Tyramine is a substance that can trigger headaches or migraines in certain people. Genetics and ethnical background also seem to play a role in determining who suffers hangover headaches and how severely. Even small amounts of alcohol can trigger headaches due to hidden ingredients like congeners and histamines, or by dehydration. Headache timing varies – some happen quickly, others as “hangovers.” Factors like weight, gender, ethnicity affect alcohol tolerance. To prevent headaches, stay hydrated by drinking water before and after consuming beer. Opt for lighter beer options, like lagers or pilsners, to reduce the risk of headaches caused by congeners.

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Sugar can deplete levels of B 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. A 2023 review of studies concluded that alcohol consumption increases the risk of headaches, particularly migraine and tension-type headaches. Ultimately, while regular beer may be a more common cause of headaches due to its alcohol content, non-alcoholic beer is not entirely risk-free.

Proper Alcohol Preparation and Handling

However, congeners can also have negative effects on alcoholism the body, including triggering headaches. They are thought to cause blood vessels to expand, leading to increased blood flow and potential headaches. If you’re prone to alcohol-related headaches, it may be beneficial to choose lighter colored liquors or opt for clear spirits that have lower congener content.

Headache After Stopping Alcohol: What’s Happening in Your Body?

If you develop a cocktail headache, stop drinking alcohol and go someplace where you can rest comfortably. Drink lots of water to rehydrate your body and help flush the alcohol from your system. A sports drink with electrolytes is also helpful for this purpose.

Digestion, skin, organs, muscles, bones and the cardiovascular system are also all affected – both in the short term and long term. John has travelled extensively around the world, culminating in 19 years’ experience looking at different models. In 2017 John Gillen was made a visiting Professor at the John Naisbitt university in Belgrade Serbia. If you are worried about your drinking and are finding it difficult to cut down, despite frequent headaches, seek expert help. Contact Nova Recovery today for guidance and support if you want to take control of your drinking. While some of the processes behind alcohol-induced headaches are not always clear, some biological and chemical factors could have an effect.

• About 90 minutes into our sleep, we enter REM (rapid eye movement) sleep.
• The astringency from the tannins is what causes the dry feeling in the mouth when you drink these beverages or eat food high in tannins like unripe fruit.
• The severity of this reaction often depends on one’s genetic predisposition and overall health.
• The end result of continuing to practice these tools is being able to actively participate in my life as a wife, mother, family member and friend.

Dehydration headache

You’ll still need to rehydrate, but at least you’ll feel the effects of the alcohol at a more manageable pace. A person having a migraine can also have trouble speaking, experience a loss of balance, feel some head congestion and be sensitive to noise or light. While headaches are a symptom of having a migraine, as the UC Davis website points out, migraines are a syndrome with other symptoms besides headaches. As the National Institute on Alcohol and Alcoholism points out, hangovers usually have several symptoms.

By implementing these strategies, individuals can enjoy alcohol responsibly and minimize the risk of experiencing headaches. Individual food sensitivities can also play a role in the relationship between alcohol and headaches. Some individuals may have specific sensitivities or allergies to certain ingredients commonly found in alcoholic beverages. For example, histamine intolerance is a condition where the body has difficulty breaking down histamine, a naturally occurring compound in some alcoholic drinks. Identifying and avoiding trigger ingredients can help reduce the likelihood of experiencing alcohol-related headaches.

• Many people prone to migraines tend to have more concerns with hangovers or this delayed alcohol-induced headaches.
• Additionally, alcohol can irritate your stomach lining, leading to an increase in stomach acid.
• 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 do drink alcohol, it’s important to be mindful of your consumption and to experiment to see what works best for you. Some common symptoms are a severe headache, vertigo attack or stroke like why does rum give me a headache symptoms that can last for hours or even days. Migraine sufferers may also experience nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound among other symptoms. To understand more about the symptoms experienced with migraine attacks, read our articles on vestibular migraine or different types of headaches. Migraine attacks can be debilitating, and most people who experience them will do anything to find relief. Avoiding personally known triggers can be a useful way to reduce the number of potential attacks.