Hangovers are a Mystery

Blog Post #2

Elise Howard

       It is amazing to me that with the clear problem that alcohol poses in our society we do not know much about the after effects that it has on the body; namely, alcohol-induced hangovers.  I for one was under the impression that hangovers were definitively caused by dehydration that excessive drinking causes, however there is little empirical evidence backing this up. Some studies have shown that there are biological changes that occur during a hangover the day after drinking excessively such as increases in vasopressin, aldosterone, and rennin in the endocrine system which cause symptoms that mimic the effects of dehydration like dry mouth and thirst. Biological changes in the immune system were also seen during a hangover including increases in concentrations of pro-inflammatory cytokine and interferon-gamma which are associated with the more cognitive symptoms of a hangover like memory impairment and different mood changes. Recent research found that cytokines are core in the communication between the immune system and the central nervous system and the effect that cytokines have on the body are very similar to the symptoms of a hangover (Verster, 2008).

       Up and above biological changes that are seen during a hangover state, there are many other factors that may contribute to the presence of a hangover or even the severity of one. A second issue that may be a factor into the underlying mechanisms of a hangover is the inherent lack of sleep that typically comes with excessive drinking. Also, as discussed about in class, the types of alcohol consumed potentially contribute to the severity of a hangover mainly due to the amount of congeners in specific spirits (Verster, 2008). A study by Verster (2006) showed that it takes fewer high-congener drinks to experience a hangover.

Overall, there should be more studies in the future that focus on the underlying mechanisms that cause hangovers. Alcohol plays a very major and typically troubling role in American society and hangovers are inherent problems that come with this issue.

References

Verster, J. C. (2006). Congeners and alcohol hangover: Differences in severity among Dutch college 
        students consuming beer, wine or liquor. Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research, 30(6).

Verster, J. C. (2008). The alcohol hangover--a puzzling phenomenon. Alcohol and alcoholism (Oxford, Oxfordshire), 43(2), 124–6. doi:10.1093/alcalc/agm163