“Hair of the dog” refers to having some of the same alcohol the next morning that you had the night before. Get our printable guide for your next healthcare provider’s appointment to help you ask the right questions. The tables below group alcohol types by the amount of these additives.

Tips to ease the pain

Additionally, keeping a diary to track your triggers and being mindful of other factors like stress and sleep can be helpful. While there is no magical alcohol that doesn’t cause headaches when consumed in excess, alcohol does vary tremendously from manufacturer to manufacturer. Top-shelf brands not only taste better but may also be less likely to prove a migraine trigger. I caution patients to order a specific brand of alcohol when ordering a cocktail rather than relying on well drinks or lower-quality brands. These give many types of alcoholic beverages their taste and smell.

Alcohol also has inflammatory effects on blood vessels, leading to tension and cluster headaches. Understanding the relationship between alcohol and headaches can empower individuals to make informed choices about their alcohol consumption. Alcohol-induced headaches can be a real buzzkill, but understanding why they occur is the first step towards finding relief. While the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, researchers have identified several factors that may contribute to these throbbing head pains. From the way alcohol affects blood vessels to its impact on dehydration and the production of certain chemicals in the brain, there are multiple angles to consider. By unraveling these mysteries, we can gain valuable insights into how to prevent or minimize alcohol-induced headaches and make those nights out a little more enjoyable.

Causes of hangover headache

People should generally avoid hangover cure myths, including “hair of the dog” and eating usually unpalatable food such as raw eggs. A person could take a pain reliever, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, as they would for any headache. However, these painkillers can increase acid release and potentially irritate the lining of the stomach. 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.

Dehydration

If you consistently experience severe headaches after drinking, consulting a healthcare professional for personalised advice and guidance is a good idea. Having another drink may temporarily curb withdrawal symptoms and make you feel better. But unless you intend to keep drinking, the alcohol levels in your body will eventually drop, causing a headache anyway. And, of course, continuing to drink to avoid hangover symptoms can increase your risk of alcohol dependence in the long run. 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.

• Understanding the causes of alcohol-induced headaches can help individuals make informed choices about their alcohol consumption.
• Just as alcohol consumption causes a wide range of effects on the body and mind, so does the period of withdrawal.
• A difference in a gene that affects the way the body breaks down alcohol may make some people flush, sweat or become ill after drinking even a small amount of alcohol.
• The most common type of headache caused by alcohol is the delayed headache, which is seen to occur around 12 hours after drinking alcohol.
• The length of alcohol-induced headaches varies from person to person and depends on these factors.
• Not everyone feels the same effects of their drinking the morning after.

Alcohol and Headaches: Why They Happen and What You Can Do

There are animal studies that suggest a potential link between alcohol’s inflammatory effects and headaches. It’s also worth noting that alcohol-induced anxiety, or ‘hangxiety’, can worsen and even cause headaches in some cases. Because alcohol is a depressant, it suppresses our nervous system.

Getting a headache during or after exercise can be seriously frustrating—especially if you have kept hydrated to try and stop them from happening. Getting a headache during or after exercise can be seriously frustrating – especially if you have kept hydrated to try and stop them from happening. There is a significant overlap between anxiety, alcohol misuse, and alcohol use disorder. Researchers found that those with an anxiety disorder were between 2.1 and 3.3 times as likely to develop alcohol use disorder. Researchers found those who use alcohol to cope with anxiety have greater chances of becoming dependent, misusing alcohol, or developing alcohol use disorder. Alcohol allergy and intolerance can result in similar symptoms but are caused by different can alcohol cause migraines underlying factors.

• You can get peer support, and explore treatment options like therapy and medication to stop drinking.
• The carbon dioxide content in champagne causes quick alcohol absorption into the bloodstream.
• Additionally, people with a history of migraines may experience longer-lasting headaches after drinking alcohol.
• This affects the fluids surrounding the brain and decreases the blood pressure and blood flow to the brain.

As mentioned above, B vitamins such as B6 and B12 can also be helpful after drinking, and pain medication should be used sparingly and with caution. Aside from contributing to the flavor of the alcohol, congeners increase the severity and frequency of hangover symptoms, including headaches. Congeners tend to aggravate brain tissue and blood vessels, which contributes to headaches. Clear liquors, like white rum, vodka, and gin, have significantly fewer congeners and may cause fewer headache symptoms. Although, as we’ll discuss below, there are other factors that can lead to headaches no matter what form of alcohol you consume.

How Much Alcohol Can Cause A Headache?

These effects contribute to day-after dread, even if you don’t have an anxiety disorder diagnosis. How long this anxiety (and other hangover symptoms) lasts depends on factors like how much you’ve consumed, your assigned sex at birth, and your weight. One factor often overlooked when it comes to alcohol-related headaches is the possibility of food contamination.