AARP: 4 foods that can trigger migraines

Martin tells AARP that when it comes to headaches, "caffeine is a two-edged sword."

If you have a bad migraine, a stiff cup of coffee or other caffeinated beverage may actually help your headache. In fact, many over-the-counter analgesic medications, such as Excedrin, contain caffeine along with the pain-relieving ingredient.

On the other hand, if you consume caffeine on a daily basis, your brain becomes acclimated to that dose, Martin says. “Studies have shown that if you normally drink two cups of coffee per day, and on one day, you drink four or five cups of coffee, then you’re more likely to have a migraine,” he says.

About 29 to 36% of people who suffer from migraines say alcoholic beverages bring on their headaches. But not every vintage, brew or spirit is the problem. “It probably depends on what kind of alcoholic beverage you’re talking about,” Martin says. One study showed that red wine was far more likely to lead to a migraine than vodka. 

AARP also reports other data shows that alcohol is more likely to be a trigger if it is consumed during a time of stress. Plus, dehydration could be a contributing factor, says Hope O’Brien, MD, an adjunct professor of neurology at the UC College of Medicine.

“Wine tends to be a diuretic,” O’Brien says, “and we know that dehydration is a migraine trigger.”

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