Symptoms of a Hangover

"Symptoms of a Hangover"

Symptoms of a hangover generally tend to stay the same and if any of us have ever drunk too much than we also have a general idea of what these symptoms consist of.  The symptoms of a hangover are as a result of the causes- dehydration and over stimulation of the liver. The symptoms of a hangover can vary in severity and are entirely personal and usually different to each person drinking depending on many factors. Weight, height, gender, and even age all can play a part. Symptoms of a hangover are all unpleasant and due to the fact that the body truly is not meant to consume alcohol. The symptoms usually look like but are not limited to:

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a hangover can include some or all of the following class of symptoms:

  • Constitutional – Fatigue, weakness, and thirst.
  • Pain – Headache and muscle aches.
  • Gastrointestinal – Nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain.
  • Sleep – Decreased sleep, decreased deep sleep.
  • Sensory – Vertigo or “the spins” and sensitivity to light and sound.
  • Cognitive – Decreased attention and concentration.
  • Mood – Depression, anxiety, and irritability.
  • Sympathetic Hyperactivity – Tremor, sweating, and increased pulse and systolic blood pressure.

The intensity of these symptoms and the particular set of symptoms can vary from person to person and from occasion to occasion. A person might experience nausea and dizziness (the feeling that the room is spinning) on one occasion, but experience mainly headache symptoms the next occasion. Hangover symptoms usually begin within several hours after the drinking session ends when the blood alcohol concentration begins to fall. The symptoms usually peak at the time when the drinker’s BAC returns to zero. Hangover symptoms can last from a few hours to up to 24 hours. Whether or not you get a few or all of these symptoms are dependent on how much and what kind of alcohol you have been drinking. The more sustained the drinking is in large quantities the chances of having more of these hangover symptoms a person has.

Symptoms of hangovers may be a sign of a more serious condition such as alcoholism or alcohol abuse, although they are not always. Most of the time symptoms of a hangover are just a sign of the heavy consumption of alcohol during the night before, so much in fact that the body can not readily or easily process the amount. Leading to the symptoms of a hangover we see above. If these symptoms of a hangover become frequent or happen every time a person drinks then it most likely is a sign of a more severe problem. Symptoms of hangovers are very unpleasant and while the party may have been fun the night before, waking up in the morning, vomiting with a horrid headache is the exact opposite. The best way to curb the symptoms of a hangover is just to consume less alcohol or none at all. Symptoms of hangovers essentially mean you’re body is very tired from processing all the ethanol-the main ingredient in alcohol. So sometimes it’s good to give your body a break.