This results in more reddening of the skin (““Asian flush”) and hangovers at lower amounts of alcohol. No one is exactly sure how ethanol causes its various effects, but once absorbed from the stomach into the bloodstream it can freely cross out of the blood and into nerve cells of the brain. Once in the brain it causes a chemical release that leads to pleasurable feelings, and it lessens inhibitions by depressing certain frontal lobe functions. Motor pathways become overactive, and blood sugar is processed less efficiently in the brain. As more and more ethanol molecules enter the membranes of the nerve cells, sedating effects develop.
Hangover headache
For instance, a negative mood after drinking alcohol can contribute to some people having migraine headaches regardless of what they have drunk. There is some evidence that vitamin B6 taken before drinking can be mildly helpful. An anti-inflammatory drug called tolfenamic acid has been shown to be somewhat helpful when taken during alcohol consumption. While this drug is not available in the U.S., other related medications, including ibuprofen, naproxen, and prescription nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be similarly helpful. However, when combined with alcohol they might increase the risk of stomach bleeding. Gatorade or other fitness drinks may be better than water alone, but there is no scientific proof.
Foods That’ll Cure Your Hangover
- Genes that play a role in opioid, serotonin, and dopamine systems also influence alcohol sensitivity.
- These give many types of alcoholic beverages their taste and smell.
- Headaches, including migraine, are treatable with the right combination of medication and lifestyle adjustments.
- Many different factors can contribute to a hangover as a result of drinking.
But if a cocktail with friends once in a while or a glass of wine with your dinner on Saturday night does not seem to trigger a bad headache, then it’s probably OK. Talk to your doctor about any concerns and about whether it is safe to drink alcohol with any medications alcohol causes migraines you are taking. It’s also possible that your alcohol-induced nausea is a gastrointestinal issue. Alcohol irritates the lining of the stomach and intestines and slows digestion, which increases fats in the liver and stomach and secretions from the pancreas.
Gastroparesis: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Life Expectancy
- If a doctor has prescribed medication for your chronic migraine and you choose to move forward with that line of treatment, follow instructions carefully.
- All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript..
- Taking preventative measures is the best way to stop a hangover headache before it ever starts.
Additionally, patients and physicians should consider the latest medical data, in order to avoid the myths about alcohol consumption and primary headaches. As we discussed earlier, not everyone is prone to alcohol-related headaches. For instance, people who experience alcohol headaches after drinking are likely to suffer the same each time they drink even if it’s after one drink. In addition, if you are prone to migraine headaches, then there is a high chance that you will have headaches after driving alcohol. According to research also, women are more likely to experience headaches than mean after drinking alcoholic beverages.
Food as trigger and aggravating factor of migraine. Neurological Sciences, May 2012.
More-serious symptoms from heavy drinking may be a sign of alcohol poisoning — a life-threatening emergency. Alcohol poisoning is a serious and sometimes deadly result of drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. Drinking too much too quickly can affect breathing, heart rate, body temperature and gag reflex. In your bloodstream, ethanol can cause headaches through vasodilation. Vasodilation can stimulate certain brain nerves and result in pain. Alcohol also affects chemicals and hormones in your brain, such as histamine and serotonin, which contribute to the development of a headache.
Often drinks containing a higher content of pure alcohol, such as gin or vodka, have fewer congeners compared to drinks with less pure alcohol, such as red wine or whiskey. This type of headache is known as the ‘cocktail headache’ and comes on shortly after taking an alcoholic drink. This type of headache is less common, but many people may notice the symptoms developing within 3 hours of drinking.
Acetaminophen makes it harder for your body to process alcohol and can damage your liver. Dehydration occurs because alcohol inhibits the effect of a hormone called antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Normally, ADH stimulates the kidneys to reabsorb water from urine to prevent dehydration.
Over-the-counter (OTC) painkillers
Drinking problems occur in every age, but in the 25–49 age group, alcohol has the highest impact on mortality caused by cancer deaths and also life disability [24, 25]. A hangover headache—also called a delayed alcohol-induced headache—usually comes on the morning after drinking the night before, once the alcohol is out of your system. Like so many other answers to science questions, “it depends.” Body weight and gender are very important factors. Certain ethnic groups (Japanese, for example) have a genetically reduced ability to break down acetaldehyde, the main byproduct of alcohol, as it is first processed in the liver.
Other remedies for avoiding migraine
A 2014 study from the Center for Weight and Health at UC Berkeley found that fitness drinks like Gatorade were better for quick hydration after intense exercise. So they may get you hydrated faster than regular water after a night of drinking. Never take acetaminophen (Tylenol) when you drink or when you’re hungover.