After excessive alcohol consumption, many people experience discomfort such as headache, which is characterized by throbbing pain mainly in the temples on both sides. Why does drinking alcohol cause headaches?
Excessive intake of ethanol causes headaches
The main component of alcohol is ethanol. Excessive consumption of ethanol can lead to an excessive intake of ethanol. Ethanol has a dilating effect on cerebral blood vessels, and headaches often occur around 30-45 minutes after drinking. In addition, alcohol can inhibit the renewal of serotonin in the brain, stimulate the production of prostaglandins, and enhance platelet reactivity, all of which can cause headaches.
Alcohol stimulates the sympathetic nervous system and causes headaches
Some alcoholic beverages such as beer, fruit wine, rice wine, and red wine contain abundant tyramine, which can stimulate the release of norepinephrine from the peripheral endings of the sympathetic nervous system, increase blood pressure, and cause headaches.
Reasons for headaches caused by red wine
Red wine also contains a significant amount of phenylethylamine, which can affect vascular tone. In addition, red wine also contains a phenolsulfonate inhibitor, which inhibits the activity of phenolsulfonate and prevents phenolic sulfation in the body, leading to an increase in phenol concentration in the blood and thus causing headaches.
Enzyme deficiency causing headaches
Some individuals may lack certain enzymes, which prevents the complete breakdown of alcohol components in the body, resulting in an accumulation of excessive acetaldehyde. This stimulates sensitive tissues related to headaches and causes headaches.
