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still believe them. There are so many tales of preventing and curing a hangover out there and few have any effect at all. The real cause of a hangover begins with your first cocktail. The amount and what you drink has a lot to do with the severity of your morning after suffering.
Hangovers are a collection of signs and
symptoms linked to a recent bout of heavy drinking. Hangover sufferer
typically has a headache, feels sick, dizzy, sleepy, confused and thirsty. Hangovers can
occur at any time of day, but are usually more common the morning after a night
of heavy drinking. As well as physical symptoms, the person may also experience
elevated levels of anxiety regret, shame, embarrassment, as well as depression.
The severity of a hangover is closely linked to how much alcohol
was consumed, and whether the sufferer had enough sleep.
A hangover is the consequence of having
consumed too much alcohol which causes an accumulation of these factors:
- Urination - alcohol makes people urinate more. This leads to dehydration. Dehydration can give the individual that sensation of thirst and lightheadedness.
- Immune system response - there may be an inflammatory response by the immune system to alcohol, which may affect appetite, concentration and memory.
- Stomach irritation - alcohol consumption raises the production of stomach acids; it also slows down the rate at which the stomach empties itself - this combination can lead to nausea, vomiting or stomachache.
- Drop in blood sugar - some people's blood sugar levels can fall steeply when they consume alcohol, resulting in shakiness, moodiness, tiredness, general weakness, and even seizures in some cases.
- Dilation of blood vessels - alcohol consumption can cause the blood vessels to dilate, which can cause headaches.
- Sleep quality - although sleeping when drunk is common, the quality of that sleep may be poor. The individual may wake up tired and still sleepy.
- Congeners - these are substances that are produced during fermentation and are responsible for most of the taste and aroma in distilled drinks. They are known to contribute to symptoms of a hangover. Examples of congeners include esters and aldehydes.
Read More at http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/5089.php
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