Hangover

From ArticleWorld

A hangover is the result of excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages or drugs. The feeling usually occurs the next day after consumption and can last from several hours to a full day.

Indicators

The typical indications that someone is suffering from a hangover can include some or all of the following symptoms: headache, nausea, upset stomach, fatigue, dizziness, irritability, extreme sensitivity to light and noise, excessive thirst, dry mouth, and bad breath.

Factors

Hangovers are caused by chemical changes brought about by body’s reaction to various components present in alcohol.

The dry mouth and dehydration typical of a hangover are caused by Ethanol, a diuretic that causes the body to lose fluids and can cause dehydration. The best way to combat the effects of Ethanol is by drinking plenty of water to keep the body hydrated.

Excessive consumption of alcohol can cause many metabolic processes to malfunction. This is caused by the reaction of the body to the alcohol wherein it converts the alcohol to Acetaldehyde, a chemical that is extremely toxic to the liver. The repeated exposure to Acetaldehyde through long-term, over-consumption of alcohol can bring on chronic liver disease.

Another chemical reaction is to congeners, chemical byproducts of the fermentation process. Congeners are very important factor in hangovers because they can intensify the effects. Distilled alcohol, however, loses many of the vapors associated with congeners during the distillation process and thus, may not produce all of the symptoms.

Hangovers affect each person differently and can cause all or some of the symptoms to varying degrees depending upon: quantity of alcohol consumed, type of alcohol, whether the individual had eaten before, if they drank water during consumption, and even their genetics. In addition, some people believe that consuming alcoholic drinks high in sugar can lead to a hangover.

Treatment

There are many hangover remedies; many are folk remedies and may offer some help in combating the effects of the hangover; others are marketed by companies touting that their product is the miracle cure. The best cure seems to be a simple one – replace lost nutrients and re-hydrate the body.

The most common folk remedies are:

• Re-hydrate by drinking water before bed and throughout the night.
• Drink Coca Cola which offers a combination of caffeine, bubbles and sugar and may help to calm nausea. Australians call this “black aspirin” and the Irish call it the “red ambulance.”
• Drink coffee – but don’t over-consume because coffee is also a diuretic and can add to de-hydration.
• Eat something substantial before going to bed such as a sandwich, pizza or bread.
• Try taking vitamin B1 or vitamin C or drink some orange juice.
• Drink more alcohol according to an old remedy called the “Hair of the Dog.”

Other hangover remedies are either created by companies trying to sell a product or discovered by researchers. Many are thought to fight off the effects of congeners or Acetaldehyde. Some of the most common are:

• The Russian Pill, also known as KGB, was a fad during 2003 and was sold in the United States as RU-21 and in Russia as Antipokhmelin.
• Fruit extract from the prickly pear.
• Products made from activated charcoal and marketed as Chaser or Hangover Stopper.

The most effective remedy however, besides drinking enough water and nutrients to balance the alcohol, are simply to abstain from drinking or drink in moderation.