When alcohol is a trigger for one’s usual primary headaches, the pain usually occurs within three hours of alcohol consumption. These clear liquors are less likely to trigger migraines than their darker counterparts. If you do drink vodka or gin, be sure to avoid any sugary mixers as they can also trigger headaches. Vodka and gin are both clear liquors that are made through the distilling process discussed above. This process removes congeners, which means that these drinks are less likely to trigger migraine attacks.
- It makes you pee more and as a result, the water level in your body drops.
- Even the company you keep or the ambiance of a bar could create an atmosphere that heightens your sensitivity to alcohol.
- Drinks that are darker in color, such as red wine, bourbon, or dark rum, contain more congeners—substances produced during fermentation.
- Staying hydrated, moderating alcohol consumption, and choosing beverages with lower congener content can all help prevent or minimize the occurrence of these headaches.
Tension-type headache
Drinking alcohol could create more of a risk factor for tension headaches in some people, but truth be told, people who don’t drink alcohol at all can still get tension headaches. Granted, some headaches, like migraine, can be triggered or exacerbated by drinking alcohol, but the throughline is blurry. After hours of drinking, you may notice that you visit the bathroom a lot more. Unfortunately, higher blood alcohol levels equal dehydration and a loss of important vitamins, minerals, and salts.
What Causes Headaches After Drinking Alcohol?
- Tension headaches feel like you have a tight band, like a headband, around your head.
- To reduce the likelihood of developing headaches after consuming alcohol, it is important to choose high-quality alcohol, moderate consumption, avoid mixing drinks, and opt for clear spirits.
- Many people find that their mood stabilizes and their energy levels increase once they have fully detoxed from alcohol.
- You can limit the amount of alcohol you consume to prevent your headaches.
- Also, the majority of the studies had high or moderate risk of bias.
The impact that alcohol can have on the body is huge – which can not only be immediate or after consumption, but the effects can last short-term and even long-term. As a depressant, alcohol slows down the central nervous system resulting in sluggish speech and movement. Digestion, skin, organs, muscles, bones and the cardiovascular system are also all affected – both in the short term and long term. Andrew Charles, MD, director of the Goldberg Migraine Program at the University of California, Los Angeles, says the focus on migraine triggers is a double-edged sword for some patients. “It’s certainly reasonable to take control drug addiction treatment as much as you can.
What should I do if I experience a headache after drinking beer?
- They occur due to various factors such as dehydration, changes in blood flow to the brain, and alcohol’s impact on serotonin levels.
- Generally, these clear alcohols are highly distilled and have almost no leftover congeners from the beginning fermentation process.
- As a physician, my best advice for decreasing or avoiding alcohol-related headaches is to take steps to change your relationship with alcohol.
- Yes, studies have been carried out that show that different types of alcoholic drinks can have different effects when it comes to the severity of headaches.
- Let’s look at why alcohol makes your head hurt, what you can do to remedy it, and how to avoid headaches down the road.
- People who experience severe headaches after drinking alcohol may also avoid alcohol altogether.
Now living in her father’s birthplace Texas, she loves to develop authentic, delicious recipes from her culture but mix them with other culinary influences. When she isn’t cooking or writing about it, she enjoys exploring the United States, one state at a time. She lives with her boyfriend Steve and their two German Shepherds, Gus and Wilber. If the advice about migraine and alcohol seems all over the map, that’s because it often has been — but there are reasonable explanations about the confusion. The difference come in the form of something called “congeners”.
You might also want to take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Avoid dark beers as they often contain more congeners—chemical byproducts of fermentation that can contribute to headache pain. You’re out with your friends, enjoying a few drinks and having a great time. Though challenging, the journey towards reducing or eliminating alcohol consumption promises significant long-term health benefits, making the effort worthwhile. If you frequently suffer from alcohol-related headaches, and are struggling to cut back, there are also new solutions.
Genes that play a role in opioid, serotonin, and dopamine systems also influence alcohol sensitivity. These genes may affect the likelihood of experiencing symptoms such as headaches why does rum give me a headache after drinking small amounts. Research from 2020 showed that 95% of participants experienced alcohol-induced headaches. According to the migraine trust, alcohol regularly triggers migraine in around 10% of people. Nausea and/or vomiting is just one of many symptoms a person living with migraine might experience.
