Thumping head, dry mouth, bleary eyes, patchy memory - the hangover fug is
familiar to many. But why does alcohol make us feel so dreadful? Even though
human beings have suffered from hangovers for thousands of years, we're
still largely in the dark as to exactly why they happen, and how to cure
them. Researchers this week revealed that many hangover cures simply don't
work. The only sure-fire cure, they say, is not to get drunk in the first
place. If only it were that simple. Here is what scientists believe takes
place in the body after a big night out on the town.
Head
Headache Scientists believe that those throbbing, relentless hangover
headaches are due to a number of factors. The first is dehydration. Alcohol
prevents the release of a hormone responsible for retaining water in the
body. As a result, the kidneys no longer conserve water and more fluid is
excreted as urine. Moreover, alcohol widens the blood vessels in the head,
adding to the pain.
Concentration Avoid any task that requires more than half a brain.
Studies suggest that hangover misery interferes with both short-term memory
and concentration. One study of military pilots revealed that flying ability
was still impaired eight to 14 hours after drinking, especially in older
pilots. Some studies suggest that dehydration might be to blame, while
others believe that acetaldehyde, a product of alcohol breakdown, may have
an impact, along with sleep deprivation. Despite alcohol sending us to
sleep, it worsens the quality of our shuteye, leaving people incredibly
tired in the morning.
Mood The world is usually not a happy place when you awake after a big
night on the tiles. Hangovers increase depression, anxiety and irritability.
Scientists are still unsure exactly how alcohol exerts its mind-bending
affects, but believe that it is a combination of sleep deprivation, a lack
of serotonin - a mood-enhancing chemical in our brain - and an
alcohol-induced drop in blood sugar. And the dizziness and light-headedness?
Also due to dehydration, say researchers.
Eyes A telltale sign of a heavy night, eyes become puffy, sore and
bloodshot. Alcohol causes blood vessels in the eyes to dilate and
dehydration leaves them feeling dry.
Mouth The mouth and throat feel dry, furry and generally disgusting.
This is caused by dehydration and is worsened by smoking.
Nervous system As anyone knows who has fallen asleep in the corner of a
pub, alcohol is a sedative. But to make sure that we don't slip into
unconsciousness, our nervous system steps up a gear and becomes more alert.
When the alcohol leaves our body, however, the nervous system remains in a
hyperactive state, leading to sweating, shaking and sensitivity to light,
sound and touch. Further, sleep deprivation can aggravate these symptoms.
Heart Heart rate increases, possibly as a result of alcohol interfering
with the body's nervous system. Long-term alcohol abuse can lead to
cardiomyopathy - damage to the heart muscle.
Liver Alcohol cannot be stored in the body and so is broken down in the
liver. In this two-step process, alcohol is turned into acetaldehyde, which
then becomes acetate. However, this process is slow - one unit of alcohol is
metabolised every hour. It is widely believed that acetaldehyde may
contribute to the misery of the hangover, as accumulation in the blood
causes rapid pulse, sweating, skin flushing, nausea and vomiting. Some
people lack a molecule that breaks down this compound and become ill soon
after drinking. Further, alcohol metabolism leads to an accumulation of
fatty compounds in the liver and lactic acid in the body fluids. These
inhibit glucose production, leading to low blood sugar.
Body temperature Ever felt a bit hot under the collar when you're
suffering with a hangover? Alcohol may interfere with the production of
hormones that control the 24-hour body clock, leading to body temperature
being abnormally high.
Stomach Alcohol irritates the stomach lining and delays it emptying,
leading to nausea and vomiting.
Kidneys Alcohol affects the hormones that control water balance in the
body. As a result, the kidneys fail to reabsorb water and the body becomes
dehydrated.
Intestines The intestines begin to work faster after alcohol is
consumed and food and liquid take less time to pass through. The ability to
absorb water out of the stools is also impaired, leading to diarrhoea.
Pancreas Production of digestive juices is increased, leading to upper
abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting.
Muscles Everything is an effort when you have a hangover. Muscle
weakness and general fatigue are a result of low blood sugar and
dehydration. The latter, together with an accumulation of lactic acid from
alcohol metabolism, can cause foot and leg cramp.
Relieve the pain
Studies suggest that one person in three never gets a hangover. For those
of us not so fortunate, here's how to tackle them.
Eating a substantial meal before you start drinking will slow alcohol
absorption. And despite feeling ropey the following morning, always try to
eat breakfast. It will raise your blood sugar back to normal levels, making
you feel much better.
Intersperse your drinks with a few sly glasses of water - it will help
to prevent dehydration, and may lessen your hangover misery. When the
hangover has kicked in, drinking water will ease its severity, but won't
banish it completely. Caffeine may worsen your dehydration, so avoid
drinking lots of tea and coffee.
Avoid brandy, red wine and rum. Dark-coloured drinks contain high
concentrations of congeners, compounds that may worsen hangovers.
Sleep it off. A study this week found that many hangover remedies, from
artichoke to vegemite, don't work. So, why not use the age-old solution of
simply going back to bed.
Dr Martyn Lobley, GP and Times columnist
Hangover symptoms result from a combination of dehydration, low blood sugar
and the build-up of lactic acid in your muscles. As soon as you get home
take some ibuprofen with a large glass of fresh orange juice. When you wake
up, go for a gentle walk to flush out the lactic acid - take a bottle of
water along.
Hilly Janes, editor, Body&Soul
I'd follow Dr Lobley's orders, swapping juice for as much water as I can
drink. Then as soon as you are able the morning after, have a bacon sandwich
with white bread and lashings of hot strong tea. A perfect balance of
carbs,fat, protein, salt,caffeine and fluid to perk you up again.
Matt Roberts,Times fitness expert
When I have a hangover, I never go mad with exercise. A brisk walk is enough
to wake me up. My favourite hangover breakfast is poached eggs with
wholemeal toast. Not too heavy, but enough to settle the stomach. To
accompany, I have an orange juice and a cup of tea, with a teaspoon of
sugar.
some of you sound like you have never had a proper hangover in your lives!
SARA, wales,
I was once told that hangovers are caused by the depletion of potassium that is diuresed with the water. Loss of water volume and potassium can cause arrythmias, muscle
cramps like running a marathon. So I eat bananas, OJ and water with a light protein and go back to bed...I hate hangovers!
Mich, KS, USA
I notice that a mild hangover always improves my sporting performance.
It seems strange but I speculate it might have something to do with the extra release of adrenaline to bump up blood sugar levels.
Chris, Colchester,
From my experience as a medical student, I'd like to say that the insertion of a sneaky IV drip in to the arm can help one to get over a hangover in no time!
Ali, London, England
have a few glasses of water before you go to sleep to get rid of the hangover, next morning you'll feel fine.
moh, london,
Water and b-vitamins - definitely! Alcohol as it breaks down reduces the level of b-vitamins in your brain, which give part of the wooly feeling post session.
I find the best thing is decaf coffee, toast and marmite, with the added benefit of removing the furry feeling from my mouth.
Matthew , Burgess Hill,
I have been told hat soldiers that have been drinking and are suddenly required for serious duties are given whiffs of pure (?) oxygen from a cylinder and recover "instantly". Perhaps someone can confirm.
Could be a bit dangerous if someone with a cigarette is close!
Roger Durban, Larmor-Plage, France
Pickle juice. Cures my hangovers within 1/2 hour. Sounds gross, but it works.
Ken, Boston, MA, USA
I would have to agree with the B vitamin complex. take one or two before drinking, then one after. Also, some dry toast and about two pints of water before bed.
in the morning: super hot shower (alcohol stays in your skin), more water and then some chips to soak up the leftovers.
water+b vitamins!
sara, glasgow, United Kingdom
I'm a social drinker and seldom drink in excess unless attending a party or an occasional night on the town. To avoid hangovers on those special occasions, I take a B-Complex vitamin before drinking, and another sometime in the wee hours before ending the night. It seems to work for me.
Luke, Shepherdsville, KY, USA
I find a couple of pints the next day does the job. Sticking to just a couple is the hard part, however.
leonard, ros mhic treoin, Ireland
Stick to vodka and drink plenty of water before you go out since this will slow the absorption of subsequent drinks.
Arnold Ward, Weybridge, Surrey, UK
Agree with these, no matter how much I drink I still make sure that I make myself drink a few glasses of water before going to sleep, and maybe some orange juice and an advil. I never have hangovers
brandon, nashville,
Water, of course. Include Vitamin C.
Casey, Brooklyn,
i often find that going simply mad with exercise, having a good lashing and expelling most of the alcohol the night of usually lead to a complete lack of hangover.
gregory, Rostenburg,
For me the solution to the hangover bug is to take a large dose of vitamin B prior to going out, then drink one glass of water for each cocktail. If I stick to the clear alcohols like vodka, I always wake up in decent shape. It may not be my A game, but no headaches, vomiting, foggyness, etc.
snsei, san jose,
I will let you all in on a hang over cure. Buy yourself some milk thistle tablets. Have one before you start drinking and one at the end of your session. No hangover! Works a treat been using for a few years now.
Matt, Sydney,
Many people forget that alcohol is a very adictive drug and is killing thousands.of people of all ages on a yearly basis.If you can open a bottle and drink one glass O.K..Heavy drinkers do not get hangovers, have a drink.As a recovering alcoholic dry for 10 years it ruined every thing in my life..
Paul Long, Greasby, Wirral
Why does alcohol have to be lorded especially at Christmas when many children suffer from abuse from parents and from copying their "normal" activity? Would it not be more beneficial to promote sensible drinking when children wish for a family Christmas?
Romans Seja, Billesdon, UK
Try the big fizzy vitam C tablets in water, then drink more water. Better still, avoid alcohol, wish I could but my wife is such good company and a fantastic cook so one glass of wine leads to another and many Saturday mornings are a bit of a fug. It also blots out the problems we all face ahead.
Evan Owen, Harlech, Welsh Wales half Scouse
I have found a good solution: a good meal before you start, especially pasta or pizza, a time release antacid like gavilast directly after the meal, a pint of water while you're out, a bacon butty (with butter on white bread/white pitta bread) followed by as much water as you can drink when home!
Trish, Dublin, Ireland
The pint of water before bedtime, plus one or more on wakening - especially if you waken in the middle of the night to go to the loo works pretty well. Also, I find that avoiding some types of beer also helps (eg John Smith's Smoothflow)... they seem to be full of chemicals that give me a head ache.
Tom, Harpenden, UK
Try drinking a bottle of lucozade sport before you go to bed, the electrolytes and sugar always seem to prevent a really bad hangover for me. Getting up early to play golf the morning after is also a great cure, although a bit painful at first!
Tom, London,
It's all about drinking a bottle of water and taking an aspirin before going to bed. But who would remember this after a wild night out? I succeded once (lol) and it worked!
Niko2, Wiesbaden, Germany