PHILADELPHIA, Oct 22, 2009 (UPI via COMTEX) -- U.S. researchers suggest
migraine sufferers may be more prone to hangover headaches after drinking.
Experiments looked at a special rat model that suffered migraines when
stimulating the brain with an inflammatory mixture vs, rats that did not suffer
headaches.
"Our results suggest that dehydration or impurities in alcohol are not
responsible for hangover headache," Michael Oshinsky, assistant professor of
Neurology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, says in a
statement. "Since these rats were sufficiently hydrated and the alcohol they
received contained no impurities, the alcohol itself or a metabolite must be
causing the hangover-like headache. These data confirm the clinical observation
that people with migraine are more susceptible to alcohol-induced headaches."
The researchers compared four groups of rats. Two groups received repeated dural
simulation -- the outermost layers of the brain -- followed by an oral ingestion
of the equivalent of one to two shots of liquor. Two control groups received no
inflammatory stimulation but similar "liquor" ingestion.
The rats receiving dural stimulation followed by alcohol showed an initial
analgesic effect within the first two hours after alcohol ingestion. Four to six
hours later, their pain sensitivity increased, indicating a more painful state.
There were no changes in alcohol-induced sensitivity in the control groups.
The findings were presented at the annual meeting of the Society for
Neuroscience in Chicago.
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Copyright 2009 by United Press International