What causes a hangover?
The unpleasant symptoms experienced during a hangover are mainly caused by three factors. (1) The diuretic effect of alcohol that causes the drinker to pass more urine and thus become dehydrated. (2) The toxic effects of by-product of alcohol metabolism (acetaldehyde) (3) Depletion of vitamin A, vitamin C, the B vitamins (especially vitamin B6), magnesium, potassium and calcium. Co-geners are another cause of hangovers. These are impurities created during the fermentation of some types of alcohol. Low quality wines and dark drinks tend to have high levels of co-geners. A general rule of thumb is the darker your drink, the worse the hangover. Certain chemicals added to some drinks such as preservatives and sweeteners also make the hangover worse.
The symptoms of hangovers
Symptoms of hangovers can include some or all
of the following class of symptoms:
Constitutional: Fatigue, weakness, and thirst. Pain: Headache and muscle aches.
Gastrointestinal: Nausea, vomiting, and stomach ache. Sleep and
Biological Rhythms: Decreased sleep including decreased deep sleep which
means the sleep you do get does not leave you refreshed. Sensory:
Dizziness and sensitivity to light and sound. Cognitive: Decreased
attention and concentration. Mood: Depression, anxiety, and irritability.
Sympathetic Hyperactivity: Tremor, sweating, and increased pulse and
blood pressure.
How long will a hangover
last?
Hangover
symptoms usually begin within a few hours of the drinking session ending when
the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) begins to fall. The symptoms usually peak
at the time when the person’s BAC returns to zero. Hangover symptoms can last
from a few hours to up to 24 hours. Some binge drinkers develop a tolerance for
alcohol which means they do not get hangovers, however their performance at
work or other areas of their life will be
Is there a cure for
hangovers?
There is no cure for a hangover. Apart from drinking in moderation (or
not drinking) there is no guaranteed way of preventing one. Hangover cures are
generally a myth. Dehydration is the main culprit; three times as much fluid is
lost than is taken in while drinking alcohol because of the diuretic effect
alcohol has on the kidneys; this is because alcohol inhibits a hormone called
anti-diuretic hormone (ADH). The symptoms of a hangover can be reduced by
rehydrating with water before going to bed. The best way to deal with “the
morning after” symptoms is to rehydrate by drinking plenty of fluids. You can
replace lost fluids by drinking bland liquids that are easy on the stomach such
as still or sparkling water and isotonic drinks. Water also
helps dilute the leftover byproducts of alcohol in the stomach. Adding salt and
sugar to water helps replace the sodium and glucose lost the night before. Many
believe that fatty or fried foods the next morning will ease the symptoms;
however this is more likely to irritate an already delicate stomach. Over the counter
painkillers can help with headaches and muscle cramps. Sugary foods may help
reduce trembling. An antacid may ease an upset stomach. Food
helps slow the absorption of alcohol so it takes alcohol longer to reach your
blood stream, thus reducing the risk of becoming intoxicated and your hangover
may not be as bad. Lining the stomach with a glass of milk before drinking may
slow down the absorption of alcohol very slightly. Replenishing vitamins and
minerals lost may help as alcohol robs our body of many vitamins and minerals.
Some people believe that taking a supplement such a vitamin C or B complex
supplement can help. Why do hangovers get worse as we get older?
Many of us have heard people saying (or said it ourselves) that hangovers get worse as you hit your 30’s or 40’s compared to when you were in your early 20’s. Is this just our imagination? There is truth in this and there is a scientific explanation. Our body uses the enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase (ALDH) and aldehyde dehydrogenase (ADH) to break down alcohol. As we get older, these enzymes reduce in efficiency meaning that it takes longer for the body to get rid of the toxic byproducts of alcohol such as acetaldehyde which leads to longer and more unpleasant hangovers.
Eamonn Brady
is a pharmacist and the owner of Whelehans Pharmacy, Pearse St, Mullingar. If
you have any health questions e-mail them to info@whelehans.ie
I found the points mentioned above really useful. It seems people have been taking it lightly and have a lot of misconceptions about alcohol. I have been following the effects of alcohol for a while and found these important myths and facts given in link below:
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