Science
How does a hangover work?
A hangover works as the body's reaction to processing alcohol: dehydration, disrupted sleep, inflammation, and toxic byproducts combine to make you feel awful. As your body breaks alcohol down, it produces chemicals that trigger headache, nausea, and fatigue.
See it in motion.
Watch a 2-minute animated lesson that shows exactly how a hangover works.
Step by step
- 1Alcohol makes you urinate more, leading to dehydration.
- 2Breaking it down produces a toxic byproduct (acetaldehyde).
- 3It disrupts sleep quality and blood sugar.
- 4It triggers inflammation that worsens aches and fatigue.
- 5Severity depends on amount, hydration, and individual chemistry.
Frequently asked questions
- What causes a hangover?
- A mix of dehydration, a toxic breakdown product called acetaldehyde, poor sleep, low blood sugar, and inflammation from processing alcohol.
- Does drinking water prevent hangovers?
- It helps with the dehydration part, easing some symptoms, but it can't undo the toxins and inflammation alcohol causes.
- Why are some people hit harder by hangovers?
- Genetics affect how fast you clear alcohol and its byproducts, and factors like hydration, food, and sleep change the severity.