Alcohol & Migraines: Can Drinking Cause a Migraine Headache?

Nineteen studies used questionnaire methods to assess drinking 36, 44,45,46,47,48,49,50,51,52,53,54,55,56,57,58,59, 61, 62. In two cases, questionnaires were supplemented by medical interviews 53, 61. The rest of the studies were based on information obtained during a medical interview 26, 27, 44. The migraines tend to start within three hours of consuming alcohol. Sometimes, migraines don’t plague patients until the next morning, just as their blood-alcohol content level is back to normal. Many people confuse this with a regular hangover until the intensity of the migraine sets in.

Alcohol and Blood Vessel Dilation

Research suggests caffeine can affect nearly every aspect of the body. When consumed in moderate amounts (400 mg or less), caffeine has been why does alcohol cause headaches found to have protective effects on the brain. Stress accumulated during the day can manifest as tightness in neck and scalp muscles, causing pain when you wake up.

What Medical Conditions Cause Headaches When I Wake Up?

Metformin also increases your body’s response to insulin, a natural substance that controls the amount of glucose in the blood. Metformin is not used to treat type 1 diabetes (condition in which the body does not produce insulin and therefore cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood). Migraine is complex, and other neurological conditions may cause migraine-like symptoms. For this reason, it is important to see a doctor about migraine symptoms https://ecosoberhouse.com/ or chronic headaches, with or without drinking.

• At the same time, alcohol consumption leads to the widening or dilating of blood vessels.
• With 30 years of paying close attention to consumption and the boundaries, I have evolved to limiting high alcohol, highly tannic, and heavily processed wines.
• However, a headache after drinking will usually resolve itself over time.
• If you’ve had a bit too much to drink and are suffering from a headache, several remedies can help alleviate the discomfort.

How can I prevent headaches?

• 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.
• Keeping a journal of your headaches and how they make you feel can be helpful when you’re talking to your provider.
• Therefore, it was not possible for our meta-analysis to contain all those studies where drinking was described with primary headache.
• The type and amount of alcohol consumed can also influence the likelihood of experiencing a headache.
• People who experienced migraine with alcohol were more likely to have migraine with aura and to experience more migraine days and more frequent attacks.

Staying Alcoholics Anonymous hydrated by drinking at least 2 liters of water daily and replenishing electrolytes with foods like bananas or sports drinks can also ease symptoms. Over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen may provide temporary relief, but caution is advised, as excessive use can harm the liver, already stressed by alcohol withdrawal. The relationship between alcohol and migraines is complex and not yet fully understood. Some studies suggest that alcohol can trigger migraines in certain individuals, while others find no significant association.