The Morning After
Expert insight on beating the hangover
By Steve Croyle |
|
The dreaded hangover: pounding headache, fatigue, nausea, confusion. Curative myths are rampant; your grandfather used to drink three raw eggs and punch a steer in the nose. Your dad swears by the hair of the dog, literally. In college somebody told you to eat a big greasy cheeseburger, and your cellmate used to Dutch-oven himself until his head stopped throbbing. Bunk. All of it.
What does science have to say? We asked an expert. A guy with so many letters after his name, he plays Scrabble with them, and wins: Dr. John Brick PHD, MA, FAPA. He paid more in student loans than you'll earn in a lifetime. He wrote the book on hangovers. Seriously, you can buy his humorous Doctor's Hangover Handbook at www.booklocker.com. He is also the Executive Director of Intoxikon International, a company dedicated to providing education, research, and publications pertaining to alcohol and drug studies for a wide range of public and private groups.
So, medically speaking, what is a hangover?
A hangover is a constellation of symptoms that occur after drinking too much alcohol. Although what constitutes 'too much' varies based on tolerance and other individual differences, the medical consequences include: fatigue, headache, thirst, dizziness, stomach problems, nausea, vomiting, trouble sleeping, hand tremor, sensitivity to light and sound, and even changes in blood pressure (up or down). There are also psychological symptoms as well, including anxiety, guilt, remorse, depression, difficulty concentrating, and sensitivity. Hangovers usually occur about 8-16 hours after drinking and can last about 24-36 hours.
Many alcohol scientists believe that hangovers are actually mini-withdrawals from alcohol. At first, they are small and not noticeable, but as you drink more over time, they become more noticeable and can interfere with how you go through the day. The hangover occurs as the brain attempts to get back to normal after a night of drinking.
What is the primary cause of that terrible headache?
Many factors contribute, but no single factor is the cause. Most research suggests that dehydration causes cells to shrink. When they do, they can pull on nerves connected to tissues with pain receptors between the brain and the skull, for example. Components in alcoholic beverages called congeners, as well as alcohol and its breakdown products (metabolites) may also have direct toxic effects on sensory cells.
How about the lethargy?
Fatigue (sometimes producing lethargy) occurs in many hangover cases, but may be due to extreme sensitivity. Moving more slowly causes less 'stimuli' to aggravate already sensitive nerve cells.
Are there any magic bullets?
Other than not drinking? No. There are many commercial remedies to treat or prevent hangovers. My favorite is the most simple. Drink plenty of water before you start drinking and before you go to sleep, along with two aspirin. In the morning, try a sports drink such as Gatorade and a vitamin. Remember, hangovers are a sign that something is wrong. Pre- or post-drinking supplements are only getting rid of some of the symptoms.
What pain meds should be avoided? Clearly one ought to worry about one's liver; which OTC drugs are bad news when drinking?
Acetaminophen, found in non-aspirin pain relievers [such as Tylenol], has been shown to produce some liver damage when used in high doses and particularly in people who drink excessively. Although it is unlikely that the occasional use of one of these OTC medications will have any serious effect on the liver, regular high-dose use should be avoided.
Of all the hangover myths, which are the most ridiculous?
I think that rubbing half a lemon under your drinking arm beats out the voodoo of putting pins into the cork of the bottle you drank from!
Yeah, we wanted a miracle cure, too. At least you won't waste time, money, and your stomach lining trying the latest trick you heard from that wacko at work.
Originally Published: January 1, 2010
