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It’s critical to have a support network of understanding people who can not only check in on you but also empathize with your experience. Then consider joining our Move Against Migraine support group on Facebook so you can connect with others who live with migraine. This includes being careful about the amount of alcohol you consume and paying attention to how and when your migraine symptoms flare up in relation to drinking. Many different factors can contribute to a hangover as a result of drinking. Drinks containing more alcohol and congeners may worsen the chance of developing a headache. As a result, a female’s blood alcohol concentration tends to be higher, making it more likely for females to experience headaches and hangovers.
For some people that also includes alcohol, maybe just certain kinds. National Library of Medicine, one-third of migraine sufferers point to alcohol as a trigger. Migraine is a symptom of an underlying condition, and one of the elements of a migraine is a headache.
Living with Migraine
Researchers don’t know exactly what causes alcohol-induced migraine attacks. While in some cases it is likely the presence of alcohol itself, it is also possible that specific components of different alcoholic drinks act as triggers. Much like food triggers for migraine, people may have a higher sensitivity to certain organic components https://ecosoberhouse.com/ commonly found in alcoholic drinks. To define this important issue, we have reviewed alcohol as a trigger of primary headaches and discussed the possible correlation of the results with the principal pathogenetic theories of the primary headaches. The quality of the alcohol consumed may be a factor in whether it triggers a headache.
Alcohol is broken down in the liver by an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase. People with a variant in this enzyme have issues with metabolizing alcohol and can develop total body flushing or reddening of the skin. People can talk with their doctors about possible methods to prevent or ease alcohol-induced headaches. Research still needs to determine which remedy is most effective. However, a headache after drinking will usually resolve itself over time. Other criteria for a person to have a migraine diagnosis include nausea or vomiting and sensitivity to light or noise.
Analysis of alcohol consumption
As many migraine sufferers can attest to, sometimes it just takes one glass of wine or even a sip. Without a consistent cause-and-effect situation, though, it could be a number of factors — not just alcohol — that are triggering your migraine headache. If you do notice a pattern, especially with particular types of alcohol over others, you may choose to avoid the offending drinks.
It’s important to note that alcohol use disorder is a serious illness that can have life-threatening consequences. Please see your healthcare provider if you are concerned about your alcohol use. It’s important to stay updated on the latest migraine research and treatment strategies.
Amount of Alcohol Consumption and Timing of Migraine
Therefore, this hypothesis seems a less likely explanation for our results. Analysis of the 22 included studies revealed 5 cohort studies [36, 45, 52, 55, 58], 11 cross-sectional [26, 27, 44, 46,47,48, 51, 56, 57, 59, 60] and six case-controls [49, 50, 53, 54, 61, 62]. A detailed description of risk of bias assessment for the cohort studies is presented in Table 3. In cross-sectional studies, six out of the 11 had a high risk of bias [46,47,48, 51, 56, 60], because they received fewer than 6 positive answers. Table 4 summarizes the assessment of the cross-sectional risk of bias. The steps for case–control assessment are presented in Table 5.
Mounting evidence suggests there may be a connection between migraine and mental health. Anxiety disorders and depression are two of the most commonly reported mental illnesses among people who are diagnosed with migraine. By learning how migraine and mental health impact one another and ways to manage both, you can improve your quality of life. Learn more about the relationship between migraine and mental health in this AMF webinar.
Meanwhile, the brain is producing more and more neurotransmitters, making a person further imbalanced. For example, The National Headache Foundation notes that unless chronic or repeated stress is managed, stress can cause tension-type headaches every day. But it surprises some to learn that headaches can be brought on or caused by literally hundreds of factors and that different types of headaches last much longer than others. Just like food triggers, alcohol headache triggers are individual, varying from person to person.
