefore may lead to more severe headaches. Avoiding alcohol-related headaches involves a combination of responsible drinking and making smart choices before, during, and after consuming alcoholic beverages. If alcohol is a headache trigger for you, think before you drink. In other words, the best treatment for a cocktail headache is actually preventing one in the first place.

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Some studies have reported that alcohol can trigger a migraine headache in people who are sensitive to it in as little as 30 minutes — or it could take 3 hours. Aside from contributing to the flavor of the alcohol, congeners increase the severity and frequency of hangover symptoms, including headaches. Congeners tend to aggravate brain headache after drinking alcohol tissue and blood vessels, which contributes to headaches.

The best way to avoid a hangover https://ecosoberhouse.com/ headache is to limit how much alcohol you drink in one sitting. Still, we’ve also got some tips that can help you reduce your chances of having a headache, and a few to ease your pain in case you’ve already got one. Learning more about your specific health history and drinking habits can help you better understand your risk of alcohol-induced headaches.

Or you might be fine until after your blood alcohol level returns to normal. This type of headache can happen to anyone, but people with migraines are more likely to get one. It can happen even if you drink less than people who don’t get migraine headaches. Do you ever experience throbbing headaches after a night of drinking? Alcohol-induced headaches are common after having a drink or two.

• Remember that those feelings of guilt and shame are temporary and often amplified by your body’s physical state.
• The most common type of headache caused by alcohol is the delayed headache, which is seen to occur around 12 hours after drinking alcohol.
• But ask your healthcare professional if this is safe for you and how much medicine is best for you.
• Be very careful about taking pain medication at this point, as you will still have alcohol in your system which could interact with it.
• These give many types of alcoholic beverages their taste and smell.

Here is the advice of one wine expert

• Alcohol can trigger headaches including tension and cluster headaches, as well as migraine headaches.
• It is widely reported that red wine is the worst culprit for causing an alcohol-induced headache, with white wine being not too far behind in second place.
• For those already dealing with anxiety or depression, this post-drinking phenomenon can be particularly challenging.
• The effects on other body systems are also important in the symptoms of alcohol intoxication.
• Drinking this with mixers such as lemonade or tonic waters can reduce the chances even further.
• It may be that avoiding or moderating alcohol intake is the best decision for you.Talk to your healthcare provider about alcohol use, which can have serious health and social consequences.

In a 2017 study, researchers found that people of East Asian ancestry drink less than members of other groups. Certain genes may influence the tendency to drink and alcohol tolerance to quantities of alcohol. It’s important to note that alcohol use disorder is a serious illness that can have life-threatening consequences. It’s important to see your healthcare provider if you are concerned about your alcohol use. There have been several proposed explanations for how alcohol causes headaches.