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Hangover Causes

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Obviously the main cause of a hangover is alcohol consumption. But there are different causes to why we get hangovers after drinking alcohol because of the different ways our bodies react to alcohol in the bloodstream. The causes can be intensified by several factors such as if the drinker is male of female. Females are more affected by alcohol than men. Another factor that can effect a hangover is the type of alcohol that was consumed. The following are some of the different causes of hangovers:

• Dehydration: When we drink and the alcohol is absorbed into the blood it causes the brain to block the creation of vasopressin which is the chemical that allows water to be absorbed in the body before being sent to the bladder. When vasopressin isn’t produced then the water is sent directly from the kidneys to the bladder. This is the reason why we have the frequent urge to urinate when we drink alcohol. This frequent urination along with the lack of water being absorbed into the body before being urinated causes the body to become dehydrated. Dehydration can cause dry mouth, headache, dry eyes, and overall fatigue and weakness.
• Congeners: Congeners are toxins from the fermentation process and are commonly present in higher levels in darker alcohols. The toxins are found in high levels in red wine, bourbon, whiskey, cognac, brandy, and tequila. Liquors such as white wine, rum, vodka, and gin have fewer congeners so they don’t cause the severe hangovers that darker liquors do.
• Hydrochloric Acid: Alcohol is directly absorbed into the stomach. Alcohol causes higher levels of hydrochloric acids to be absorbed in the stomach which can irritate it. When this happens the nerves in the stomach can send signals to the brain indicating that the body needs to vomit to get rid of the irritation. Vomiting can actually be a good thing in terms of a hangover because it gets rid of the alcohol and cuts down on other symptoms of a hangover. Hydrochloric acid can also result in other stomach irritations such as diarrhea and loss of appetite.

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