What Does a Hangover Feel Like?

Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCommon Hangover SymptomsSevere Hangover SymptomsIntensity and DurationWhen It Becomes a ProblemFrequently Asked Questions

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

Common Hangover Symptoms

Severe Hangover Symptoms

Intensity and Duration

When It Becomes a Problem

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is too much? Some people report hangover symptoms after consuming only two or three drinks, while some heavy drinkers never experience hangover symptoms at all. But for most people, the greater the amount of alcohol consumed and the longer the duration of alcohol consumption, the more severe the hangover symptoms.

This article discusses the common symptoms of a hangover as well as the signs of more serious alcohol poisoning. It also covers why hangovers happen and why they can be a problem.

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

RecapCommon hangover symptoms include headaches, thirst, sensitivity to light, irritability, and stomach upset.

Recap

Common hangover symptoms include headaches, thirst, sensitivity to light, irritability, and stomach upset.

Excessive alcohol consumption can cause more than a general feeling of malaise the next day. Extreme alcohol consumption can causeacute alcohol poisoningwhich can be life-threatening.

The symptoms of alcohol poisoning can include many of the same symptoms as a hangover, but usually more intense and extreme:

If you see anyone with the above symptoms after drinking, call 911 immediately. Stay with the person and try to turn them on their side so they do not choke on their own vomit. If they stop breathing entirely, begin CPR.

Even if you don’t see any of the above symptoms of alcohol poisoning, if the person is passed out and cannot be awakened, they could be at risk of dying. Seek medical help immediately.

Hangover Symptoms vs. Withdrawal Symptoms

Intensity and Duration of Hangover Symptoms

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 on one occasion, but mainly headache symptoms the next time.

Factors that can contribute to individual differences in the duration and intensity of hangover symptoms include:

Hangover symptoms usually begin within several hours after the drinking session ends, whenblood alcohol concentration(BAC) begins to fall. The symptoms usually peak when BAC returns to zero. Hangover symptoms can last from a few hours to up to 24 hours.

When Hangover Symptoms Become a Problem

If you frequently experience hangover symptoms or your hangover symptoms have begun to affect you at school or work, you may have developed analcohol use disorder. One symptom of alcohol use disorder is continuing to drink in spite of repeated negative consequences.

Chronic, heavy alcohol use can contribute to a range of health problems, including digestive problems, cardiovascular disease, liver disease, weakened immunity, and neurological problems. It can also contribute to bone damage and increase the risk of several types of cancer.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

If you or a loved one are struggling with substance use or addiction, contact theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helplineat 1-800-662-4357 for information on support and treatment facilities in your area.

For more mental health resources, see ourNational Helpline Database.

Frequently Asked QuestionsConsuming too much alcohol too quickly can lead to depressed breathing, low body temperature, loss of consciousness, seizures, decreased heart rate, and vomiting. Alcohol poisoning is serious and can be potentially fatal.While it varies for each person, consuming more than one drink per hour increases the risk of getting a hangover.Tolerance also plays a role. Some people may feel hangover symptoms after two or three drinks, while others who have a much higher tolerance may rarely experience hangovers.According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, no hangover remedies have been scientifically proven to work.While you can’t cure a hangover, self-care can help you feel better while you wait for symptoms to pass. Get enough rest and drink water to help rehydrate your body.

Consuming too much alcohol too quickly can lead to depressed breathing, low body temperature, loss of consciousness, seizures, decreased heart rate, and vomiting. Alcohol poisoning is serious and can be potentially fatal.

While it varies for each person, consuming more than one drink per hour increases the risk of getting a hangover.Tolerance also plays a role. Some people may feel hangover symptoms after two or three drinks, while others who have a much higher tolerance may rarely experience hangovers.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, no hangover remedies have been scientifically proven to work.While you can’t cure a hangover, self-care can help you feel better while you wait for symptoms to pass. Get enough rest and drink water to help rehydrate your body.

7 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Hangovers.Jung YC, Namkoong K.Alcohol: Intoxication and poisoning - diagnosis and treatment.Handb Clin Neurol.2014;125:115-21. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-62619-6.00007-0Huntley G, Treloar H, Blanchard A, et al.An event-level investigation of hangovers' relationship to age and drinking.Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015;23(5):314-323. doi:10.1037/pha0000037van de Loo AJAE, Mackus M, van Schrojenstein Lantman M, Kraneveld AD, Brookhuis KA, Garssen J, Scholey A, Verster JC.Susceptibility to alcohol hangovers: The association with self-reported immune status.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(6):1286. doi:10.3390/ijerph15061286Verster JC, Stephens R, Penning R, Rohsenow D, McGeary J… Alcohol Hangover Research Group.The alcohol hangover research group consensus statement on best practice in alcohol hangover research.Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2010;3(2):116-26. doi:10.2174/1874473711003020116National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Understanding the dangers of alcohol overdose.Cleveland Clinic.Hangover.

7 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Hangovers.Jung YC, Namkoong K.Alcohol: Intoxication and poisoning - diagnosis and treatment.Handb Clin Neurol.2014;125:115-21. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-62619-6.00007-0Huntley G, Treloar H, Blanchard A, et al.An event-level investigation of hangovers' relationship to age and drinking.Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015;23(5):314-323. doi:10.1037/pha0000037van de Loo AJAE, Mackus M, van Schrojenstein Lantman M, Kraneveld AD, Brookhuis KA, Garssen J, Scholey A, Verster JC.Susceptibility to alcohol hangovers: The association with self-reported immune status.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(6):1286. doi:10.3390/ijerph15061286Verster JC, Stephens R, Penning R, Rohsenow D, McGeary J… Alcohol Hangover Research Group.The alcohol hangover research group consensus statement on best practice in alcohol hangover research.Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2010;3(2):116-26. doi:10.2174/1874473711003020116National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Understanding the dangers of alcohol overdose.Cleveland Clinic.Hangover.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Hangovers.Jung YC, Namkoong K.Alcohol: Intoxication and poisoning - diagnosis and treatment.Handb Clin Neurol.2014;125:115-21. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-62619-6.00007-0Huntley G, Treloar H, Blanchard A, et al.An event-level investigation of hangovers' relationship to age and drinking.Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015;23(5):314-323. doi:10.1037/pha0000037van de Loo AJAE, Mackus M, van Schrojenstein Lantman M, Kraneveld AD, Brookhuis KA, Garssen J, Scholey A, Verster JC.Susceptibility to alcohol hangovers: The association with self-reported immune status.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(6):1286. doi:10.3390/ijerph15061286Verster JC, Stephens R, Penning R, Rohsenow D, McGeary J… Alcohol Hangover Research Group.The alcohol hangover research group consensus statement on best practice in alcohol hangover research.Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2010;3(2):116-26. doi:10.2174/1874473711003020116National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Understanding the dangers of alcohol overdose.Cleveland Clinic.Hangover.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Hangovers.

Jung YC, Namkoong K.Alcohol: Intoxication and poisoning - diagnosis and treatment.Handb Clin Neurol.2014;125:115-21. doi:10.1016/B978-0-444-62619-6.00007-0

Huntley G, Treloar H, Blanchard A, et al.An event-level investigation of hangovers' relationship to age and drinking.Exp Clin Psychopharmacol. 2015;23(5):314-323. doi:10.1037/pha0000037

van de Loo AJAE, Mackus M, van Schrojenstein Lantman M, Kraneveld AD, Brookhuis KA, Garssen J, Scholey A, Verster JC.Susceptibility to alcohol hangovers: The association with self-reported immune status.Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018;15(6):1286. doi:10.3390/ijerph15061286

Verster JC, Stephens R, Penning R, Rohsenow D, McGeary J… Alcohol Hangover Research Group.The alcohol hangover research group consensus statement on best practice in alcohol hangover research.Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2010;3(2):116-26. doi:10.2174/1874473711003020116

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.Understanding the dangers of alcohol overdose.

Cleveland Clinic.Hangover.

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