A hangover (veisalgia) is the sum of unpleasant physical effects following heavy consumption of alcohol. The most common reported characteristics of a hangover are feelings of extreme thirst, lethargy, nausea, sensitivity to sunlight and noise, and headache. Hypoglycemia, dehydration, and vitamin B12 deficiency are all theorized causes of hangover symptoms.

Symptoms

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An alcohol hangover is associated with a variety of symptoms that may include dehydration, tiredness, headache, nausea, diarrhea, weakness, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, irritability, sensitivity to light and noise and trouble sleeping. The symptoms vary from person to person, and occasion to occasion, usually beginning several hours after drinking. It is not clear whether hangovers affect cognitive abilities.

Causes

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Hangovers are multi-causal. Ethanol has a dehydrating effect (such substances are known as diuretics), which causes headaches, dry mouth, and lethargy. Dehydration causes the brain to shrink away from the skull slightly. This can be mitigated by drinking water after consumption of alcohol. Alcohol's impact on the stomach lining can account for nausea. Due to the increased NADH production during metabolism of ethanol by alcohol and aldehyde dehydrogenases, excess NADH can build up and slow down gluconeogenesis in the liver, thus causing hypoglycemia.

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