What is the actual cause of a hangover? Of course alcohol is the most common answer, but what does alcohol do to your body to create that hangover?
2006-09-17 12:26:40 · 14 answers · asked by Anonymous in Food & Drink ➔ Beer, Wine & Spirits
Dehydration is the cause of a hangover.
Alcohol is a diuretic so makes you pee out more liquid than you take in.
That's why you wake with a dry mouth etc.
It also causes the brain to shrink away from the skull slightly, triggering pain receptors ... therefore headache.
2006-09-17 12:29:51 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
A hangover is caused by a combination of many things. Dehydration is a factor, but there are others. Alcoholic drinks lower your blood sugar, and a massive quantity of alcoholic drinks can make for sustained low blood sugar into the next day. The symptoms of a diabetic having a hypoglycemic (caused by low blood sugar) attack are similar to the symptoms of a severe hangover: weakness, hunger, agitation, difficulty concentrating, fatigue, blurred vision, confusion, etc. A third factor is a chemical called acetaldehyde, which is a by-product of your body breaking the alcohol down and digesting it. Acetaldehyde acts like a nasty drug in and of itself on your brain, making for a headache and an inability to think clearly. Also, if you drank enough to cause a hangover that means that you were peeing all night, which means that many of the minerals that your nervous system requires to function correctly have been depleted.
Solution? Water for the dehydration. Fruit juice followed by complex carbohydrates to readjust your blood sugar. Cystine (available at health food stores, easiest to find on the internet though) for the acetaldehyde. Emergen-C or another mega-vitamin boost for the mineral depletion (make sure to take something that has magnesium and potassium). And, finally, get your hands on a homeopathic remedy called Nux Vomica. You have to go to a healthfood store or alternative pharmacy that has a homeopathic section to get them. Take them while you're drinking to help avoid a hangover or the next day to help cure it. It helps your cells get rid of the chemicals (like acetaldehyde, probably others that I'm not aware of) that alcohol leaves behind. Works wonders!
2006-09-17 16:09:51 · answer #2 · answered by S 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
When you drink, the alcohol dehydrates your body and makes you feel thirsty and loopy. A hangover is caused when you drink too much sugary liquids and your blood sugar drops low. When you wake up, that's your body saying get some liquid in me.
2006-09-17 15:07:28 · answer #3 · answered by doctorpapaswing 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most hangover are due to the sugar intake. mixing drinks with fruit juice is the worst. next is soda. of course beer and wine are full of sugar and will also produce a hangover if they are mass consumed. The best bet to avoid a hangover is to drink the hard stuff straight but all alcohol contains some amout of sugar. Stick with Russian Vodka straight or with water (YUCK) to avoid a major hangover just drink water.
2006-09-17 12:39:44 · answer #4 · answered by pokerking_pokergod 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Dehydration. Alcohol cause to the body to dehydrate. It also causes the body to do other thing but dehydration is the main cause. After you body starts to dicipate the alcohol you starts to feel the dehydration thus the hangover. There is other things involve but this is the main one.
2006-09-17 12:38:39 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alcohol dehydrates your body. Drink water or eat ice cream before you go to bed - your hangover won't be to bad.
2006-09-17 12:38:12 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alcohol dehydrates your brain and causes it to shrink. You should see the xrays of a normal brain, and then the same brain after drinking alcohol. Our bodies consider alcohol POISON. So, it goes in high gear to get rid of it. So, if you drank rat poison, and lived to talk about it, don't you think you would have a 'hang over' from it?
2006-09-17 12:54:17 · answer #7 · answered by ravin_lunatic 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the ethanol in the alcohol has a dehydrating effect, it cause tiredness, headache, nausea, diarrhea, weakness, hypersalivation, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, irritability, sensitivity to light and noise and trouble sleeping. It depends on how much you drank, it all goes through your liver before leaving your body. It's best to drink water after you drink the alcohol, so it won't be as bad.
2006-09-17 12:33:17 · answer #8 · answered by ~Innocent_One~ 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
there are two schools of thought. The first is acetaldehyde (a chemical intermediate of alcohol metablosim) buildup. The second is withdrawal symptoms, hence the 'tooth of the dog that bit you'.
I believe it is both, but more of the latter with chronic drinkers
2006-09-17 16:54:23 · answer #9 · answered by jloertscher 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It dehydrates you. Drink one glass of water for every drink or shot you have and you wont get a hangover (but you will pee alot:)!
2006-09-17 12:38:25 · answer #10 · answered by Ring Ring Ring Bananaphone 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋