Hangovers - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

A hangover is a group of unpleasant signs and symptoms that can develop after drinking too much alcohol. As if feeling awful weren't bad ... COVID-19:Advice,updatesandvaccineoptions FindoutaboutCOVID-19,COVID-19vaccines,andMayoClinicpatientandvisitorupdates. Skiptositenavigation SkiptoContent ThiscontentdoesnothaveanEnglishversion.ThiscontentdoesnothaveanArabicversion. SectionsforHangoversSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatment Print OverviewAhangoverisagroupofunpleasantsignsandsymptomsthatcandevelopafterdrinkingtoomuchalcohol.Asiffeelingawfulweren'tbadenough,frequenthangoversarealsoassociatedwithpoorperformanceandconflictatwork. Asageneralrule,themorealcoholyoudrink,themorelikelyyouaretohaveahangoverthenextday.Butthere'snomagicformulatotellyouhowmuchyoucansafelydrinkandstillavoidahangover. Howeverunpleasant,mosthangoversgoawayontheirown,thoughtheycanlastupto24hours.Ifyouchoosetodrinkalcohol,doingsoresponsiblycanhelpyouavoidfuturehangovers.Products&ServicesBook:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEditionNewsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEditionShowmoreproductsfromMayoClinic SymptomsHangoversymptomstypicallybeginwhenyourbloodalcoholcontentdropssignificantlyandisatornearzero.They'reusuallyinfulleffectthemorningafteranightofheavydrinking.Dependingonwhatandhowmuchyoudrank,youmaynotice: Fatigueandweakness Excessivethirstanddrymouth Headachesandmuscleaches Nausea,vomitingorstomachpain Poorordecreasedsleep Increasedsensitivitytolightandsound Dizzinessorasenseoftheroomspinning Shakiness Decreasedabilitytoconcentrate Mooddisturbances,suchasdepression,anxietyandirritability Rapidheartbeat WhentoseeadoctorHangoversafterasinglenight'sdrinkinggoawayontheirown.Talkwithyourdoctorifyou'reconcernedthatfrequent,heavydrinkingmayleadtoseriousalcoholwithdrawal,orwhenregularhangoversaffectyourqualityoflife,includingyourpersonalrelationshipsoryourperformanceatwork.Treatmentforalcoholproblemsiswidelyavailable. Whenit'sanemergencyMore-severesignsandsymptomsthataccompanyheavydrinkingmayindicatealcoholpoisoning—alife-threateningemergency.Call911oryourlocalemergencynumberifapersonwhohasbeendrinkingshowssignsof: Confusion Vomiting Seizures Slowbreathing(lessthaneightbreathsaminute) Irregularbreathing(agapofmorethan10secondsbetweenbreaths) Blue-tingedskinorpaleskin Lowbodytemperature(hypothermia) Difficultyremainingconscious Passingout(unconsciousness)andcan'tbeawakened Apersonwhoisunconsciousorcan'tbeawakenedisatriskofdying.Ifyoususpectthatsomeonehasalcoholpoisoning—evenifyoudon'tseetheclassicsignsandsymptoms—seekimmediatemedicalcare.   Thereisaproblemwith informationsubmittedforthisrequest.Review/updatethe informationhighlightedbelowandresubmittheform. FromMayoClinictoyourinbox Signupforfree,andstayuptodateonresearchadvancements,healthtipsandcurrenthealthtopics,likeCOVID-19,plusexpertiseonmanaginghealth. 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Sorrysomethingwentwrongwithyoursubscription Please,tryagaininacoupleofminutes Retry RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic CausesHangoversarecausedbydrinkingtoomuchalcohol.Asinglealcoholicdrinkisenoughtotriggerahangoverforsomepeople,whileothersmaydrinkheavilyandescapeahangoverentirely. Variousfactorsmaycontributetoahangover.Forexample: Alcoholcausesyourbodytoproducemoreurine.Inturn,urinatingmorethanusualcanleadtodehydration—oftenindicatedbythirst,dizzinessandlightheadedness. Alcoholtriggersaninflammatoryresponsefromyourimmunesystem.Yourimmunesystemmaytriggercertainagentsthatcommonlyproducephysicalsymptoms,suchasaninabilitytoconcentrate,memoryproblems,decreasedappetiteandlossofinterestinusualactivities. Alcoholirritatestheliningofyourstomach.Alcoholincreasestheproductionofstomachacidanddelaysstomachemptying.Anyofthesefactorscancauseabdominalpain,nauseaorvomiting. Alcoholcancauseyourbloodsugartofall.Ifyourbloodsugardipstoolow,youmayexperiencefatigue,weakness,shakiness,mooddisturbancesandevenseizures. Alcoholcausesyourbloodvesselstoexpand,whichcanleadtoheadaches. Alcoholcanmakeyousleepy,butitpreventsdeeperstagesofsleepandoftencausesawakeninginthemiddleofthenight.Thismayleaveyougroggyandtired. CongenersAlcoholicbeveragescontainingredientscalledcongeners,whichgivemanytypesofalcoholicbeveragestheirflavorandcancontributetohangovers.Congenersarefoundinlargeramountsindarkliquors,suchasbrandyandbourbon,thaninclearliquors,suchasvodkaandgin. Congenersaremorelikelytoproduceahangoverorincreasetheseverityofahangover.Butdrinkingtoomuchalcoholofanycolorcanstillmakeyoufeelbadthenextmorning. RiskfactorsAnyonewhodrinksalcoholcanexperienceahangover,butsomepeoplearemoresusceptibletohangoversthanothersare.Ageneticvariationthataffectsthewayalcoholismetabolizedmaymakesomepeopleflush,sweatorbecomeillafterdrinkingevenasmallamountofalcohol. Factorsthatmaymakeahangovermorelikelyorsevereinclude: Drinkingonanemptystomach.Havingnofoodinyourstomachspeedsthebody'sabsorptionofalcohol. Usingotherdrugs,suchasnicotine,alongwithalcohol.Smokingcombinedwithdrinkingappearstoincreasethelikelihoodofnext-daymisery. Notsleepingwellorlongenoughafterdrinking.Someresearchersbelievethatsomehangoversymptomsareoftendue,atleastinpart,tothepoor-qualityandshortsleepcyclethattypicallyfollowsanightofdrinking. Havingafamilyhistoryofalcoholism.Havingcloserelativeswithahistoryofalcoholismmaysuggestaninheritedproblemwiththewayyourbodyprocessesalcohol. Drinkingdarkercoloredalcoholicbeverages.Darkercoloreddrinksoftencontainahighvolumeofcongenersandmaybemorelikelytoproduceahangover. ComplicationsWhenyouhaveahangover,you'relikelytoexperienceproblemswith: Memory Concentration Dexterity Notsurprisingly,thistemporarydullingofyourabilitiesincreasesyourriskofanumberofproblemsatschoolorwork,suchas: Absenteeism Troublecompletingtasks Conflictwithothers Fallingasleepatschooloronthejob Workplaceinjuries PreventionDespitevariousover-the-counterpillsandtabletsthatclaimtopreventhangovers,theonlyguaranteedwaytopreventahangoveristoavoidalcohol.Ifyouchoosetodrink,dosoinmoderation. Moderatealcoholuseforhealthyadultsmeansuptoonedrinkadayforwomenofallagesandmenolderthanage65,anduptotwodrinksadayformenage65andyounger. Thelessalcoholyoudrink,thelesslikelyyouaretohaveahangover.Itmayhelpto: Eatbeforeandwhiledrinking.Asalcoholisabsorbedmorequicklyifyourstomachisempty,itmayhelptoeatsomethingbeforedrinkingalcoholandduringthetimeyou'redrinking. Choosecarefully.Beverageswithfewercongenersareslightlylesslikelytocausehangoversthanbeverageswithmorecongeners,butrememberthatalltypesofalcoholcanresultinahangover. Sipwaterbetweendrinks.Drinkingafullglassofwateraftereachalcoholicdrinkwillhelpyoustayhydrated.It'llalsohelpyoudrinklessalcohol. Knowyourlimitsandonlydrinkinmoderation.Decideaheadoftimehowmanydrinksyou'llhave—andsticktoit.Don'tfeelpressuredtodrink. Takeitslow.Avoidhavingmorethanonealcoholicdrinkinanhour.Stopdrinkingcompletelywhenyou'vereachedyourlimit(orbeforethen). Somepeopletakeover-the-counterpainrelievers,suchasaspirinoribuprofen(Advil,MotrinIB,others),topreventhangoversymptoms.Butaskyourdoctorifthisissafeforyouandwhatdosageisbestforyou.Thesemedicationsmayinteractwithothermedications,andacetaminophen(Tylenol,others)maycauseliverdamageiftoomuchalcoholisconsumed. ByMayoClinicStaff RequestanAppointmentatMayoClinic Diagnosis&treatment Dec.16,2017 Print Shareon:FacebookTwitter Showreferences Beyondhangovers:Understandingalcohol'simpactonyourhealth.NationalInstituteonAlcoholAbuseandAlcoholism.https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Hangovers/beyondHangovers.htm.AccessedOct.31,2017. Hangovercures.NHSChoices.https://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/alcohol/Pages/Hangovers.aspx.AccessedOct.31,2017. Alcoholuseandhealth.CentersforDiseaseControlandPrevention.https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm.AccessedOct.31,2017. Alcoholoverdose:Thedangersofdrinkingtoomuch.NationalInstituteonAlcoholAbuseandAlcoholism.https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/alcoholoverdosefactsheet/overdosefact.htm.AccessedOct.31,2017. vanSchrojensteinLantmanM,etal.Theimpactofalcoholhangoversymptomsoncognitiveandphysicalfunctioning,andmood.HumanPsychopharmacologyClinicalandExperimental.2017;32:e2623. JayawardenaR,etal.Interventionsfortreatmentand/orpreventionofalcoholhangover:Systematicreview.HumanPsychopharmacologyClinicalandExperimental.2017;32:e2600. TippleCT,etal.Areviewofthephysiologicalfactorsassociatedwithalcoholhangover.CurrentDrugAbuseReviews.2016;9:93. WangF,etal.Naturalproductsforthepreventionandtreatmentofhangoverandalcoholusedisorder.Molecules.2016;21:64. RoddaLN,etal.Alcoholcongeneranalysisandthesourceofalcohol:Areview.ForensicScience,Medicine,andPathology.2013;9:194. RohsenowDJ,etal.Theroleofbeveragecongenersinhangoverandotherresidualeffectsofalcoholintoxication:Areview.CurrentDrugAbuseReviews.2010;3:76. MackusM,etal.Urinemethanolconcentrationandalcoholhangoverseverity.Alcohol.2017;59:37. VersterJC,etal.TheAlcoholHangoverResearchGroupconsensusstatementonbestpracticeinalcoholhangoverresearch.CurrentDrugAbuseReviews.2010;3:116. Drinkingtoomuchtoofastcankillyou.NationalCouncilonAlcoholismandDrugDependence,Inc.https://www.ncadd.org/images/stories/PDF/DrinkingTooMuchTooFastCanKillYou-NCADD.pdf.AccessedNov.5,2017. Awordaboutalcoholpoisoning.NationalInstituteonAlcoholAbuseandAlcoholism.https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-poisoning.AccessedNov.5,2017. Acetaminophen:Avoidingliverdamage.U.S.FoodandDrugAdministration.https://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm168830.htm.AccessedNov.9,2017. Hall-FlavinDK(expertopinion).MayoClinic,Rochester,Minn.Nov.9,2017. 2015-2020DietaryGuidelinesforAmericans.U.S.DepartmentofHealthandHumanServicesandU.S.DepartmentofAgriculture.http://health.gov/dietaryguidelines/2015/guidelines.AccessedNov.15,2017. Howtohelppatientswhodrinktoomuch:Aclinicalapproach.NationalInstituteonAlcoholAbuseandAlcoholism.https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/Practitioner/CliniciansGuide2005/clinicians_guide5_help_p.htm.AccessedNov.15,2017. Related Products&Services Book:MayoClinicFamilyHealthBook,5thEdition Newsletter:MayoClinicHealthLetter—DigitalEdition ShowmoreproductsandservicesfromMayoClinic HangoversSymptoms&causesDiagnosis&treatment Advertisement MayoClinicdoesnotendorsecompaniesorproducts.Advertisingrevenuesupportsournot-for-profitmission. Advertising&Sponsorship Policy Opportunities AdChoices MayoClinicPress Checkoutthesebest-sellersandspecialoffersonbooksandnewslettersfromMayoClinicPress. NEW–TheEssentialDiabetesBook-MayoClinicPressNEW–TheEssentialDiabetesBookCookSmart,EatWell–2FREErecipes-MayoClinicPressCookSmart,EatWell–2FREErecipesNEW–MayoCliniconHearingandBalance-MayoClinicPressNEW–MayoCliniconHearingandBalanceFREEMayoClinicDietAssessment-MayoClinicPressFREEMayoClinicDietAssessmentMayoClinicHealthLetter-FREEbook-MayoClinicPressMayoClinicHealthLetter-FREEbook CON-20372995 PatientCare&HealthInformation Diseases&Conditions Hangovers