What Are the Common Symptoms of a Hangover?
We’ve all been there—spending a day in bed, binge-watching our favorite shows, trying to bounce back. But to be precise, common hangover symptoms include fatigue, weakness, thirst, headaches, muscle aches, nausea, stomach pain, dizziness, sensitivity to light and sound, anxiety, irritability, sweating, and elevated blood pressure.
What Actually Causes a Hangover?
Before diving into why some people don’t get hangovers while others do, it’s key to understand what causes them. Simply put, liver enzymes break down all the alcohol you drink into acetaldehyde. This is a toxin your body needs to eliminate quickly. Some people’s liver enzymes work more efficiently, while others’ don’t. For the latter, acetaldehyde lingers longer in the body, triggering those all-too-familiar hangover symptoms.
Why Don’t Some People Get Hungover?
As mentioned, some people genetically metabolize alcohol faster, so it doesn’t hit them the next day. But that’s only half the story. Alcohol is also a diuretic, and dehydration plays a big role in hangovers. When drinking, people often don’t hydrate enough, which makes hangovers feel worse. A good rule of thumb: drink a glass of water for every alcoholic drink you have.
Tolerance Varies from Person to Person
Think about catching a cold that knocks you out for five days, while your best friend recovers in just 24 hours. Drinking works the same way. One friend might wake up with a mild headache and power through the day, barely feeling hungover, while the same headache could keep you in bed all day long.
How to Handle a Hangover Like a Pro
Like most things in life, moderation is key. Consider yourself lucky if you rarely feel hungover. Still, alcohol is a toxin that can harm your body. Excessive drinking can cause lifelong organ damage, affecting your brain, heart, liver, and more.
So whenever you can, drink in small amounts or avoid alcohol altogether. If you do drink, stay well hydrated, avoid drinking on an empty stomach, drink plenty of fluids afterward, skip greasy foods, eat potassium- and electrolyte-rich snacks, and most importantly, remind yourself every time that hangovers can bring a lot of discomfort.
