Headaches associated with the intake of alcoholic beverages are quite common, especially as a direct effect after an excess. However, there are also cases of women who, even when drinking in a moderate way a product as common as beer, linked to social gatherings and the summer season, develop annoying ailments that can ruin any event they are attending. In such circumstances, the best option is to see your GP as you may have developed an intolerance to alcohol.
Causes of headache from beer intake
Although its mention is obvious, beer -except in some varieties- is a drink that contains alcohol. If, as we have seen, our body develops some kind of intolerance to alcohol, it is likely that, although its presence in said product is very low, we will not be able to absorb it and, therefore, we will not properly digest the amount we have taken. If we suffer from this allergy we must, in the first instance, stop consuming this product since symptoms such as headaches, nasal congestion or nausea can be generated.
Histamine is a chemical compound that our own body produces as a safety measure against the development of diseases and infections. This substance, in addition to our body, can be found in a multitude of foods and drinks. Among them beer. If we have some type of allergy to histamine, by consuming beer we can cause inflammation in soft tissues, generating pain in the head or in the sinuses.
Another food allergy that can be directly related to beer intake results in wheat intolerance. Actually, the reaction occurs based on the presence of proteins in this substance. Our immune system, where appropriate, triggers a series of processes that ultimately have an impact on the production of histamine, antibodies and other derived chemicals. In addition to severe headaches, it is possible that we have difficulty breathing, chest pain, skin rashes or gastric ailments.