Ever wondered why the morning-after effects following a night of revelry really take the life out of you? The science behind why hangovers occur is still young, but here are a few facts you may not have known.
Symptoms & Signs
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Increased sensitivity to light and sound
- Redness of the eyes
- Muscle aches
- Thirst
- Increased blood pressure
- Rapid heartbeat
- Tremor
- Sweating
- Mood disturbances including depression, anxiety, and irritability
Poorer Performance with a Hangover
- Reduced focus
- Decreased mental endurance
- Decreased mechanical accuracy
- Impaired abilities while operating machinery, high-pressure decision-making, and with mental math
Dehydration
- Decreased ADH-Hormonal Secretion
- 1L of fluid loss per 4 drinks
- Excessive sweating
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
Liver & Stomach Effects
- Toxic to the lining of the stomach
- Increases pancreatic and intestinal acid secretion
- Can cause gastroenteritis
- Can Causes build up of fat compounds in liver cells, aka “fatty liver”
Low Blood Sugar
- Lactic acid build-up from alcohol breakdown causes low blood sugar
- The brain is very sensitive to low sugar states this results in feelings of fatigue, weakness, and mood disturbances
Headache
- Vasodilation of blood vessels in the brain
- Changes levels of hormones such as histamines, serotonin, and prostaglandins
- This results in throbbing headache
Interference with Sleep
- Decreases the cycles of high quality, dream-state sleep, the kind that provides rest
- Increases slow-wave, deep sleep
- Causes snoring and sleep apnea, prolonged states of no breathing during sleep
