| For people who are prone to headaches | | | | |
| identifying triggers is an important part of | | | | * Vomiting |
| pain management. Alcohol is a common headache | | | | |
| trigger for those who already suffer from | | | | * Fatigue |
| headaches and on top of that, those who are | | | | |
| usually headache-free will still suffer | | | | * Diarrhoea |
| headaches from the hangover effect. | | | | |
| | | | There are several things you can do to avoid |
| Headache Triggers | | | | a hangover and the subsequent headaches that |
| | | | occur, with complete elimination of alcohol |
| Alcoholic drinks contain ethanol, which can | | | | being the obvious one. Other tips include: |
| contribute to headaches through various | | | | |
| mechanisms. Headaches begin from blood vessel | | | | * Hydrate yourself prior to drinking with |
| vasodilation and ethanol can prompt these | | | | either water or sports drinks. |
| changes. In addition, ethanol is a diuretic | | | | |
| and prompts the urinary loss of several | | | | * Limit the amount of alcohol you consume to |
| vitamins and minerals, as well as causing | | | | one or two drinks. |
| dehydration. | | | | |
| | | | * Avoid those drinks that trigger headaches, |
| Headaches may occur shortly following | | | | such as red wine, for example. |
| consumption of alcohol or the next morning, | | | | |
| with the infamous 'hangover.' Those occurring | | | | * Eat before you drink, with a focus on |
| shortly after tend to indicate specific | | | | sufficient fat. Fat takes the longest to |
| alcohol sensitivity and are more likely to | | | | digest of the macronutrients, and will help |
| occur in people who already experience | | | | to slow the absorption of alcohol. |
| migraines or other such headaches. | | | | |
| | | | Painkillers |
| Cluster headaches, in particular, are | | | | |
| triggered by alcohol. For some people, it is | | | | Be extremely cautious the next day if taking |
| the precise type of alcoholic drink that | | | | any painkillers for your headache, as alcohol |
| causes a headache. A person may experience a | | | | still in your system combined with |
| headache from one glass of wine but find that | | | | painkillers such as acetaminophen can have |
| he or she can drink several shots of vodka | | | | dangerous effects. Be sure to drink water to |
| without suffering from a headache. Even | | | | combat the dehydration caused by the alcohol. |
| within wines, for example, some may find that | | | | Many people drink coffee the next morning but |
| a glass of white wine causes no problem yet | | | | as coffee it also a diuretic, this will only |
| red wine leaves them with an excruciating | | | | increase your dehydration and may also |
| migraine. Red wine contains tyramine, which | | | | further upset your stomach and intensify your |
| is a known migraine trigger and so avoidance | | | | headache. |
| of red wine may be necessary for some people. | | | | |
| | | | Alcohol Safety |
| Hangovers | | | | |
| | | | You are the one to decide how much alcohol |
| A hangover is essentially a toxic reaction to | | | | you can safely consume before you suffer from |
| alcohol and can even be considered food | | | | a headache. You may need to make a note of |
| poisoning. Alcohol is a diuretic, thereby | | | | which drinks seem to trigger your migraines |
| flushing fluids from your body, and will | | | | or other headaches. If you are fortunate |
| generally leave you quite dehydrated as well | | | | enough to normally be headache-free, taking a |
| as contributing to a headache. Many of the | | | | little extra care before, during and after |
| impurities in addition to the alcohol itself | | | | drinking by eating a balanced meal, drinking |
| can leave your stomach feeling upset and | | | | sufficient fluids and avoiding excessive |
| uncomfortable. Symptoms of a hangover | | | | amounts of alcohol can help prevent a |
| include: | | | | hangover headache the next day. With a little |
| | | | extra effort in looking after yourself, you |
| * Headache | | | | should be able to enjoy a few drinks and your |
| | | | body will thank you the next day. You'll feel |
| * Extreme thirst | | | | better for it and can avoid those painful |
| | | | headaches. |
| * Nausea | | | | |