The Science of a Hangover: Homecoming Edition

by Lauren Waichenberg

I think it’s safe to say that the majority of university students have experienced the horrors of a hangover after a night of drinking. Everyone handles alcohol differently and hangover symptoms may  vary, but there are certain theories that are still being investigated by researchers looking at what exactly causes the hangover symptoms. With homecoming fast approaching, it’s helpful to understand  the science behind the pounding headache, the unrelenting nausea, and the fatigue that just won’t let up, in order to figure out prevention methods (so you can rally the next morning).

So what exactly is causing the hangover symptoms we so dread? It is theorized that a hangover is actually early stages of alcohol withdrawal. The symptoms are caused by acetaldehyde, which is a breakdown product of alcohol metabolism, as well as congeners, a chemical formed during alcohol processing and maturation. When looking at the hormones involved, it was found that alcohol greatly inhibits antidiuretic hormone, which leads to excessive urination and dehydration. I’m sure we have all been told to drink lots of water throughout the night to avoid or lessen the severity of a hangover. Why do we do this? To prevent dehydration, which greatly worsens hangover symptoms.

More modern theories suggest that it’s not actually the alcohol that plays an important role in producing a hangover, but the acetaldehyde (supposedly 30x more toxic to the body!). Alcohol is broken down into acetaldehyde by an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which is then further metabolized by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). A cofactor, NAD+, is needed for both of these reactions to proceed, but is also needed largely in other essential body processes, such as regulating electrolyte levels and absorbing glucose from the blood. So I’m sure you can understand that with sufficient NAD+ being used to break down copious amounts of alcohol, these other, more important reactions are significantly slowed.

So why are some lucky people spared while others never fail to get a hangover? A researcher at the University of Bath, suggests that genetics plays a large role, from her experiments comparing identical and non-identical twins. However, the exact genes involved have not been identified. There are multiple theories that suggest that people of Asian descent have a lower tolerance for alcohol due to a lack of sufficient alcohol dehydrogenase, but the problem mainly arises from the fact that alcohol processing occurs too quickly. Furthermore, multiple studies suggest that women report more severe hangovers due to their smaller body mass.

The moral of the story is that this homecoming weekend, make sure to stay extra hydrated! It’s a good idea to stick to one type of alcohol as mixing drinks can lead to a nastier  hangover. It’s also suggested that dark liquors (brandy, wine, tequila, etc) result in worse hangovers than clear liquors (vodka, gin, etc) due to a higher content of congeners. Most importantly, HAVE FUN (but know your limits).

*If you or a friend has had a little too much fun, the Campus Observation Room is available to help.

Sources:
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/why-do-hangovers-occur/
http://www.medicaldaily.com/what-causes-hangover-everything-you-need-know-morning-after-drinking-alcohol-366042
​