Red Wine Triggers Headaches and Migraines: The Explanation Behind This Phenomenon
Feel like that head-splitting agony after sipping red wine is never-ending? It's a bummer, but the real reason behind your red wine-induced headaches and migraines remains unsolved. Let's skim through what we do know.
Why, oh why, does red wine give me a headache or migraine?
Medical science still can't pinpoint the exact culprit, but it's safe to say that alcohol and certain compounds in red wine are linked to causing headaches and migraines.
Red wine's alcohol content can dilate your brain's blood vessels, which may kick off a headache. Further, alcohol can lead to dehydration — yep, you guessed it — a major headache trigger [1].
Some suspect the level of histamines, tannins, and sulfites in red wine might cause headaches, too.
What triggers my red wine headache or migraine?
The American Migraine Foundation suggests all alcoholic drinks can set off headaches but red wine has a notorious reputation as a headache trigger, even when compared to other alcoholic beverages [2].
In a 2019 survey of 2,197 folks with migraines, nearly 80% of those reporting alcohol-induced migraines actually blamed red wine [3]. Research from 2014 also concluded that wine, especially red wine, is a common migraine trigger compared to other alcohols [3].
While the root cause of a migraine after a few glasses of red wine is likely complex, factors like dehydration and vasodilation might play a role [3].
Dehydration and vasodilation
Drinking any alcoholic beverage can wreak havoc on your body. Alcohol acts as a vasodilator, causing blood vessels to widen, including those in your brain. Vasodilation can stimulate certain nerves in your brain that trigger a pain response.
What's more, alcohol is a diuretic and causes your kidneys to pump up their response (i.e., having to pee before you can even finish your drink). Food for thought: this increased urination could exacerbate that headache [1].
Histamine sensitivity
Grape skins contain histamine, a compound involved in immune responses released during allergic reactions. Since white wine is made without grape skins, it has lower histamine content than red wine. There's some research to suggest that a histamine sensitivity may make you more susceptible to a headache when consuming red wine, especially if you have a moderate or severe sensitivity [4].
But that's not truly supported by the research. A small study from 2001 found that individuals with wine intolerance who took antihistamines before drinking red wine showed no improvements from the treatment, suggesting there's no correlation between wine sensitivity/intolerance and the drink's histamine content [4].
Other possible triggers
- Tannins, a type of plant chemical that gives red wine its astringent taste, may increase the production of serotonin, causing headaches in some people [1].
- Sulfites, chemicals found in wines during fermentation, have been mentioned as a potential headache trigger, but most folks with sulfite sensitivity experience breathing problems or congestion rather than headaches, and red and white wine have similar sulfite levels [1].
Other food triggers
Histamine-laden foods like aged cheese, eggplant, sauerkraut, spinach, sausage, salami, fish, and various processed foods can be common migraine triggers [1].
How to sidestep red wine headaches
Gut-wrenching decision time: if you've identified red wine as a common headache trigger, you might want to give it a miss. But if spurning your beloved malbec just won't fly, lifestyle changes might help you ward off red wine-induced migraines:- Choose high-quality wines in small quantities.- Avoid drinking wine on an empty stomach.- Drink plenty of water before and after consumption.- Pause an hour before your second glass.- Savor your wine slowly.- Avoid mixing wine with other drinks.- Quit drinking wine as soon as you feel any head pain.
Keeping a food journal can help pinpoint food and drink triggers. Since wines are made from a variety of grapes, preservatives, and other ingredients, there are many potential suspects [1]. Consulting a doctor and allergist may also help you zero in on specific triggers you're dealing with [1].
Takeaway
While your throbbing head might be real, there's no definitive medical link between migraines and red wine. Compared to other types of alcohol, red wine's relatively high tannin and histamine content may increase the chance of headaches and migraines.
Switching to wines with lower tannin content (like merlot or pinot noir) in smaller quantities might help reduce symptoms or do nothing at all.
If you're convinced that red wine is causing your headaches, keep a food journal to identify triggers and consider consulting a doctor and allergist for more guidance [1].
References:- [1]: Mayo Clinic (July 2021). Alcohol and headaches. Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/headache/traditional-medicine/alcohol-and-headaches/cms-21156170- [2]: Medical News Today, Healthline- [3]: American Migraine Foundation- [4]: Confrontational Alliance on Headache (CAH)
- The high histamine content in red wine, due to the inclusion of grape skins during production, may contribute to the onset of headaches and migraines in some individuals with sensitivity to histamines.
- Antihistamines, often used to alleviate allergic reactions, have been considered as a potential solution for preventing red wine-induced headaches, but research suggests they may not be effective.
- The concentration of tannins, a type of plant chemical in red wine, can potentially increase the production of serotonin, which may cause headaches in some people.
