Nearly everyone has suffered from a hangover at one point in their life. You’re having a grand time the night before, throwing back drinks without a care in the world, and then you wake up the next morning and want to crawl into a hole. Noises are too loud, the sun is too bright, and even the thought of food makes you want to vomit. What exactly is a hangover, though, and what causes these symptoms?
Some of the signs of a hangover are: Fatigue and weakness, excessive thirst and dry mouth, headaches and muscle aches, nausea, vomiting or stomach pain, poor or decreased sleep, increased sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness or vertigo, shakiness, inability to concentrate, mood problems such as depression, anxiety, and irritability, and rapid heartbeat. Hangovers usually aren’t dangerous, no matter how much you feel like you’re about to die, but if you experience seizures or trouble breathing you should seek emergency help. You should also see a doctor if you’re frequently suffering from them, as this is a sign that you’re drinking too heavily and too often and might be an indication of an alcohol use disorder.
One of the causes of hangovers is dehydration. Drinking alcohol makes you have to urinate more than usual, and being dehydrated can cause dizziness and lightheadedness. It also causes the stomach to produce more acid and irritates the stomach lining, which leads to nausea and vomiting. Alcohol makes blood sugar fall, which can result in fatigue, weakness, shakiness, mood disturbances and seizures. It also causes blood vessels to expand, resulting in headaches.
One theory is that hangovers mostly result from a buildup of acetaldehyde in the body. Acetaldehyde is created when the alcohol in the liver is broken down by an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase, and when you’re drinking heavily it accumulates in the liver. It’s estimated to be between 10 and 30 times as toxic as alcohol itself and has been found to cause symptoms such as sweating, skin flushing, nausea, and vomiting.
It’s also possible that hangovers are a result of alcohol disturbing your immune system. Excessive alcohol consumption can provoke the release of cytokine, or molecules that your immune system uses to send signals. This results in muscle aches, fatigue, headaches, nausea, and cognitive impairment.
Anyone can get a hangover, but it’s more likely to occur if you’re drinking on an empty stomach or using other drugs, particularly nicotine. Eat before and during consumption of alcohol and try to drink plenty of water. The best advice for avoiding a hangover is simply to not drink to excess. One drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men is considered moderate drinking. Women are more likely to have hangovers than men, although this is largely due to a difference in body weight.
If you or a loved one need help with quitting drugs or alcohol, consider Asana Recovery. We offer medical detox, along with both residential and outpatient programs, and you’ll be supervised by a highly trained staff of medical professionals, counselors, and therapists. Call us any time at (949) 438-4504.
