[ health ] :: anatomy of a hangover

This was originally a post from my previous blog, so I thought I would give it "new life" here! The Hubs and I dated in college and had many after-party late-night meals at Waffle House, but nowadays we prefer to stay at home. Why? Because it's cheaper to drink alcohol at home. And the only person who will see me get sloppy and make a fool of myself is The Hubs. It's a win-win.

Anatomy of a Hangover: 

Most people who have been "over served" know all about the unpleasant experience of the hangover. We know that alcohol consumption is the root cause, but what really is happening inside of your body?

Let's look at some of the actions of alcohol on the body, and its effects:

We'll start at the site where we metabolize, or break down, alcohol: the liver. The liver makes two enzymes that break down (or metabolize) alcohol in the blood stream. (Note that this is the only way to get rid of alcohol in the blood - you cannot "sweat it out."). The breakdown of alcohol ends up altering how the liver works - it's so busy getting rid of those wine coolers you drank that it has little time for anything else! The by-products of alcohol metabolism cause nasty side effects like low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) and build up of lactic acid - yep, the same lactic acid you make after a hard workout. This hurts the body's natural sugar production and makes you feel absolutely awful the next day.

Side effects: low blood sugar - fatigue, weakness, muscle aches, decreased concentration, tremor.

How to prevent it: drink less, but if that isn't an option - Waffle House (seriously - get something to eat).

Next, on to the brain..the organ that led you to believe that it was okay to have just one more vodka and Red Bull. Thanks a lot, brain. Hangovers have quite an effect on the brain. Although it isn't completely understood, it is known that alcohol and alcohol-breakdown alters our hormones and neurotransmitters - the nifty chemicals that connect our brain with the rest of our body. Doesn't sound good, right? The first change that occurs is from the alcohol itself. Alcohol is naturally a diuretic (it makes you pee) because it inhibits Anti-Diuretic Hormone (ADH) from being released by the pituitary gland in the brain. Yuck! This means that as you are drinking those vodka-Red Bulls, they're making you run to the ladies' room every 20 minutes. You know what I'm talking about... This means that you are becoming more dehydrated throughout the night (or day...I won't judge) and are losing body fluids and electrolytes. 

Changing the neurotransmitters in the brain can also contribute to other symptoms, such as headache, decreased deep-sleep, vertigo, and sensitivity to light and sound. This is also linked to sympathetic over-activity - when the body goes into fight/flight mode for little or no reason at all. This can cause tremors, sweating, and increased heart rate.

Side effects: dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, thirst, headache, fatigue, irritability, vertigo, light/sound sensitivity, tremors, sweating, increased heart rate and blood pressure.

How to prevent it: drink less, but if that isn't an option - don't mix alcohol and caffeine, make sure to drink plenty of water or an electrolyte-rich drink, and go to Waffle House...no, really. Having some salty food with your water will help you replenish the sodium your body needs, and will help you retain some of the water.

Now, this is my least favorite part of having a hangover - the gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms. Keep in mind that anything you eat or drink will pass through the entire digestive tract, including the stomach, small intestines, and large intestines. Alcohol effects all of these organs in a very unpleasant way. GI upset can begin after drinking, and can lead to vomiting and diarrhea, which only makes you more dehydrated and hungover. Alcohol will also cause stomach irritation and intestinal inflammation, which can lead to gastritis - nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach pain. During hangover, the byproducts from alcohol breakdown may also cause nausea as well. 

Side effects: dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, stomach pain

How to prevent it: drink less, but if that isn't an option - get a bite to eat before and after drinking. If you've really overdone it, opt for something easy to digest as opposed to something greasy.

Thanks for reading! I promise, I'll have more miserly posts for the rest of the week.

- Maggie White