Many people experience hangovers after an episode of heavy drinking. Hangovers don’t just feel unpleasant or annoying. They can be acutely dangerous and lead to more problematic behaviors. Here’s what you need to know.
What Is a Hangover?
Are you asking yourself, why does my throat hurt after drinking? Or, why am I craving a big, greasy breakfast right now?
In its simplest form, a hangover refers to a cluster of physiological symptoms experienced after drinking. However, these symptoms can vary from person to person. Some people experience them frequently. Others rarely, if ever, experience them at all.
What Contributes to Hangover Symptoms?
A hangover represents the body’s way of processing and breaking down alcohol. The cluster of symptoms is often uncomfortable, but they usually pass within a day or so.
Sleep problems: While drinking may cause people to feel fatigued, alcohol is associated with fragmented and disturbed sleep. As a result, it’s common to experience a sense of grogginess, exhaustion, or general lethargy the next day.
Dehydration: Alcohol coincides with a loss of fluids, particularly as heavy drinking tends to make people urinate more frequently. Likewise, it hinders vasopressin release, which can cause the kidneys to retain fluid. This dehydration effect explains why dry mouth, thirst, hunger, and hangover headaches are so common.
Inflammation: Alcohol increases inflammation, and this process may lead to the flu-like symptoms people experience when hungover.
Congeners: Congeners refer to the minor compounds in alcohol beyond pure ethanol. Although ethanol is the main contributor to hangover symptoms, congeners can be mildly toxic. Congeners are more common in distilled drinks like gin and whiskey.
Gastrointestinal distress: Alcohol impacts the stomach’s lining and promotes acid production. Therefore, people may struggle with nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and cramping.
Low blood sugar: The body’s blood sugar typically drops as it attempts to excrete alcohol. This reaction can heighten feelings of lightheadedness, weakness, and hunger.
Withdrawal: People who struggle with alcohol abuse will often experience withdrawal symptoms within just a few hours after their last drink. Within 24-72 hours, the individual is at a heightened risk for hallucinations, seizures, and delirium tremens.
Shortness of breath: Alcohol consumption directly impacts the heart, and it can hinder necessary organs from getting proper blood flow. Although it’s rare, atrial fibrillation can happen with a shortness of breath hangover or with symptoms related to weakness or heart palpitations.
Depression and anxiety: Alcohol can impair one’s judgment and lower inhibitions (while heightening feelings of impulsivity). Because of this process, people may experience regret, shame, or guilt the next day. These feelings can exacerbate current mental health problems.
Are Hangovers Bad?
Hangovers happen after someone drinks too much alcohol. The body undoubtedly needs time to process the effects of alcohol. But when too much is in the system, the body essentially goes into overdrive in an attempt to recover.
Hangovers look different for everyone. The severity of the hangover can fluctuate based on:
- Combining alcohol with other drugs like caffeine, nicotine, or illicit substances
- Drinking on an empty stomach
- Failing to sleep after drinking
- Having a history (or family history) of alcohol abuse
- Binge drinking
- Not drinking enough water in the hours or days before drinking
- Drinking too much alcohol too quickly
- One’s age and gender
Most hangovers go away on their own. However, they can persist for several hours or days based on how much someone drank.
The occasional hangover may not be problematic, especially if someone only drinks occasionally. With that in mind, a frequent hangover pattern is associated with more serious problems that can escalate quickly.
In severe cases, heavy drinking can cause:
- Excessive vomiting
- Delayed or rapid breathing
- Hypothermia
- Losing consciousness
- Strokes
- Comas
- Seizures
- Alcohol poisoning
If you or a loved one experiences any of these symptoms, seek immediate help by calling 911. Unfortunately, alcohol-related deaths are prevalent, and even one night of heavy drinking can result in devastating consequences.
Final Thoughts
Hangovers are just one symptom associated with alcohol abuse. If you keep drinking despite the toll alcohol takes on your body, it’s important to consider seeking treatment.
When left untreated, these symptoms often worsen over time. Contact us at (866) 578-7471 to get the help you need.
