Anyone who’s consumed too much alcohol knows the misery of the morning after. As to what actually causes a hangover, a variety of factors contribute. Most importantly, these include direct effects of alcohol on the body, such as dehydration.Other symptomscan result fromalcohol withdrawal, certainchemicals your body produces when you drink alcohol, behaviors associated with drinking, and your personal characteristics.

Alcohol directly contributes tohangoversymptoms in several ways:

What “Hangxiety” Is and How to Avoid It

Factors other than alcohol can contribute to a hangover, too. These include:

How to Cure a HangoverFeeling a little under the weather? Try these strategies for lessening the effects of a hangover.Rehydrate with water, bouillon, or electrolyte beverages such as Gatorade and Pedialyte.Take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin or ibuprofen (unless you have stomach pain or nausea; these drugs can make it worse).Eat something high in fiber and healthy carbs to help bring your blood sugar level back into line.Take some vitamin B3 (niacin) or zinc. Recent research has hinted at their effectiveness.

How to Cure a Hangover

Feeling a little under the weather? Try these strategies for lessening the effects of a hangover.Rehydrate with water, bouillon, or electrolyte beverages such as Gatorade and Pedialyte.Take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as aspirin or ibuprofen (unless you have stomach pain or nausea; these drugs can make it worse).Eat something high in fiber and healthy carbs to help bring your blood sugar level back into line.Take some vitamin B3 (niacin) or zinc. Recent research has hinted at their effectiveness.

Feeling a little under the weather? Try these strategies for lessening the effects of a hangover.

Don’t take acetaminophen (Tylenol) for a hangover or anytime you’ve been drinking. The combination of this med and alcohol can damage your liver.

When to See a Doctor

In and of themselves, hangovers are not life-threatening and will subside without medical intervention. However, if you have frequent hangovers that interfere with daily life, consider seeing a doctor to evaluate whether you might have alcoholism. Help and effective treatment are available.

The Bottom Line

Hangover symptoms are the result of several factors, two of which are dehydration and the toxic effects of alcohol on the body. You can counter dehydration quickly with water or sports drinks that replace electrolytes; however, only time can reverse the toxic effects of alcohol on your central nervous and gastrointestinal systems.

Frequently Asked QuestionsThe most important remedy is hydration. Rehydrate with water or sports drinks (the latter of which help restore electrolyte balance). Sleep and nutrition can help, too.Hangover symptoms last up to 24 hours, though most resolve sooner.Most importantly, drink lots of water. Eat before you start drinking, and opt for clear liquors such as vodka and gin (rather than congener-laden choices such as whiskey and wine).Alcohol irritates and inflames your stomach lining, leading to nausea. It also activates the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ), a part of the brain that detects poison and tells the body to reject it, leading to nausea and vomiting.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most important remedy is hydration. Rehydrate with water or sports drinks (the latter of which help restore electrolyte balance). Sleep and nutrition can help, too.

Hangover symptoms last up to 24 hours, though most resolve sooner.

Most importantly, drink lots of water. Eat before you start drinking, and opt for clear liquors such as vodka and gin (rather than congener-laden choices such as whiskey and wine).

Alcohol irritates and inflames your stomach lining, leading to nausea. It also activates the chemoreceptor trigger zone (CTZ), a part of the brain that detects poison and tells the body to reject it, leading to nausea and vomiting.

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.Polhuis KCMM, Wijnen AHC, Sierksma A, Calame W, Tieland M.The Diuretic Action of Weak and Strong Alcoholic Beverages in Elderly Men: A Randomized Diet-Controlled Crossover Trial.Nutrients. 2017;9(7). doi:10.3390%2Fnu9070660National Center for Biotechnology Information.Gastritis: Overview.Cederbaum AI.Alcohol metabolism.Clin Liver Dis. 2012;16(4):667–685. doi:10.1016/j.cld.2012.08.002Rohsenow DJ, Howland J.The role of beverage congeners in hangover and other residual effects of alcohol intoxication: a review.Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2010;3(2):76-9. doi:10.2174/1874473711003020076Marsh, Beth, Carlyle, Molly, Carter, Emily, Hughes, Paige, McGahey, Sarah, Lawn, Will, Stevens, Tobias, McAndrew, Amy, Morgan, Celia J.A.Shyness, alcohol use disorders and ‘hangxiety’: A naturalistic study of social drinkers.Personality and Individual Differences, 2019; 139: 13 DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2018.10.034Courtney KE, Worley M, Castro N, Tapert SF.The effects of alcohol hangover on future drinking behavior and the development of alcohol problems.Addict Behav. 2018;78:209-215. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.11.040Verster JC, Vermeulen SA, van de Loo AJAE, et al.Dietary nutrient intake, alcohol metabolism, and hangover severity.J Clin Med. 2019;8(9):1316. doi:10.3390/jcm8091316

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.Polhuis KCMM, Wijnen AHC, Sierksma A, Calame W, Tieland M.The Diuretic Action of Weak and Strong Alcoholic Beverages in Elderly Men: A Randomized Diet-Controlled Crossover Trial.Nutrients. 2017;9(7). doi:10.3390%2Fnu9070660National Center for Biotechnology Information.Gastritis: Overview.Cederbaum AI.Alcohol metabolism.Clin Liver Dis. 2012;16(4):667–685. doi:10.1016/j.cld.2012.08.002Rohsenow DJ, Howland J.The role of beverage congeners in hangover and other residual effects of alcohol intoxication: a review.Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2010;3(2):76-9. doi:10.2174/1874473711003020076Marsh, Beth, Carlyle, Molly, Carter, Emily, Hughes, Paige, McGahey, Sarah, Lawn, Will, Stevens, Tobias, McAndrew, Amy, Morgan, Celia J.A.Shyness, alcohol use disorders and ‘hangxiety’: A naturalistic study of social drinkers.Personality and Individual Differences, 2019; 139: 13 DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2018.10.034Courtney KE, Worley M, Castro N, Tapert SF.The effects of alcohol hangover on future drinking behavior and the development of alcohol problems.Addict Behav. 2018;78:209-215. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.11.040Verster JC, Vermeulen SA, van de Loo AJAE, et al.Dietary nutrient intake, alcohol metabolism, and hangover severity.J Clin Med. 2019;8(9):1316. doi:10.3390/jcm8091316

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.

Polhuis KCMM, Wijnen AHC, Sierksma A, Calame W, Tieland M.The Diuretic Action of Weak and Strong Alcoholic Beverages in Elderly Men: A Randomized Diet-Controlled Crossover Trial.Nutrients. 2017;9(7). doi:10.3390%2Fnu9070660National Center for Biotechnology Information.Gastritis: Overview.Cederbaum AI.Alcohol metabolism.Clin Liver Dis. 2012;16(4):667–685. doi:10.1016/j.cld.2012.08.002Rohsenow DJ, Howland J.The role of beverage congeners in hangover and other residual effects of alcohol intoxication: a review.Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2010;3(2):76-9. doi:10.2174/1874473711003020076Marsh, Beth, Carlyle, Molly, Carter, Emily, Hughes, Paige, McGahey, Sarah, Lawn, Will, Stevens, Tobias, McAndrew, Amy, Morgan, Celia J.A.Shyness, alcohol use disorders and ‘hangxiety’: A naturalistic study of social drinkers.Personality and Individual Differences, 2019; 139: 13 DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2018.10.034Courtney KE, Worley M, Castro N, Tapert SF.The effects of alcohol hangover on future drinking behavior and the development of alcohol problems.Addict Behav. 2018;78:209-215. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.11.040Verster JC, Vermeulen SA, van de Loo AJAE, et al.Dietary nutrient intake, alcohol metabolism, and hangover severity.J Clin Med. 2019;8(9):1316. doi:10.3390/jcm8091316

Polhuis KCMM, Wijnen AHC, Sierksma A, Calame W, Tieland M.The Diuretic Action of Weak and Strong Alcoholic Beverages in Elderly Men: A Randomized Diet-Controlled Crossover Trial.Nutrients. 2017;9(7). doi:10.3390%2Fnu9070660

National Center for Biotechnology Information.Gastritis: Overview.

Cederbaum AI.Alcohol metabolism.Clin Liver Dis. 2012;16(4):667–685. doi:10.1016/j.cld.2012.08.002

Rohsenow DJ, Howland J.The role of beverage congeners in hangover and other residual effects of alcohol intoxication: a review.Curr Drug Abuse Rev. 2010;3(2):76-9. doi:10.2174/1874473711003020076

Marsh, Beth, Carlyle, Molly, Carter, Emily, Hughes, Paige, McGahey, Sarah, Lawn, Will, Stevens, Tobias, McAndrew, Amy, Morgan, Celia J.A.Shyness, alcohol use disorders and ‘hangxiety’: A naturalistic study of social drinkers.Personality and Individual Differences, 2019; 139: 13 DOI: 10.1016/j.paid.2018.10.034

Courtney KE, Worley M, Castro N, Tapert SF.The effects of alcohol hangover on future drinking behavior and the development of alcohol problems.Addict Behav. 2018;78:209-215. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2017.11.040

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