What Are Cocktail Headaches and How Can You Avoid Them?

As early as 30 A.D., Roman medical writer Cornelius Celsus described what we now call the "cocktail headache"—a pain that can be mild or sharp, but brief and non-fatal, caused by drinking wine. Unlike hangover headaches that appear hours later, cocktail headaches strike within three hours of drinking. Let's explore why alcohol can leave you clutching your head in pain.

What Does a Cocktail Headache Feel Like?

A cocktail headache often starts during or right after drinking. It typically feels like a throbbing or pulsating pain, usually on one side of the head. Imagine a tiny, persistent drummer beating inside your brain—not a pleasant thought! This discomfort can worsen with movement or physical activity.

Other symptoms may include nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and general malaise. Some people are more prone to these headaches due to genetics, allergies, or sensitivities to ingredients in alcoholic drinks.

What Causes Cocktail Headaches?

Dehydration

Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it makes you urinate more frequently. This process flushes out not just water but essential electrolytes, which help maintain hydration and support nerve and muscle function. Dehydration can cause the brain to shrink slightly, pulling away from the skull and activating pain receptors.

Vasodilation

Alcohol triggers vasodilation—the widening of blood vessels. This increases blood flow to the brain and can lead to headaches.

Other Contributing Factors

• Sulfites: Used as preservatives in wine, beer, and spirits, these can cause headaches in sensitive individuals.
• Histamines: Produced during fermentation, these may trigger headaches in people who lack the enzyme to break them down.
• Tyramine: An amino acid in fermented drinks that affects blood vessels and can cause headaches, especially when alcohol inhibits the enzyme that breaks it down.
• Sugar: Sweet cocktails can cause blood sugar spikes and crashes, worsen dehydration, and disrupt brain chemistry, all contributing to headaches.

How to Prevent Cocktail Headaches

• Stay hydrated: Drink a glass of water for every alcoholic beverage.
• Pace yourself: Slow down and alternate drinks with water.
• Eat beforehand: Food slows alcohol absorption.
• Choose lighter drinks: Opt for vodka or gin over darker spirits, which contain more headache-triggering compounds.
• Try honey: Some find that honey before drinking helps due to its vitamin B6 content.
• Know your triggers: Avoid specific drinks or mixers that cause headaches for you.

How to Treat a Cocktail Headache

• Eat a balanced breakfast: Foods like eggs, avocados, or bananas replenish lost nutrients.
• Use OTC pain relievers: Ibuprofen or paracetamol can help, but avoid acetaminophen after drinking.
• Drink water: Rehydrate to soothe headache symptoms.
• Have fresh fruit: The fructose helps rebalance your body.
• Sip bouillon: Restores electrolytes and calms the digestive system.

Find Balance With Quitemate!

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