All You Need To Know About Alcohol-Induced Headaches
Substances such as sulfites, histamine, and tyramines are found in alcohol and may contribute to headaches as well. It has also been proposed that alcohol triggers an inflammatory response that can lead to a headache. Sharp headaches are one short-term effect of heavy drinking, but when alcohol addiction takes hold, you will start to suffer with increasingly dangerous symptoms. If you or a loved one needs support with problematic drinking, we are here for you. When drinking among your friends, you may notice the next morning that they may be struggling more or less than you with their hangover symptoms.
Types of Headaches You Might Feel After Drinking
It also affects blood vessels in the brain, setting the stage for the headache many experience after drinking. Even people who are not prone to headaches will get a headache after a night of heavy alcohol consumption. One or two drinks with food and water over time might be safe for you, but three or more will produce a hangover headache for many people. Mocktails are easier to find these days; you can always lean on them. Because your body views alcohol as a toxic substance, it’s perfectly normal to experience a headache from drinking alcohol. Alcohol’s effects on your body include dehydration, inflammation, reduced sleep quality, and the buildup of toxic substances—all of which can give you a headache.
Analysis of alcohol consumption
Eventually, the chemical makeup of your body becomes unbalanced, causing a hangover headache or sore throat. In other words, these issues are a toxic byproduct of alcohol metabolism in the body. In this post, we’ll explore why you get a pounding headache after drinking and why one type of alcohol/s seems to cause more of an issue than others. You can try drinking alcohol at a slower rate, drinking water between each alcoholic drink, eating honey before drinking, and drinking alcohol on a full stomach. While the headaches and other symptoms may be a pain, you will begin to feel like yourself again soon.
- Alcohol stimulates the pancreas to produce toxins that can cause pancreatitis.
- Downing more alcohol (the “hair of the dog” theory) won’t help either.
- We have already discussed that a migraine is a common headache experienced after drinking alcohol, but the alcohol-induced headache may fall into one of two categories.
Your gift today brings hope—and helps ensure no one faces migraine alone. The content on this website is provided for educational purposes only. Reviewed for accuracy by the American Migraine Foundation’s subject matter experts, headache specialists and medical advisers with deep knowledge and training in headache medicine. Tim has written about recovery and addiction for well over a decade. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, cookie and spending time with his wife, children and three dogs.
- Drinking any type of alcohol in excess, including beer, wine, or liquor, can cause headaches.
- 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.
- This might also lead to headaches, although not all studies agree on this point.
- These cycles of headaches and symptoms can last for up to a year or more, depending on how long someone was drinking heavily.
Gender and body weight
This change in balance between inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmitters triggers headaches. After using the above key terms, 1,892 articles were identified in the three databases. 511 papers were found in PubMed, 773 in Embase and 608 in Web of Science. Then, 142 conference abstracts, 100 reviews, four book chapters and 42 unretrieved studies were not taken into further consideration.
For example, some people can drink alcohol without appearing intoxicated or experiencing extreme side effects, while others cannot. Whether the effect is immediate or delayed, you may have a headache after drinking too much alcohol. There is some evidence that certain distilled spirits may cause fewer headaches.
Headaches are common during alcohol withdrawal, also called Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome (AWS). They can be an early warning sign that the brain is struggling to manage pain properly. Though it’s a common belief that drinking alcohol can cause headaches, not drinking alcohol is also a potential cause of headaches. This is especially true for individuals who are used to drinking alcohol on a regular basis and suddenly stop.
We also examine the types of headaches alcohol can trigger and the types of alcohol likely to cause more headaches. Sugar can deplete levels of B https://ecosoberhouse.com/ vitamins in the body, and tannins and sulfites can cause a histamine reaction in sensitive people. All of these factors will mean fewer drinks before a headache kicks in. Red wine is often blamed for headaches, and there is possibly a stronger correlation between headaches and red wine than other types of alcohol. However, a preference or aversion to a specific drink is based on personal experiences and observations. Taking a nap in a quiet, dark room helps the body recuperate and lessens headache intensity.
This fluid loss from increased urination, coupled with sweating, means our body faces dehydration. Not everyone feels the same effects of their drinking the morning after. In fact, your genes alone account for nearly half of the variables that contribute to how your body reacts to alcohol.
Heat and Headaches
If you find that you are drinking more than you should, it is best to gradually reduce your intake of alcohol until you are no longer drinking. Additionally, you should stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water and other fluids. Finally, those who have been regular drinkers may experience headaches due to alcohol withdrawal. When someone stops drinking, their body may Substance abuse have become accustomed to having alcohol in the system.
The most common physiological cause of headaches due to not drinking alcohol is dehydration. When a person drinks alcohol, they are likely to become dehydrated because alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it causes the body to lose more fluids than it takes in. This can lead to headaches, as dehydration causes the body to lose essential electrolytes, which are important for proper brain and nerve functioning.
The body metabolizes alcohol into acetaldehyde, which is more toxic than ethanol itself. High levels of acetaldehyde can lead to symptoms such as flushing, nausea, and headaches. headache from drinking alcohol While usually broken down quickly, its accumulation can contribute to hangover symptoms. Alcohol also triggers an inflammatory response in the body, which can further contribute to headache symptoms. If you or someone you know is struggling to detox because of potential alcohol withdrawal symptoms, contact Asheville Detox Center. Our detox center is the perfect place to safely and comfortably overcome the stress and symptoms of alcohol withdrawal.
