The research found that 21% of people with migraine say that alcohol is a tension headache trigger, compared with just 2% of people without migraine. The difference between these two types of headaches is subtle. While anyone can experience DAIH, people with migraine are more susceptible. Even a modest amount of alcohol can cause people with migraine to develop a delayed headache or trigger an attack.
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A cocktail headache is a headache that occurs within as little as three hours after drinking alcohol. It’s not the same as a hangover headache, which occurs the Im Sober and My Spouse Is Not Marriage and Sobriety morning after drinking too much. A cocktail headache develops the same evening, and even a tiny amount of alcohol can trigger it. Keeping a migraine journal that includes the type of alcohol consumed, time, and any other potential triggers can help you determine whether it’s in your best interest to avoid alcohol.
- Also be aware of other types of triggers that could be present.
- Our Resource Library is another great place to find information on these treatments.
- However, researchers aren’t clear on exactly how or why alcohol can impact migraine.
- The mechanism through which alcohol can trigger these distinct headache disorders is not well understood.
- These genes may affect the likelihood of experiencing symptoms such as headaches after drinking small amounts.
Alcohol and Migraine Medication
Therefore, patients with primary headache need to determine for themselves the association between alcohol and headache without any myths and influences. The results of our meta-analysis are that there is a lack of a relationship between the risk of TTH and alcohol consumption. Because there is such a wide spectrum of disease severity with migraine, there’s also a wide spectrum of management plans. Some people need what we call an acute or a rescue treatment for infrequent migraine attacks.
How to avoid or treat alcohol-related headaches
Search terms of “alcohol,” “wine,” “food trigger,” “dietary trigger,” “migraine,” “headache” were used. Additional sources were identified via manual search of bibliographies, references lists, and previous peer reviews. Original studies were selected if they reported in the results a numeric percentage of headache patients referring any ADs as a trigger factor.
When alcohol is a trigger for one’s usual primary headaches, the pain usually occurs within three hours of alcohol consumption. Around 30% of people who experience recurrent migraines report alcohol as a trigger, and 10% of patients cite it as a frequent or consistent trigger. A change in sleep pattern can contribute to triggering migraine attacks. About 90 minutes into our sleep, we enter REM (rapid eye movement) sleep. This is the restorative stage of sleep and when it is disrupted, it can cause drowsiness during the day, and lead to other migraine symptoms.
How to Get Rid of a Cocktail Headache
Whereas the World Health Organization (WHO) states that there is no safe alcohol dose 19, Panconesi et al. conclude that low consumption is not a contraindication for headache patients 79. However, each patient makes individual decisions based on their own experience. Headache after a certain amount of alcohol is likely to induce behavioral reactions (i.e., alcohol-intake adjustment). Similarly, common beliefs may influence patients habits, e.g., the conviction that “red wine causes migraine”, even if studies present conflicting evidence 80, 81. Consequently, it seems likely that people with migraine to some extent avoid alcohol, which would be one interpretation of our results.
Next, talk to your healthcare professional about your symptoms. Eradicate the words “I’m fine” from your vocabulary and be honest with your healthcare professional, your employer, your loved ones, about how you’re feeling as well as the kind of support that you need. Make yourself a top priority when you’re having a migraine attack and reduce the likelihood of attacks through lifestyle adjustments. Have a consistent schedule, get adequate sleep, and learn strategies to cope with the stresses of life using mindfulness and meditation. Empower yourself to manage migraine with lifestyle changes and migraine specific treatment options.