A hangover doesn’t just make you feel rubbish physically — research by the University of Bristol has found that people who drank the night before performed worse in maths and memory tests the next day and were less able to control their emotions.
Dr.Craig Gunn, a lecturer in psychological science who led the study, stated, “Hangovers appear to impact most aspects of executive functions [key skills such as problem-solving]. This ample impact on individuals and wider society should be considered a public health concern.”
Here, we look at how alcohol affects you from the first sip and how to minimize hangover symptoms.
“About a quarter of it is indeed absorbed via the stomach; the rest is absorbed further along your digestive tract,” explains debbie Shawcross, a professor of hepatology and medical advisor to the British Liver Trust.
“How quickly you absorb the alcohol depends on factors such as its concentration [drinks with a higher alcohol concentration are absorbed faster] or whether your stomach is empty [food slows absorption].”
A hangover doesn’t just make you feel rubbish physically – research has found that people who drank the night before performed worse in maths and memory tests the next day
AFTER FIVE TO TEN MINUTES:
Alcohol very quickly crosses the blood-brain barrier — the protective barrier around the brain — where it stimulates the release of ‘feel-good’ chemicals dopamine and serotonin.
This alters the balance of these key chemical messengers (which are responsible for regulating mood and rational thought), reducing inhibitions and leading to impulsive behavior.
AFTER 30 MINUTES:
A single unit of alcohol (roughly a small glass of wine or a pint of beer) will have been fully absorbed by the gut and into the bloodstream, which
AFTER ONE HOUR:
Alcohol is treated as a toxin by the body — something to be removed — which is the job of the liver.
The liver processes alcohol at “a consistent rate of 60 minutes per unit,” explains Professor Shawcross. Most of the alcohol is broken down by an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase and turned into acetaldehyde.
“This chemical can cause flushing of the skin, nausea, and palpitations often associated with drinking,” she says.
“Other enzymes then break the acetaldehyde down into acetate, which is further broken down into carbon dioxide and water and eliminated from the body” — mostly in urine (which is why trips to the loo become more frequent after an hour of drinking). “Some acetate is also expelled in your breath and sweat,” says Professor Shawcross (the reason you can smell drink on someone the day after a heavy night).
“The liver can’t speed up this detoxification process, even when faced with excess alcohol,” she adds. “So even after you stop drinking, alcohol can stay in your blood for up to six hours and in breath for 12 to 24 hours.”
AFTER TWO HOURS:
If you continue drinking, you’ll start to move more slowly, your balance will be affected, and speech becomes slurred as the alcohol reduces the production of a chemical messenger called GABA in the brain.
AFTER FOUR HOURS:
As the liver struggles to process the alcohol still entering your system (further affecting coordination and thought processes), the alcohol acts as a sedative, making you feel drowsy or causing you to pass out.
Hangover symptoms are a result of the lingering alcohol and acetaldehyde in your body:
HEADACHE: This is mainly due to dehydration as you urinate more. “Passing a lot of urine means you’re also losing electrolytes [such as sodium and potassium], which exacerbates headaches,” says Dr. Gunn.
NAUSEA: Acetaldehyde irritates the gut lining, which can trigger diarrhea and nausea.
ACHES AND TIREDNESS: Following heavy alcohol consumption, the immune system releases cytokines (the same proteins that make you feel ill when you have a cold) to counter damage caused by acetaldehyde.
“But this immune response can also promote feelings of fatigue and muscle ache,” says Dr. Gunn.
As the liver is busy breaking down alcohol, it doesn’t produce as much glucose to maintain normal blood sugar levels, contributing to feelings of tiredness.
FOOD CRAVINGS: Research shows that people tend to make unhealthy food choices the day after drinking, possibly due to low blood sugar and tiredness.
SLEEP PROBLEMS: Alcohol consumption can affect our body clock and cause fragmented sleep, which has a knock-on effect on mood and tiredness. Research from the Claude Bernad University in France found that after binge drinking, body clocks can take several days to return to normal sleep patterns.
this prompts your confused brain to restore balance the next day by releasing stimulating chemicals, such as cortisol, leading to an increased heart rate and feelings of anxiety.
“Studies show that people view normally pleasant images—cute bunnies, for exmaple—less favorably when hungover,” states Dr. Gunn.“Your normal ability to regulate emotions and how you experience pain seems crucial; the more an individual catastrophizes pain and emotions generally, the greater severity of hangovers they experience.”
Alcohol affects women more severely, as they have lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase—the enzyme that breaks it down. Hangovers also worsen with age because “the activity of the enzymes that break down alcohol is reduced, so it is metabolized more slowly, and acetaldehyde levels take longer to be dealt with,” explains Professor Shawcross.
Regarding hangover remedies, do any of them work? “In short, no,” comments Dr. Gunn. “The best way to limit a hangover is to consume alcohol in moderation.”
- Don’t drink on an empty stomach;
- Sip water or non-fizzy drinks between alcoholic ones to reduce the burden on your liver;
- Drink lots of water before bed.
How can individuals effectively manage their alcohol intake to minimize hangover symptoms?
Interview between Time.news editor and Dr. Craig Gunn,Expert in Psychological Science
Editor: Welcome,Dr. Craig Gunn! Thank you for joining us today to discuss your recent research on hangovers and their impact on cognitive function. It’s a pleasure to have you here.
Dr. Gunn: Thank you for having me! I’m excited to talk about this important topic.
Editor: Your study from the University of Bristol reveals that hangovers affect not just physical well-being but also cognitive abilities like math and memory. Can you elaborate on the key findings?
Dr. Gunn: Absolutely. We found that people who consumed alcohol the night before performed considerably worse on both mathematics and memory tests the following day. This impairment extends to emotional regulation as well, making it difficult for individuals to manage their feelings and reactions effectively.
Editor: That’s interesting but also quite alarming. You mentioned that this could be a public health concern. What did you mean by that?
Dr. gunn: Hangovers can impact executive functioning—skills such as problem-solving and decision-making—which are essential in daily life. When we consider the potential increase in accidents, poor job performance, and strained relationships, it’s clear that hangovers affect not just the individual but society as a whole.
Editor: So, it sounds like this isn’t just a personal issue but a broader societal one. What specifically happens in the brain when someone starts consuming alcohol?
Dr.Gunn: When alcohol is consumed, it quickly crosses the blood-brain barrier, leading to the release of dopamine and serotonin, which are chemicals linked to mood regulation. Initially, this can produce feelings of euphoria and decreased inhibitions, but over time, it disrupts rational thought and emotional control.
Editor: It’s interesting how quickly our bodies respond. Can you walk us through the timeline of alcohol absorption and its effects?
Dr. Gunn: Sure! About a quarter of alcohol is absorbed in the stomach, while the remaining is absorbed throughout the digestive tract. Within just five to ten minutes, alcohol is affecting the brain.After about thirty minutes, a typical drink will be fully absorbed and affect your body.
Editor: And what happens an hour after consuming alcohol?
Dr. Gunn: That’s when the liver kicks in to process the alcohol, but it does so at a consistent rate, typically breaking down one unit per hour. The body recognizes alcohol as a toxin and works to eliminate it, resulting in various byproducts like acetaldehyde, which can lead to unpleasant symptoms such as nausea and palpitations associated with hangovers.
Editor: It’s a fascinating but elaborate process. Many people wonder what they can do to reduce hangover symptoms. Are there any strategies you recommend?
Dr. Gunn: First, pace yourself and stay hydrated while drinking—water can definitely help slow absorption and mitigate some effects. Eating before drinking can also help, as food in the stomach slows alcohol absorption. Unfortunately, the liver’s detoxification process is consistent, so there’s no quick fix once you’ve consumed excess alcohol.
Editor: Those tips sound practical. Given your findings, what do you want people to take away from your research?
Dr. Gunn: It’s critical for people to understand not just the immediate effects of alcohol but also the lasting impacts a hangover can have. We often downplay the severity,but it can truly affect our cognitive skills,emotional health,and overall functioning in daily life. Awareness and moderation are key.
Editor: Thank you, Dr. Gunn, for shedding light on this important topic. We appreciate your insights and the implications of your research.
Dr. Gunn: thank you for having me! It’s been great discussing these issues and hopefully raising awareness about the impacts of alcohol consumption.