Home » Blog » What Causes Hangovers?

What Causes Hangovers?

Have you ever gone out drinking only to wake up the next morning with a painful headache, nausea, and sensitivity to light? Maybe you feel exhausted and achy, almost like you are battling the flu. If so, you have experienced an alcohol hangover.

Most people who engage in moderate to heavy drinking wake up with a hangover the next day. It refers to a set of symptoms that include fatigue, headaches, weakness, dehydration, muscle aches, nausea, vertigo, sensitivity to light, and more.[1] The symptoms of hangovers can vary from person to person.

If you wake up with a hangover, you might be wondering what causes it. Several factors contribute to the development of alcohol hangovers, including dehydration, disrupted sleep, gastrointestinal issues, acetaldehyde exposure, inflammation, and more. The severity of your hangover can depend on how much you drank, your age, whether you consumed enough water, and how much food you ate.

In this article, you will learn:

What causes a hangover
What are the symptoms of a hangover
Common myths about alcohol hangovers
Tips for preventing a hangover

What Causes an Alcohol Hangover?

Several factors play a role in the development of an alcohol hangover. Alcohol causes a lot of different effects on your body, all leading to the development of uncomfortable symptoms the next morning. Alcohol hangovers can last for 24 hours in some cases, especially if you consume an excess of alcoholic drinks.

Dehydration

First, alcohol is a diuretic, which means it increases urine flow. Second, drinking alcohol causes the suppression of vasopressin, which sends signals to your kidneys to cause fluid retention.[1] Frequent urination occurs as a result, often leading to dehydration.

Alcohol also leads to an electrolyte imbalance, which further contributes to dehydration. The mild dehydration caused by alcohol can lead to hangover symptoms like thirst, fatigue, and headaches.

Sleep

While alcohol might cause you to fall asleep faster, it disrupts quality sleep from occurring.[2] This factor can play a role in hangover symptoms like fatigue.

Gastrointestinal Issues

Alcohol irritates the lining of your stomach and causes increased acidity.[3] This is what causes gastrointestinal-related hangover symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain or discomfort.

Exposure to Acetaldehyde

When alcohol is metabolized by your liver, it turns into a substance known as acetaldehyde, a toxic substance that causes inflammation in your liver, pancreas, brain, gastrointestinal tract, and more. This can lead to hangover symptoms like fast heart rate, sweating, skin flushing, nausea, and vomiting.[4]

Slight Withdrawal

When you drink, you might experience symptoms of increased calmness, relaxation, and euphoria. Your brain will quickly adjust to the effects of alcohol and attempt to balance the chemicals. Once the alcohol wears off, your brain might have difficulty readjusting, leading to slight withdrawal symptoms like anxiety and irritability that are a part of a hangover.[1]

Symptoms of a Hangover

If you drink alcoholic beverages, you might wake up feeling hungover. It is important to drink in moderation, as excessive alcohol consumption can lead to worse hangovers and an alcohol use disorder over time. Your risk of developing a problem with alcohol is increased if you have a family history of alcoholism.

If you are experiencing one, you should eat a balanced meal, hydrate, and take pain relievers to cope with headaches or body aches.

The common symptoms of an alcohol hangover include:

Fatigue
Weakness
Thirst and dehydration
Muscle aches
Nausea and vomiting
Stomach pain or upset stomach
Headaches
Vertigo and dizziness
Sensitivity to light and sound
Rapid heartbeat and increased blood pressure
Excessive sweating
Shakiness or tremors
Poor sleep
Difficulty concentrating
Mood changes like anxiety or depression

Drinking a lot of alcohol can also affect your blood sugar levels. Instead of releasing glucose, your liver is processing alcohol. As a result, if you struggle with a condition like diabetes you should be incredibly cautious when drinking.

Common Myths About Hangovers

There are many myths about hangovers and how to treat them. Being aware of these myths will prevent you from wasting your time when you are trying to relieve hangover symptoms.

The most common myths about hangovers include:

Drinking Coffee or Taking a Shower – Some people believe that drinking coffee or taking a shower will prevent you from experiencing a hangover. Unfortunately, this is not true. The only way to avoid a hangover is to limit your alcohol consumption and drink water frequently.

Beer Before Liquor, Never Been Sicker – There is a common misconception that the order of alcoholic beverages can play a role in the development of a hangover. People say that drinking beer before consuming liquor will cause a hangover while drinking liquor first will prevent one. There is no truth to this and any order of alcohol consumption can cause a hangover.

Hair of the Dog – There is a myth that consuming an alcoholic beverage when you wake up after a night of drinking will prevent you from feeling sick. This is called “hair of the dog.” While drinking alcohol could temporarily minimize symptoms, you will experience a hangover later on.

If you are looking to prevent a hangover, you should eat before you consume alcohol. This can slow down your body’s absorption of alcohol and lessen the intensity of the hangover you experience. Additionally, drinking in moderation and consuming water between each alcoholic beverage can make a hangover less likely.

Find Help for Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

If you or a loved one struggles with alcoholism, it’s time to seek help. At the Mandala Healing Center, we offer evidence-based treatments for alcohol use disorder, ensuring you get the highest standard of care possible.

References: