What causes a hangover?

You know that feeling: you woke up in bed and it feels like someone is hitting you with a hammer.  The room seems as if it is spinning.  Your head is pounding, and your whole body is aching.  Your mouth is dry, and you are dying for a drink.  It is the morning after a night of drinking, and you have a hangover.

But what causes a hangover?

Well, you will be surprised to learn that science is still undecided on the exact mechanisms by which alcohol causes hangovers.  There are several things that contribute to a hangover, but one of the main factors is simply dehydration.  Alcohol has a dehydrating effect that causes your body to produce more urine than normal, resulting in the feeling of dehydration: dry mouth and general feeling of lethargy. 

Drinking alcohol that contains impurities or preservatives can also contribute to giving you a hangover. 

Cogeners are chemical compounds other than alcohol and water which are found in alcoholic drinks.  They are added to alcoholic beverages as they can contribute with a pleasing color, flavor and smell.  The more congeners consumed, the worse a hangover is likely to be.  Darker spirits (such as soctch) contain more congeners than lighter spiritis (such as vodka).  Similarly, cheaper spirits generally tend to have fewer of these impurities removed, resulting in a stronger chance for hangovers. 

Unfortunately, there are no hard and fast rules stating a set amount of alcohol that will cause a hangover.  Each individual reacts to alcohol differently, but generally, the more you drank, the more severe the hangover symptoms. 

Preventing a hangover:

• Eat before, and while you are drinking.
• Drinking lots of water to remain hydrated.

Hangover remedies
Left alone, hangover will usually go away after some time.  But if you are seeking some fast relief to ease your pain, here are some suggestions that reportedly can help:

• Drink water.
• Eat something simple like eggs.
• Exercise.

Hangover Don't
Although it may be ok to take a couple of aspirin to help you deal with the headache, avoid taking Tylenol tablets.  Alcohol combined with acetaminophen (the active ingredient found in Tylenol) can prove to be very damaging to the liver.