Pounding head, a delicate stomach and mouth as dry as a desert is a usuаl condition for many of us over the festive season, Daily Mail reports.
Having a hangover could also make you a danger behind the wheel, suggests a recent study from the University of the West of England, which found that hangover drivers made significantly more mistakes even once the alcohol had cleared their system.
Driving with a hangover is as dangerous as drunk driving, studies show
As alcohol is a diuretic (triggering the production of urine), it causes dehydration, which in turn leads to symptoms such as headache, dry mouth, reduced concentration and irritability.
Meanwhile, blood-sugar levels drop because the body produces too much insulin in response to the high sugar content of alcohol.
This contributes to a throbbing head, as well as driving the rampant hunger that many drinkers experience.
Alcohol also irritates the stomach and disrupts sleep, causing nausea and exhaustion the next day.
Many people have their theories about what causes hangovers, how to avoid them and how best to treat them. We talked to the experts to find out the truth behind the popular theories …
YES, SOME PEOPLE ARE IMMUNE TO HANGOVERS
What's perceived as a high tolerance may be a sign the body is already damaged by alcohol
‘It’s true that some people are less prone to hangovers,’ says Dr Sarah Jarvis, a GP and medical adviser to the charity Drinkaware.
This is partly because some people are for some reason less prone to headaches when dehydrated.
Others may be less susceptible to the effects of acetaldehyde, the toxic substance produced when alcohol is first metabolised in the liver.
‘But that does not mean they are immune to the longer-term effects of alcohol,’ warns Dr Jarvis.
The specific symptoms suffered during a hangover may vary for individuals, too.
It is also true that some ethnic groups suffer more after drinking because of their genetic make-up.
‘We know East Asians have very low levels of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (an enzyme that breaks down acetaldehyde), which can make them get drunk more quickly and contribute to hangovers,’ says Dr Jarvis.
OLDER DRINKERS COPE BETTER
In a study of 50,000 adults, researchers in Denmark found older people had less severe hangover symptoms after a heavy night: 21 per cent of women aged 18 to 29 suffered nausea with a hangover, compared with 3 per cent of women aged 60 and over.
And 62 per cent of men in the young age group had exhaustion when hangover, compared with 14 per cent of those over 60.
As Dr Jarvis says: ‘There is some suggestion that you suffer worse hangovers as you get older because your body’s production of acetaldehyde dehydrogenase decreases.’
SPRITZERS MAKE THINGS WORSE
There is some evidence that bubbly drinks intoxicate you more quickly than flat drinks.
One theory is the carbon dioxide in bubbles speeds up the flow of alcohol into the intestine.
The principle could apply to all carbonated drinks, including beer, adds Dr Emma Derbyshire, a senior lecturer in nutrition at Manchester Metropolitan University and independent adviser to the Natural Hydration Council.
DARKER DRINK IS MORE DANGEROUS
It’s true that certain drinks will result in a worse hangover, say experts.
So red wine or brandy could make your head throb more than gin.
Some people say you should have two spoonfuls of mashed potato with plenty of butter before a drink
It's sensible to avoid drinking on an empty stomach, as food slows down the speed at which alcohol gets into the system.
IS BEER SAFER THAN WINE?
‘A possibility is that beer has a higher water content than wine, so you’re getting more fluids into your body if you drink beer,’ says Dr Derbyshire.
‘But rather than have beer first, it’s best to have some water before drinking any alcohol,’ she advises.
DRINK A GLASS OF MILK AS YOU HEAD TO BED
This should mean fewer trips to the loo, minimising sleep disruption.
Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter