Most people are familiar with the nausea and headaches associated with hangovers. These are the body’s response to both dehydration and the depletion of Vitamin B in the liver. Fortunately, these maladies are easy to correct with time, nutritional supplementation, and water. But there are some people who suffer from headaches after just a glass or two of wine. They go home shaking their heads, asking themselves, “Why do I get headaches from wine?”
A common misconception is that the headaches are caused by an allergy to the sulfites present in all wine. While there is a very small number of people who are allergic to sulfites, if you had that allergy, you wouldn’t have to wonder about it. You would know without a doubt, for two reasons: First, the allergic reaction to sulfites is not a headache, but anaphylaxis, which causes the throat to swell shut, abdominal cramping, and difficulty breathing. This reaction can occur within seconds of ingestion and requires the immediate administration of epinephrine, or death can result quickly. Second, sulfites are present in many foods, such as dried fruit and vegetables like raisins, dates, prunes, trail mixes, celery, carrots, tomatoes, and other products containing them, like cereals, candies, soups, etc. Sulfites are not unique to wine.
Possible Causes of Wine-Related Headaches
There are a few people who experience difficulty after drinking white wine, but the main culprit for wine headaches is red wine. So much so, in fact, that it has been given its own designation: RWH (Red Wine Headache). In rare cases, the headache could be a result of an allergy to certain histamines. Red wine can contain up to 200% more histamines than white wine. People with this allergy are deficient in a particular enzyme. The deficiency, coupled with the alcohol, can cause the headache/flush response. Fortunately, this can be easily prevented by drinking a cup or two of black tea before drinking red wine, and if you’re making a night of it, a cup at periodic intervals. Black teas contain quercetin, a bioflavonoid that inhibits the reaction to histamines.
Another suspected cause is the amount of tannins in the wine. Tannins are flavonoids that give wines their mouth-drying bitterness. Tannins are contained in the skin, seeds, and stems of grapes. The skins give wine its red color, which is why red wines have so much more tannin than white wine. Tannins can cause the release of serotonin in some people. Serotonin is the neurotransmitter associated with pleasure, happiness, and well-being. It is secreted in the brain and is triggered by almost anything a person enjoys doing. However, excess serotonin can cause headaches, and it is also one of the causes of migraine headaches.
Winemakers try to limit the amount of undesirable tannins from seeds by pressing the grapes gently during the juice extraction process. Wines can also absorb more tannins from the wooden barrels they are sometimes aged and stored in. But it is a trade-off, as some tannins are necessary to prevent oxidation in wine. As wine ages, these tannins precipitate out into the sediment, so young wines have a much greater potential for headaches. People who suffer from RWH may still be able to enjoy red wine by simply drinking more aged wines.
French red wines from Bordeaux and some Italian wines are particularly high in tannins when young. Other wines with high tannin levels when young include Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah/Shiraz. Some red wines that are low in tannins include Burgundy, Pinot Noir, and Beaujolais. One way to tell a low-tannin red wine on the shelf is to look for the traditional sloped-shouldered “Burgundy Bottle,” especially on European wines. There is a marked difference in tannin levels between different varieties and brands of red wines. If you suffer from RWH and this is the cause, unfortunately, there is not much you can do about it other than trying to stick with low-tannin red wines, drinking white wine, or avoiding wine completely.
Another answer to the question, “Why do I get headaches from wine?” may be the release of prostaglandins, caused by various compounds unique to red wine. There are people who are unable to metabolize prostaglandins, which are trans-membrane receptors present in smooth muscle tissue. Prostaglandins are lipid compounds derived from fatty acids. They do many things, one of which is to cause dilation and constriction of vascular smooth muscle. The brain is made of vascular smooth muscle tissue, hence the headache when an excess of prostaglandins are released and not metabolized.
If this is the cause, there are preventative measures available. Acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin) is a prostaglandin inhibitor, so taking one an hour or so before consuming wine may help. Other prostaglandin inhibitors include Acetaminophen (Motrin, Tylenol, etc.) and Ibuprofen (Advil). Do not use acetaminophen because, in some people, it can cause acute liver failure when combined with alcohol. Similarly, avoid Ibuprofen, which can cause stomach bleeding when mixed with alcohol.
The last possible cause of headaches could be an adverse reaction to certain yeasts or bacteria that may be present in some wines.
If headaches after drinking wine are a persistent problem, you have two choices: Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages (the obvious solution) or consult with a physician. A physician may be able to pinpoint the exact cause and offer solutions.
The reason there is so much disagreement as to the causes of headaches associated with wine drinking is that there is little interest in funding research on the topic. Rather than spend money on research, the federal government would most likely just say, “Stop drinking,” instead of facing backlash from the wine industry. And the wine industry has no interest in funding research, as they don’t want to bring up the possibility that there may be a problem.
Of course, nothing in this article is intended as medical advice of any kind. It is for informational purposes only. If you keep asking yourself, “Why do I get headaches from wine?” you really need to pose that question to your doctor.
