This further contributes to dehydration, even if one consumes water while drinking alcohol. The combination of increased fluid loss and impaired fluid absorption can quickly lead to dehydration, especially if one does not consciously make an effort to stay hydrated. Be sure to talk with your healthcare provider about your “cocktail headache” plan.
General Health
Try to eat some fruits, herbs, and vegetables that are helpful for alcohol-induced headache recovery. Mango, thyme, ginger, and asparagus are known to contain helpful properties for this purpose. Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology. Melody is here to help as you adjust to a life with less (or no) alcohol. You’ll meet millions of fellow Reframers in our 24/7 Forum chat and daily Zoom check-in meetings.
- They empower us to revel in the moment without the fear of discomfort.
- Taking over-the-counter pain relievers and staying hydrated may help get rid of a hangover headache.
- Analyze your personal risk carefully, remembering that triggers are often additive.
- It’s also worth noting that alcohol-induced anxiety, or ‘hangxiety’, can worsen and even cause headaches in some cases.
Why Do I Get Headaches After Drinking Alcohol? Here’s Why & Fixes
More research is needed to understand how the specific content of alcohol affects the likelihood of getting headaches. 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.
- Some findings suggest that celiac disease might be tied to migraines.
- To minimize the risk of dehydration-induced headaches, it is essential to prioritize hydration when consuming alcohol.
- This visual breaks down how a single action—drinking—can set off multiple different reactions in your body.
- If you’re among those individuals, even one drink can trigger a headache.
Health News
In a new study, researchers at the University of California in the US found that a flavanol found in red wine may interfere with the metabolism of alcohol and lead to a headache. The wine industry is facing many challenges today, including climate change, wildfires and maybe most significantly, a reduction of alcohol consumption by consumers. The medication disulfiram prescribed to alcoholics to prevent them from drinking causes these same symptoms. Waterhouse said that’s because the drug also causes the toxin to build up in the body when normally an enzyme in the body would break it down. About 40% of the East Asian population also has an enzyme that doesn’t work very well, allowing acetaldehyde to build up in their system.
There are many different resources available to support you when you decide to quit drinking and embrace a sober lifestyle. You should seek help from a doctor or treatment center because the initial symptoms of alcohol withdrawal https://cnicht.uk/sober-living/can-you-be-your-own-therapist-self-therapy-may-be/ can cause serious health issues. After detoxing under the supervision of a professional, you can choose between outpatient or inpatient treatment.
Red Wine
The drink you choose has a massive impact on how you feel the next day, and it all comes down to something called congeners. This massive inflammatory response is a key reason you get a headache after drinking. Your body is essentially reacting to being poisoned, and the headache is a direct signal of that internal chaos. The more acetaldehyde builds up, the worse the inflammation gets, and the more your head pounds.
Headaches are among the most common symptoms of caffeine withdrawal, along with tiredness, fatigue, decreased alertness, decreased energy, and difficulty concentrating. If you experience severe headaches after drinking alcohol, it is advisable to avoid alcohol altogether. Over-the-counter pain medications should also be avoided before or after drinking, drug addiction as they can strain the liver and irritate the stomach lining.
It’s not about having a “low tolerance”—it’s about the unique biochemical toolkit your body was born with. Dr. Nagori says alcohol hangover headache sufferers may want to take ibuprofen (Advil) and avoid acetaminophen (Tylenol). If you have a history of liver dysfunction, consider only taking ibuprofen. He recommends staying in “a dark, quiet room until the headache subsides.” Dr. Ormond says staying upright can help since lying flat can make headache symptoms worse.
- More severe conditions such as symptoms of cluster headaches or migraines might require medical attention.
- The most effective way to avoid a hangover headache is to avoid drinking, or avoid drinking in excess.
- Alcohol is a diuretic, causing the body to lose vital salts and minerals which help it to function.
Try a Different Coffee
The scientific evidence suggests that the amount of alcohol consumed is the key factor in how bad a hangover headache is and not the color or the order of alcoholic drinks ingested. Dr. Guntipalli noted that red wine also contains histamines, which can cause vascular headaches, and this might make a hangover headache worse. Tannins, which are found in red wine, may also exacerbate a headache after drinking alcohol. Alternative drinks that may be less likely to cause headaches include water, herbal tea, or natural fruit juices.
Managing and Alleviating Headaches After the First Week of Withdrawal
Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) refers to the amount of alcohol in your blood in relation why do you get a headache after drinking to the amount of water in your blood. Two people can have the same blood alcohol levels, but their BAC will differ. Experts are unsure exactly how alcohol may cause one type of headache over another. It may be that people have individual differences in brain receptors that influence the brain’s reaction to alcohol.