What causes red wine headaches?
Ask the doctor
Q. Occasionally I have a glass of red wine after dinner, but I always get a headache afterward. (White wine doesn’t have the same effect.) Why might this happen?Flavonoids are typically a good thing, since they boast antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and are linked to a host of health benefits. But in this case, quercetin appears to block a key enzyme that breaks down alcohol in the liver. When that happens, a chemical called acetaldehyde builds up in the blood, potentially triggering headaches as well as other symptoms such as nausea and flushing.
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About the Author
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
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