Cocktail Headaches: What They Are and How to Prevent Them

If alcohol only occasionally causes you a headache, then moderation or striking that balance (as opposed to abstinence), may be a more reasonable approach. Drinking plenty of water before having a drink should also help ward a cocktail headache off. For a hangover headache, also called a delayed alcohol-induced headache, experts believe that nerve chemicals involved in central pain control, like serotonin, are likely responsible. If you find yourself struggling to stop drinking or recognize that you have symptoms of alcohol use disorder, it’s important to reach out for help. Dr. Moore advises talking to your loved ones as a first step.

Why Does Beer Give Me A Headache But Not Other Alcohol?

• Eventually, the chemical makeup of your body becomes unbalanced, causing a hangover headache or sore throat.
• And many people are surprised to find out that it doesn’t take much alcohol to trigger them.
• In turn, this leads to more blood being able to flow into the brain, which can trigger a migraine.
• If a headache persists or worsens, visit a doctor for an examination and treatment recommendations.
• As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.

For example, drinking even a small amount of alcohol decreases sleep quality. Sleep deprivation can cause negative effects such as increased blood pressure or gastrointestinal discomfort. Many different factors can contribute to a hangover as a result of drinking. Drinks containing more alcohol and congeners may worsen Alcoholics Anonymous the chance of developing a headache. Making sure to drink plenty of water during and after alcohol consumption can decrease the chance of headaches. As a result, a female’s blood alcohol concentration tends to be higher, making it more likely for females to experience headaches and hangovers.

• Drinks containing more alcohol and congeners may worsen the chance of developing a headache.
• After using the above key terms, 1,892 articles were identified in the three databases.
• Some people have reported alcohol-triggering tension headaches, but the scientific evidence is less conclusive than with migraine and cluster headaches.
• The majority of cohort studies were within the range of 3–7 points, thus receiving a high risk of bias 52, 55, 58.
• Savage-Edwards advises that if alcohol is found to be a trigger, then it’s best to avoid it.
• It has been suggested that a tendency to experience alcohol-induced headaches could be genetic.

Study selection

This leads to excessive urination and dehydration, which may cause a https://ecosoberhouse.com/ headache after a small amount of alcohol. While there is some research on each possible reason why alcohol causes headaches, study authors have not definitively proven the link between the two. Meanwhile, 2020 research showed that 95% of participants experienced alcohol-induced headaches.

• Drinking water helps replenish your fluids and flush the alcohol out of your system.
• In an open-bar situation, choose beer, wine, or a mixed drink made with a high-quality brand.
• Nineteen studies used questionnaire methods to assess drinking 36, 44–59, 61, 62.
• These headaches make your head feel like someone is pounding on it like a drum.
• No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.

Migraine

If, after keeping track, you become convinced alcohol is the problem, then it’s now time to identify the symptoms. A common misconception is that overconsumption of alcohol is what triggers headaches. As many migraine sufferers can attest to, sometimes it just takes one glass of wine or even a sip. As we have discovered from looking at the types of alcohol-induced headaches, you may experience one from as little as three hours after drinking alcohol. These can include substances such as caffeine and alcohol, with one drink sometimes being enough to trigger a migraine.

Types of Alcohol-Related Headaches

If you experience prolonged or frequent headaches, you should consult why does drinking give me a headache your GP. The NHS also says you should ask for an urgent GP appointment. Call 111 if you have a severe headache along with other symptoms, including numbness or weakness in the arms or legs and jaw pain when eating. For many people, drinking alcohol and the first stages of intoxication can be quite pleasant.

Ria Health offers several FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder. When combined with counseling, this approach is proven highly effective.