New Research Re-examines the Cause of a Red Wine Headache

We also examine the types of headache alcohol can trigger and the types of alcohol likely to cause more headaches. There are a variety of compounds in alcohol that can cause post-alcohol related headaches. These chemicals include tryptamines, flavonoids, acetaldehydes, and congeners among others. These chemicals usually have a connection with headaches as they interact with the brain chemicals leading to headaches and even migraines.

Therefore, patients with primary headache need to determine for themselves the association between alcohol and headache without any myths and influences. The results of our meta-analysis are that there is a lack of a relationship between the risk of TTH and alcohol consumption. The exact mechanism behind this observation may indicate that migraine leads to alcohol-avoidance rather than alcohol having a protective role against migraine. However, there is a need to conduct further studies related to primary headaches and alcohol consumption with low risk of bias. Additionally, patients and physicians should consider the latest medical knowledge to avoid perpetuating the myths about alcohol consumption and primary headaches.

Availability of data and materials

The amount of quercetin varies widely from one red wine to another, and the flavanol is known to be higher in wines whose grapes had a lot of sunlight exposure, compared to shaded grape clusters. Some vineyards use practices like trellises and leaf thinning to manage sun exposure of grapes. Wine-making techniques also impact quercetin levels, the researchers wrote, such https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/alcohol-and-headaches-why-does-alcohol-cause-migraines/ as how the wine is aged and whether it is aged with the skins on or off of the grapes. To determine whether quercetin is to blame, future research should involve people trying red wines with varying amounts of quercetin, Waterhouse said. If they’re more likely to develop a headache after drinking wines high in quercetin, that could be a sign that quercetin is to blame.

• Some people may experience an alcohol-related migraine between 30 minutes and 3 hours after drinking.
• In addition, if you are prone to migraine headaches, then there is a high chance that you will have headaches after driving alcohol.
• The single main reason that alcohol is the cause of a headache is that it is what is known as a diuretic.

While similar symptoms to the immediate headache are experienced, this type of headache is usually a more dull, throbbing pain. The findings were published Monday in the journal Scientific Reports. Red wine headaches can occur soon after drinking small amounts of wine—for example, just half an hour after drinking one glass. Though researchers have a new theory as to what causes red wine headaches, it’s too soon to say whether certain types of red wine may be more likely to cause headaches. If you experience headaches from any triggers, including red wine, often, it’s worth seeking help from a headache specialist, who can advise you on treatment options. With the concurrent consumption of alcohol, the in vitro inhibition of ALDH2 by quercetin glucuronide would lead to an accumulation of toxic acetaldehyde, resulting in headaches.

Types of headaches associated with alcohol

Symptoms of PAWS can go on for months or even years after you stop drinking. People suffering from PAWS may be tempted to go back to drinking, just to make the headaches and other symptoms stop. Reducing your alcohol intake is the best way to avoid these headaches completely. For most people, a hangover headache will last no more than 24 hours, with many people finding that a good night’s sleep and plenty of water can relieve their symptoms completely. Unfortunately, some may notice that their headache takes a little longer to go away, this could be up to 72 hours.

Napa Valley cabernets, for example, have high levels of quercetin, as do some Australian reds. Based on laboratory experiments, the researchers theorize that the antioxidant responsible for the headaches is a flavanol called quercetin. It’s considered a healthy antioxidant that can even be purchased in supplement form. “As the holidays are coming around, this comes up a lot at my clinic because people really enjoy having a glass of red wine,” Pace said. And people who have migraines are generally more prone to RWH, she added.

Risk of bias

Other studies have pointed the finger at wine constituents such as biogenic amines, sulphites, phenolic flavonoids, or tannins. However, no chemical constituent has been clearly implicated as the primary trigger of red wine headache. 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. An allergy to sulfites, a type of preservative found in wine, is another potential cause, though there are no studies actually proving that sulfites in red wine can bring on headaches.

All data generated or analysed during this study are included in this published article. The inhibitory effect of selected wine phenolics/flavonoids (at 20 µM concentration) was evaluated in vitro on the inhibition of ALDH2 (in %, Table 1). For all other compounds (1–8, 10–12), the inhibition activity ranged from 14.77 ± 0.39 to 27.69 ± 0.61%, suggesting a low to moderate inhibition effect of wine flavonoids on ALDH2.

Tension Headaches

The alcohol in the blood increases more quickly with liquor than with beer. For example, if a person drinks liquor before beer, they are likely to feel the effects of the alcohol sooner. Many different factors can contribute to a hangover as a result of drinking. Drinks containing more alcohol and congeners may worsen 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.

Withdrawal symptoms can appear suddenly after the acute withdrawal period has ended. During PAWS, many withdrawal symptoms such as sweating, tremors, sleeping problems, and headaches can come back without warning. The https://ecosoberhouse.com/ combination of headaches with other symptoms can tell you how serious the withdrawal will likely be. Alcohol can cause many health problems, but one of the most common and less severe is the alcohol-induced headache.

Hangover-free wine? Scientists identify pigment that may be responsible for headaches

This leads to excessive urination and dehydration, which may cause a headache after a small amount of alcohol. This chemical is a vasodilator, which increases the size of blood vessels in the body. Take our short alcohol quiz to learn where you fall on the drinking spectrum and if you might benefit from quitting or cutting back on alcohol. Catherine is a dedicated freelance health and science writer committed to excellence and professionalism. She specializes in health topics including diet and nutrition, immune-related diseases, surgery, and cancer. Congeners additionally increase probability of an alcohol-induced headache [17].