Many of us have experienced hangovers, but have you ever really stopped to think what it is that you are going through?  A hangover is a combination of mental and physical ailments that present themselves once alcohol has left your system.  These symptoms include:

·         Fatigue, drowsiness, weakness

·         Thirst

·         Headache/body aches

·         Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain

·         Vertigo, sensitivity to light and sound

·         Decreased attention and concentration

·         Depression, anxiety or irritability

·         Tremor, sweating, rapid heartbeat

What causes hangovers?

Typically, the more alcohol you drink, the worse the hangover will be.  The true cause is unknown but there are likely multiple causes of hangovers which boil down to dehydration, congeners, and body chemistry.

1. Dehydration: when consuming alcohol, your body inhibits the production of vasopressin, an antidiuretic hormone, which then increases urine production, leading to dehydration, thirst, weakness and lightheadedness. In order to make up for the mass amounts of liquid lost in urine, the body will try to recoup the water in the forms of dry mouth and by stealing water from the brain, which causes the brain to decrease in size and pull on the membranes that connect the brain to the skull, resulting in pain.  Frequent urination also expels salts and potassium, which are necessary for proper nerve and muscle function, resulting in headaches, fatigue and nausea.  Glucose is also excreted in urine, resulting in weakness, fatigue and lack of coordination.

2. Congeners: byproducts of fermentation that give alcoholic beverages their distinctive tastes, colors and smells.  Beverages high in congeners (i.e. whiskey, brandy, red wine) are more likely to cause hangovers than those beverages composed of more pure ethanol (i.e. gin, vodka, white wine).  Combining the various impurities of congeners can result in very severe hangover symptoms.  Carbonation increases the body’s absorption of alcohol giving the body less time to process the toxins.

3. Body chemistry: the way the body processes alcohol can cause rapid pulse, sweating, nausea, vomiting and eventually headaches.  There is evidence that your body also produces hormones that are designed to fight infection and bring on the same symptoms as a cold or flu.  Women have less alcohol dehydrogenase (which breaks down alcohol) than men. 

Is there a way to prevent hangovers?

The easiest way to prevent hangovers is quite obvious.  Don’t drink alcohol.  But we know that this is likely unrealistic for most people, so if you are going to have a few drinks, make sure you are keeping your liver healthy by consuming fewer toxins and more liver healthy vitamins through what you eat.  Other ways to lessen your hangover woes is to:

·         Stay hydrated

·         Choose beverages low in congeners

·         Eat a meal before consuming alcohol

·         Get enough sleep