If you discover you’re one of the unfortunate few who really can’t handle drinking wine, the only safe solution is to consume alcohol-free alternatives. Various studies produced conflicting results on the type of wine that triggers migraines. A European study showed 11% of sufferers claimed red wine as the most common cause, while a French study found 54% of attacks were caused by white wine. Dr. Bertrand adds that if your wine-triggered headaches are concerning, try switching the type of wine you drink or reducing your wine consumption. She cautions that drinking too much alcohol of any kind can damage your drug addiction treatment brain, liver, and heart.
Why do we get headaches after drinking red wine? Research says the culprit is…
- And phenolics are good antioxidants – they’re unlikely to trigger the inflammation that would cause a headache.
- There’s no proof that drinking raw eggs or downing hot sauce will get rid of your morning-after migraine faster.
- Tannin is also found in many other common products, such as tea and chocolate, which generally don’t cause headaches.
- Then, the enzyme ALDH converts the acetaldehyde to acetate, a common and innocuous substance.
Levels of quercetin can also differ depending on how the wine is made, including skin contact during fermentation, fining processes and aging. Waterhouse said levels of this flavanol why does wine cause migraines can vary dramatically in red wine. According to Waterhouse, grapes grown with clusters exposed to sunlight can multiply the flavonoid’s presence by four to five times. Flushing occurs in some people who metabolize alcohol less efficiently than others so that when they drink, their face becomes discolored, often red.
The Fallacy of Sulfites
I’m one of the millions of Asians who can’t process alcohol and flush or turn red when they drink. As with any health problem, if your RWH persists, you should seek medical help, Pace said. If you find yourself experiencing headaches often, it’s worth making an appointment with a headache specialist, she added.
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Feel like the initial joy of sipping red wine always ends in a migraine attack? While you might be kicking yourself for drinking that glass of pinot noir, the exact cause of red wine-induced headache and migraine is unknown. This flavanol is called quercetin, and it is naturally present in all kinds of fruits and vegetables, including grapes. It’s considered a healthy antioxidant and is even available in supplement form.
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Wine lovers living with a migraine condition don’t have to cut themselves off from wine entirely. Your first rule to follow would be to limit the quantity of wine (or any alcohol) you imbibe. Second, avoid red wines unless they are organic and contain no added sulfites, if those prove to be a trigger for you. Sip water between glasses of wine, eat a healthy meal before you drink, and keep your sunglasses and earplugs close at hand.
- Histamine can dilate blood vessels in the body, which might trigger headache.
- Many things can trigger a migraine, from stress at work to changes in the weather to foods like aged cheese.
- While you might be kicking yourself for drinking that glass of pinot noir, the exact cause of red wine-induced headache and migraine is unknown.
- Once it gets into your system, it is converted into a chemical that triggers migraine.
- Researchers don’t know if the enzymes of people who suffer from red wine headaches are more easily inhibited by quercetin or if this population is just more easily affected by the buildup of the toxin acetaldehyde.