Hangovers are a common occurrence after a night of heavy drinking. They can leave you feeling miserable and unable to function the next day. But what exactly causes a hangover, and how can you cure it? In this blog post, we will explore the science behind hangovers and provide some tips to avoid them.
What Causes Hangovers?
Hangovers are caused by a variety of factors, including dehydration, inflammation, and the toxic effects of alcohol on the body. When you drink alcohol to excess, it is metabolized by your liver into acetaldehyde, a toxic substance that can cause headaches, nausea, and other symptoms associated with hangovers. Additionally, alcohol can irritate the lining of your stomach, leading to inflammation and digestive issues.
One of the main causes of hangovers is over-indulgence in alcohol leading to dehydration. Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it increases urine production which can lead to dehydration. That is why the first tip to avoid a hangover- drink in moderation- and it is crucial to drink plenty of water before, during, and after consuming alcohol. It is also better to have a glass of water between each alcoholic drink and to keep a bottle of water next to your bed at night as dehydration can lead to headaches, fatigue, and other unpleasant symptoms of alcohol toxicity- better known as a hangover
As the Harvard Medical School website helpfully clarifies, “Drinking interferes with brain activity during sleep, so a hangover may be a form of sleep deprivation. Alcohol scrambles the hormones that regulate our biological clocks, which may be why a hangover can feel like jet lag, and vice versa. Alcohol can also trigger migraines, so some people may think they're hung over when it's really an alcohol-induced migraine they're suffering.”\
Preventing and Treating Hangovers
According to News Medical, “more than 75% of alcohol users have experienced a hangover at least once, 15% experience the problem at least once a month, and 25% of college students experience symptoms weekly.”
While there is no guaranteed cure for hangovers, there are several steps you can take to prevent and alleviate the symptoms. These include drinking responsibly, staying hydrated, eating a balanced meal before drinking, and avoiding alcoholic cocktail drinks with high levels of congeners (chemical compounds that are responsible for giving taste and aroma to alcoholic drinks).
Tips for Curing a Hangover
- Drink plenty of water to rehydrate your body and counteract the dehydration caused by alcohol.
- Eat a healthy breakfast that includes protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats to provide your body with the nutrients it needs the next morning.
- Get plenty of rest to allow your body to recover from the effects of alcohol.
Sources for further reading:
https://www.health.harvard.edu/staying-healthy/7-steps-to-cure-yourhangover-and-ginkgo-biloba-whats-the-verdict
https://www.news-medical.net/health/The-Science-BehindHangovers.aspx#:~:text=Hangover%20biology%3A%20acetaldehyde,an%20enzym e%20called%20alcohol%20dehydrogenase