Headache with a hangover

A hangover headache is a throbbing, excruciating, and extremely painful sensation.

A hangover is a consequence of drinking alcohol the night before. But everyone’s reactions are different. Some can drink heavily and at least they have something. And for others, a few glasses are enough to feel bad in the morning. And, as a rule, the most unpleasant (it is also the most frequent) symptom of alcoholic libations is a headache.

Alcohol can also be a trigger for migraines – about 3 out of 10 migraine sufferers notice that their headaches appear after drinking. And another 5 out of 10 people claim that alcohol is a provocateur of cluster headache for them, that is, with a series of attacks.

Why does my head hurt with a hangover?

Alcoholic drinks contain ethanol (ethyl alcohol). And, as you know, it leads to dehydration of the body, and it also acts as a diuretic. According to studies, 250 ml of an alcoholic drink removes 800 ml of water from the body. In the morning, all the organs and tissues of our body are desperately trying to replenish their fluid reserves and take it away … from the brain, which is 70% water. As a result, the brain decreases in size, the membranes that connect it to the skull are stretched, which leads to headaches.

In addition, along with water, alcohol removes potassium salts from our body, which are necessary for the proper functioning of muscles and nerves. When potassium levels become too low, headaches can also occur.

However, not only ethanol is to blame for the sick head. There are other triggers as well.

Studies conducted in the US and Europe have shown that red and white wine are more likely to cause headaches than vodka. It has also been noted that beer or sparkling wine is more likely to trigger migraines. And it’s not just ethanol – other chemicals can be the cause:

• tyramine;
• histamine;
• phenethylamine;
• sulfites;
• flavonoid phenols.

For example, people who suffer from migraines get headaches after eating meat and aged cheeses, which contain histamines and tyramines. Similarly, there are tyramines in wine. And histamines are in beer, Braga and champagne. Obviously, a glass of wine or a can of beer will not cause dehydration, and yet it can trigger a migraine.

Flavonoid phenols and tannins are found in dark-colored drinks such as whiskey, brandy, cognac. Some research suggests that dark drinks are more likely to cause severe hangover headaches than light drinks. These data lead some doctors to believe that it is these chemicals, and not ethanol, that cause migraines and other types of headaches.

And finally, another trigger is nicotine. Many people start smoking more when they drink. The combined effect of nicotine and alcohol causes a strong release of dopamine, the happy hormone. Yes, at first this hormone elevates mood, but its overabundance can also provoke a headache. Studies have shown that people who puffed on a couple of cigarettes while drinking were twice as likely to experience hangover headaches than those who drank without smoking.

The International Headache Society notes that there are two types of pain caused by alcohol:

• immediate (cocktail) – occurs immediately after drinking alcohol (within 30 minutes – 3 hours) and can last up to 2 – 3 days;
• delayed (hangover) – begins the morning after the party and passes after a few hours (maximum in a day) along with a hangover.

What to do if you have a hangover headache

There are several ways to get rid of a hangover headache. Here are the most common recommendations from doctors.

Drink plenty of water

It is extremely necessary to restore the necessary amount of fluid in the body. It is better if it is mineral water with potassium, calcium, sodium ions – it will also help restore the balance of electrolytes.

Eat

In the evening, during a feast, try to eat more fatty foods – they absorb alcohol well, it does not enter the blood so quickly.

Eat some carbohydrate-rich foods in the morning to raise your blood sugar levels. Ideally, porridge. Or a muffin or a cookie.

Make coffee or tea

Drinks with caffeine will help “turn on” the nervous system, oppressed by alcohol. But remember, these drinks have a diuretic effect and also lead to dehydration. So drink water after them.

Have a painkiller

Aspirin or Nurofen will help get rid of a headache. But not Paracetamol! Which, by the way, is part of the popular Citramon. The fact is that Paracetamol is very toxic to the liver, which already suffered the day before. In addition, there is evidence that it inhibits the production of enzymes in the liver that break down alcohol. That is, the headache will go away, but other hangover symptoms will last longer.

As for Aspirin, yes, it negatively affects the stomach. But if you drink it with plenty of water, nothing bad will happen. Its side effects are not as strong as those of Paracetamol.

Take Vitamin B

The level of this vitamin decreases with alcohol consumption. And its lack can also provoke a headache attack. But it is better to take vitamins before a feast, and not in the morning.

Get some sleep

Taking a nap can make a big difference in relieving hangover headaches.

Popular questions and answers

Popular questions about hangover headaches we asked to answer psychotherapist, narcologist Ilya Kisler.