Migraine Attacks: The Best (and Worst) Drinks to Choose at Happy Hour If You’re Prone to Migraines

glamour.com:

. But your favorite alcoholic drinks could be contributing to .Any kind of alcohol could trigger a migraine immediately—or several hours later. “Alcohol is less of a food and more of a drug,” says , research associate professor of neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and associate professor of psychology at Yeshiva University.Although alcohol’s exact role in migraine attacks, there are plenty of reasons why alcohol may be a migraine trigger: Alcohol breaks down into metabolites when it hits your digestive system, which can impact your perception of pain—plus, it scrambles a number of the brain’s chemical messengers, which can , Seng says.

Plus, drinking alcohol can lead to , which is a common migraine trigger by itself.But some alcoholic drinks are worse than others.

Here’s what to steer clear of—and what you can do to reduce your chances of a migraine attack while you’re celebrating this summer.Although any alcohol can trigger a migraine, some drinks are more likely to trigger attacks than others, research shows.

especially in patients who experience frequent migraine attacks. While caffeine isn’t a common ingredient in many drinks, you’ll find it in espresso martinis, Irish coffee, Jägerbombs, rum and Cokes, and vodka Red Bulls.Seng says there’s also some evidence linking high-sugar beverages—including sweet and , and mixed drinks made with juice or soda—with migraine.