The Big Picture: Dr. Adriana Davis, Family Medicine. says, “It’s not in your head, for some people red wine can induce headaches…”
Doctor’s Expert Insights About Quercetin, Alcohol, and Your Health in Georgia
Know this: “So the process that may be causing headaches for people who experience the ‘red wine headache’ is multifold. A flavanol, quercetin, could be the starting step of the reaction pathway that leads to headaches. Quercetin interferes with alcohol metabolism when your body is breaking down the alcohol; and this, in turn, can lead to the accumulation of acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is an inflammatory toxin, and this could lead to headaches. As doctors, we’d like you to know that limiting the amount of alcohol you consume is very important for your overall health outcomes. As the holiday season approaches, please keep an eye on how much and how fast you’re consuming alcohol. Moderation is always key!” Dr. Puja Uppal, Family Medicine.
Beyond the news: Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) is a huge public health emergency. The rates of alcohol use have gone up quite dramatically since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic–especially in women. Please talk to your healthcare team about your drinking patterns.
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Health Alert for Albany
Key Drivers in Dougherty County:
The study conducted by UC Davis scientists shows that a flavanol, quercetin, commonly found in red wine, is a potential cause of ‘red wine headaches.’
Researchers reported that “… alcohol induced headaches have variously been ascribed to either the direct effect of alcohols, metabolism of alcohol, genetic makeup, and presence of congeners.”
The variability of quercetin levels in red wines is influenced by many factors including sunlight exposure during grape growth and individual…
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