QUESTION: I suffer from migraine headaches on an irregular basis.
However, one little glass of red wine and I am down for the count.
What puzzles me though is that my girlfriend, who also suffers with migraine, can drink regularly with no ill effects whatsoever.
Do you have any explanations for this puzzle.
ANSWER: Many migraine sufferers have similar stories to tell, for research tells us that about 25% of patients with this painful and disabling type of headache relate the onset of an attack to some specific beverage or food.
The chief culprit is identified as alcohol, but even here there are some notable differences.
Many patients can get by with a drink or two from time to time, but those who drink red wine are generally the ones with acute onset of headache, usually within three hours after imbibing.
White wine drinkers do not suffer similarly, nor do those who drink other forms of alcohol, such as vodka or even beer.
We know that red wine contains certain substances not found in other alcoholic drinks.
One such chemical that is frequently thought to be the cause is tyramine, which has an action in the body similar to adrenalin.
Another group of chemicals found in red wine are the flavonoids, that produce the color of the wine, and they too can be the cause of your problem.
In general the rule is simple; if a food or drink causes the onset of a migraine, you should drop it from your diet permanently.
It might be interesting to compare your choices of beverage with your nonsuffering girlfriend and see if this explanation answers the question in your case.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
