January 1 is informally recognized as the day of the hangover . It may seem like a joke, but it is not: from excessive alcohol consumption also dies.
Fatigue and weakness; thirst and dry mouth; headache, stomach and muscles; nausea and vomiting; insomnia, dizziness, tremor, lack of concentration, anxiety, depression, irritability ... These are some of the symptoms of this discomfort caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
They last up to 24 hours , and should not cause serious health problems, although it is advisable to consult a doctor if they affect your quality of life on an ongoing basis, as recommended by the Mayo Clinic.
If they get worse, causing confusion, irregular breathing, hypothermia or fainting, they may indicate that there has been alcohol poisoning that can be lethal . "It is possible to consume so much alcohol that it is toxic," explains Dr. James Siox of the National Institute of Integrative Medicine.
In any case, he adds, the dangerous thing is to drink, not to suffer a hangover the next day: if he wakes up the next morning, he will most likely survive.
Although, sometimes, the price will be high.
Alcohol interferes with neuronal communications in the brain. In general, it is a depressant , that is, it reduces nerve activity. At first it seems a stimulant , which socially inhibits, but soon happens to sedate and stun.
Its effects are diluted as the body metabolizes ethyl alcohol and converts it into acetaldehyde , a substance up to 30 times more toxic that causes anxiety and sadness, the physical ills outlined above, and also, in case of chronic consumption, even possible brain damage and cardiovascular
In conclusion, it is not the hangover that kills: it is alcohol.
So you should have drunk in moderation (here you can see how much). But maybe it's too late for that, let's see what can be done with the hangover (which can also be lethal: drowning in vomit, traffic accidents, suicides ).
"A large part of the hangover is dehydration , and the accumulation of alcohol metabolites," explains Dr. Michael Lynch, medical director of the Poison Center of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania).
Drinking water and eating before consuming alcohol helps soften the blow later. A glass of water before going to sleep, too. Even drinking water while consuming alcohol, adds Lynch.
To that is added an anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen, for example) the next morning, although accompanied with food to protect the stomach.
"The most proven methods are still probably the best yet," he concludes.
There are studies that indicate that dark drinks ( red wine, whiskey , etc.) are worse in this sense than clear drinks ( white wine, vodka ...). But, in general, the most obvious risk factor is the volume of alcohol consumed.
Age also affects (the liver's ability to cope with acetaldehyde decreases), as well as weight or parallel consumption of medications .
The next day, not even sports drinks (containing salts) are proven to help.
And of course continue drinking alcohol either: drinking again only postpones the symptoms (or aggravates them).
Excessive alcohol consumption ends the lives of 88,000 people a year in the United States, and damages the global economy (249,000 million per year is lost, equivalent to two dollars per drink, according to the Centers for Control and Prevention of Diseases (CDC).
If you want to know more, or check in which states you drink too much, here is a map about the prevalence of excessive alcohol consumption (where it is done more times) and the intensity with which it is done (in the lower map; both of the CDC).