The mechanism through which alcohol can trigger these distinct headache disorders is not well understood. Due to the inclusion of many study designs, the risk of bias was evaluated using tools adjusted to the type of study. The Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) critical appraisal tools were used for cross-sectional, cohort and case control studies [63]. According to the appropriate JBI checklist, cross-sectional studies had to be conducted on the basis of eight questions, case-controls had ten questions, while cohort studies contained 11 questions. Possible answers were “Yes”, “No”, “Unclear” or “Not applicable”.

• However, these limitations are to some extent discounted by the number of studies included and the cultural diversity of participants.
• Early effects of alcohol can dull sensations and have an analgesic effect, but as alcohol leaves the body it can have the opposite effect and actually increase sensitivity to pain.
• Congeners can also include chemicals like histamine, which can trigger migraine attacks and headaches.
• However, researchers aren’t clear on exactly how or why alcohol can impact migraine.

Analysis of alcohol consumption

I caution patients to order a specific brand of alcohol when ordering a cocktail rather than relying on well drinks or lower-quality brands. About two-thirds of people who drink alcohol develop these headaches. People who suffer from migraine are more prone to these reactions — even after drinking less alcohol than people who don’t get migraine headaches. But if you’re prone to migraine headaches, you’ll need to be careful about how much you drink. A 5-ounce glass of wine (or 12 ounces of beer or a 1.5-fluid-ounce shot) may be OK every now and then, so long as it doesn’t bring on a headache. If it does, you’ll need to drink less or stay away from all alcohol.

Does alcohol trigger every person with migraine?

• The content on this website is provided for educational purposes only.
• To determine if drinking is one of yours, it’s helpful to learn the signs of alcohol-induced headaches.
• This pain can be so severe that it interferes with your day-to-day activities.
• Top-shelf brands not only taste better but may also be less likely to prove a migraine trigger.

However, according to this idea, populations with higher migraine prevalence should have lower alcohol consumption. In Europe, alcohol consumption is higher than in Asian countries, but in Europe alcohol as a trigger is reported more frequently than it is in Asia [87]. Therefore, this hypothesis seems a less likely explanation for our results. In the USA, 51% of adults consumed alcohol in the last year; additionally, 11% of those over 50 years old and 6% over 65 age reported the symptoms of alcohol abuse or dependence [21].

Alcohol as a Migraine Trigger

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. With the huge focus on organic foods and what we all eat, there should be as much attention put on what we drink. In fact, many headache sufferers abstain from alcohol or consume less than the general population. Alternative migraine therapies can work alongside why does alcohol give me a migraine traditional treatments to reduce migraine attack frequency and lessen the impact of symptoms. Light sensitivity is a common symptom of migraine (as is sensitivity to sounds or smells), but not everyone who has the disease will experience it. Identify other symptoms of migraine and find answers to Frequently Asked Questions to help you start the conversation about migraine with your primary care provider.

Of the studies included in our analysis, 19 were based only on questionnaires while five included interviews with patients. However, these limitations are to some extent discounted by the number of studies included and the cultural diversity of participants. https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/anger-and-alcoholism/ With Christmas over and Dry January in full swing, you might be noticing differences in your migraine attacks if you’ve drunk more or less than normal recently. If there seems to be a connection between alcohol and your migraine, you’re not alone.

Research shows that watermelon can trigger migraine in some people who have the condition. Experts believe this may be because watermelon contains nitrites found in other foods that have also been linked to migraine. But you don’t necessarily need to cut watermelon—or other foods—out of your diet if you have migraine, according to experts.

• For example, you might have overslept and skipped breakfast, and be tired and stressed from a busy week at work.
• Early diagnosis and treatment of liver disease can reverse liver disease, prevent further scarring and cirrhosis, or slow the progression of damage, says Sengupta.
• There are ways to manage and minimize the triggers of migraine using the SEEDS method.
• Known as congeners, they are thought by some researchers to trigger headaches – as a general rule, darker drinks tend to have more congeners.
• While red wine has been described as a dominant trigger of migraines and cluster headaches, white wine, champagne, sparkling wines, and beer have also been linked to headaches.

Other neurotransmitters play a role in the pain of migraine, including calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP). This information is not designed to replace a physician’s independent judgment about the appropriateness or risks of a procedure for a given patient. Migraine.com does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Use of the site is conditional upon your acceptance of our terms of use. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Beer and migraine

Migraine is very common, affecting one in five women, one in 16 men, and even one in 11 children. Migraine attacks are three times more prevalent in women, likely as a result of hormonal differences. Certainly genetic and environmental factors play a role in the development of migraine disease. Meaning if a parent has migraine, there’s about a 50 percent chance that a child may develop migraine as well. However, this does not mean that if you get a migraine attack, that it’s their fault, that you should feel any guilt or shame for your symptoms. Hormonal changes, specifically fluctuations and estrogen that can occur during menstrual periods, pregnancy and perimenopause can trigger a migraine attack.