The science behind hangovers is actually...

According to a report on the U.S. News Weekly website on August 6, it is no coincidence that August 6 is "International Hangover Day" and the day before it is "International Beer Day".

Anyone who drinks alcohol will have experienced the feeling of being sick after a heavy night of drinking. To mark International Hangover Day, scientists have explained the biological basis of the hangover.

Scientists say that in some ways, a hangover can be described as a mild withdrawal syndrome, in which the body responds to excessive drinking with an opposite physiological response.

As soon as alcohol enters the brain, brain circuits begin to adjust to minimize the perturbations caused by the alcohol and restore the function of each circuit to baseline levels.

As a result of this acute tolerance process, as the alcohol wears off, activity in circuits that were previously suppressed by the alcohol rises above baseline levels. For example, alcohol initially slows activity in the amygdala, a part of the brain involved in processing emotions. Alcohol initially reduces anxiety, but a rebound in amygdala activity the next day can lead to increased anxiety and irritability during a hangover.

Likewise, as the alcohol wears off, the circuits that were initially activated by alcohol may become less active for a while. Alcohol initially increases activity in the brain’s reward system, but during a hangover, diminished reward activity can lead to physical discomfort and a lack of pleasure.

Alcohol also turns into acetaldehyde, a toxic metabolite that causes inflammation and damages DNA.

While alcohol may reduce the time it takes to fall asleep, it can disrupt sleep architecture and reduce total sleep time, which can lead to next-day fatigue.

Sally Adams, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Birmingham in the UK who specializes in alcohol and addiction, said that when blood alcohol levels drop to lower levels, the body tries to metabolize it into waste products that can be cleared from the body.

"To do this, the body produces a toxic chemical that makes us feel sick and nauseous," she said. "Also, after drinking, there is inflammation in the stomach and small intestine, dehydration and electrolyte imbalances. These effects combine to make us feel extremely ill."

Adams said that so far there is no "convincing evidence" that any one product can prevent or alleviate a hangover.

She added: "This may be because a hangover has many complex effects on the body and brain, and most treatments focus on addressing just one effect, such as treating dehydration with water. The only way to avoid a hangover is to not drink alcohol, or to drink in moderation."

Scientists recommend that men should limit alcohol to no more than two drinks a day and women should limit alcohol to no more than one drink a day.

The scientists also said spacing out drinking and eating in the evening would help reduce overall intake and protect the stomach from direct irritation.

Methods for dealing with the discomfort caused by a hangover vary, but water, rest and time seem to be the common ingredients.

(Source: Reference News)