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How does a hangover work?

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Quick answer

A hangover works as the body's reaction to processing alcohol: dehydration, disrupted sleep, inflammation, and toxic byproducts combine to make you feel awful. As your body breaks alcohol down, it produces chemicals that trigger headache, nausea, and fatigue. Alcohol makes you urinate more, leading to dehydration.

Step by step

  1. Alcohol makes you urinate more, leading to dehydration.
  2. Breaking it down produces a toxic byproduct (acetaldehyde).
  3. It disrupts sleep quality and blood sugar.
  4. It triggers inflammation that worsens aches and fatigue.
  5. Severity depends on amount, hydration, and individual chemistry.

People also ask

What causes a hangover?
A mix of dehydration, a toxic breakdown product called acetaldehyde, poor sleep, low blood sugar, and inflammation from processing alcohol.
Does drinking water prevent hangovers?
It helps with the dehydration part, easing some symptoms, but it can't undo the toxins and inflammation alcohol causes.
Why are some people hit harder by hangovers?
Genetics affect how fast you clear alcohol and its byproducts, and factors like hydration, food, and sleep change the severity.