I C O A K S

AUTHOR: PROFESSOR JOHN MURTAGH

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Copyright of Professor John Murtagh and Australian Doctor. This patient handout may be photocopied or printed out by a doctor free of charge for patient information purposes.
Hangover
What is a hangover?
A hangover is the extreme drained and
uncomfortable feeling the morning after a
bout of excessive drinking of alcohol. It is a
type of acute drug toxicity. The main symp-
toms are headache, nausea and fatigue.
What is the cause of the sickness?
There are several factors involved in lead-
ing to the toxic effects of alcohol on the brain
and rest of the body and particularly to the
state of dehydration which is a key feature.
How bad you feel after an evenings
drinking depends partly on your basic con-
stitution, your conditioning to drinking, and
what and how much you have drunk.
Most alcoholic drinks contain substances
called congeners that combine with the
amount and strength of the alcohol to give a
drinking bout its hangover effect. Because
alcohol is a diuretic drug it causes an
increased output of urine, thus leading to
dehydration of the body.
What are the most potent drinks?
Brandy, bourbon and red wine produce
the most hangovers. Gin and vodka contain
few congeners and are the least likely to
cause a hangover. Champagne or sparkling
chardonnay is also a potent drink, particu-
larly on an empty stomach. Any fizzy drink
is not advisable during a solid drinking ses-
sion because the gas increases the rate of
absorption of alcohol.
What other factors contribute to
hangovers?
l
Smoking an important contributing factor.
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Drinking on an empty stomach.
l
Fast drinking, especially skolling.
What are the risks?
Next-day performance can be a problem
and dangerous in people with responsible
jobs requiring alertness and fine skills such
as transport drivers and pilots. Making a
habit of partying with hangovers can lead to
chronic alcohol dependence and toxicity.
What are some of the myths of alco-
hol folklore?
There are several traditional beliefs asso-
ciated with drinking but their validity is
questionable.
l
It is risky to mix your drinks, for exam-
ple, to have beer after champagne or
whisky, or wine after gin, or red wine after
white wine. Although mixing may con-
tribute to a hangover there is no evidence
that it is harmful. It is best to mix water
with alcoholic drinks, for example, min-
eral water to follow or precede alcohol.
l
A hair of the dog that bit you eases the
hangover, that is, try to alleviate a
hangover by having a drink or two the fol-
lowing morning. This may help you feel
better due to taking fluid and reversing the
withdrawal symptoms but it is a danger-
ous practice if used regularly. It can be a
forerunner of alcohol dependence.
l
Drinking coffee sobers you up. This may
be partly true but coffee also has a diuretic
effect.
How can hangovers be prevented or
minimised?
Much of this advice is commonsense and
you can set your own strategies.
l
Drink alcohol on a full stomach. Combine it
with food any kind of food. This is
probably the best single thing you can do
besides drinking less to reduce the severity
of a hangover.
l
Select alcoholic drinks that suit you. Avoid
drinking excessive champagne on an
empty stomach when you arrive at a func-
tion.
l
Avoid fast drinking keep it slow. Choose
your drinks for their flavour not their
kick and enjoy the taste of each relaxing
sip.
l
Restrict the quantity of alcohol you drink
set yourself reasonable limits and stick
to them.
l
Dilute your drinks adding non-alcohol
liquid mixtures to strong drinks is effec-
tive. Look for the tall container of soda
water, water or tonic. Mix your drinks by
having a glass of water or non-alcoholic
juice between alcoholic drinks.
l
For beer drinkers use light beer.
l
Avoid or restrict smoking while you drink.
l
Drink three large glasses of water before
going to bed.
What is the treatment?
l
Drink lots of fluids, preferably water.
l
Drink sweetened orange juice or tomato
juice. Such fruit juices help eliminate alco-
hol.
l
A drink of honey in lemon juice helps.
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Tea (preferable) and coffee are suitable
drinks but follow coffee with water.
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Have a substantial meal but avoid fatty
food.
l
Take two paracetamol tablets for discom-
fort, especially for headache.
Brain
Stomach
Pancreas
Heart
Liver
Kidneys
Organs of the body susceptible to damage by
excessive/prolonged use of alcohol