Drinking Smart: Alcohol and Caffeine
Dehydration is a known migraine trigger, so adequate fluid intake is an important part of a healthy lifestyle for the migraineur. However, many beverages can contain substances that have the potential to set off a migraine attack. So keeping a diary of what you drink to search for possible triggers is just as important as tracking your food intake.
Water should be the mainstay drink of choice for most migraineurs — it's additive-free, inexpensive, and noncaloric. You may be able to enjoy a variety of other beverages, but be aware of the additives and natural chemicals in many popular drinks so you can identify those that aren't compatible with your personal migraine management.
Not all alcoholic beverages are equal, and some may contain additional substances that can have an impact on migraine disease. Red wines, for example, are reported as a common trigger for many migraineurs, although studies have failed to reveal a connection between the two. For other people, beer or spirits may cause migraines.
Fermented drinks, such as red and white wines and beer, may contain histamine. Studies conducted by the National Institutes of Health show that histamine can induce migraine, either immediately or following a short delay. Many alcoholic drinks may contain tyramine in addition to histamine. A short list of drinks with tyramine includes red wine, beer, and champagne.
Up to 30 percent of migraine sufferers report sensitivity to beer, so eliminating it entirely would be a good way to determine whether it serves as a trigger. Distilled spirits, such as vodka, are not a common or well-known migraine trigger, but each migraineur is different. Experiment with one drink at a time, and keep a careful headache diary to help determine which drinks act as triggers.
Red wine contains tannins, which have been suspected to cause headaches. Tannin is a naturally occurring chemical that is present in grape skins, and it gives wine its dryness and bitterness. Since the process of red wine making includes the grape skins for color, it contains more tannin than white wine.
The most common drug in the United States, caffeine is one of the double-edged swords of migraine management. It is also prevalent in many over-the-counter migraine medications because it can be useful in stopping a migraine headache in its early phases. Caffeine acts as a vasoconstrictor and cardiac stimulant and, when taken in a small amount at the start of a migraine, can relieve headache pain. However, if caffeine intake is excessive, rebound headaches can become common when caffeine intake is withdrawn.
A possible solution regarding caffeine for migraineurs is to save it for emergencies. Enjoy decaffeinated coffee in the morning and use caffeinated soft drinks or coffee only when necessary to curtail a migraine attack. The caffeine will be more effective, and removing it largely from one's diet may reduce the number of headaches triggered by caffeine.
