Hangover Headaches

What happens to the body when we suffer a hang-over? Large volumes of alcohol, regardless of the beverage of choice, occupy the space in your blood stream normally occupied with water. According to studies, 250 millilitres of an alcoholic beverage causes 800 to 1,000 millilitres of water to be expelled; that’s losing four times as much liquid as gained. This therefore makes you dehydrated and so comes the symptoms of dehydration (thirst, dry mouth, headache, loss of appetite, dry skin, constipation, UTI, irritability, etc). Hangovers can be made worse by drinking on an empty stomach, by lack of sleep, being somewhat dehydrated before drinking and poor health, just to name a few.

Truth is these are self-inflicted problems. Solution is of course #1 responsible drinking (1 oz alcohol per hour leaves time to metabolize the alcohol) followed by suitable rehydration with water, Gatoraid or buko juice, etc.;
obviously not with more alcohol. 😉

However unpleasant, most hangovers go away on their own, though they can persist much of the next day; so there is little concern about long-term effects of a hangover. There may be more socio-economic and inter-personal aspects of over drinking that could be a better discussion to have.

Have fun and with moderation in all things, staying safe and well.

Yours in wellness,
docMIKE