Why do you get hangovers after drinking alcohol?

Dehydration

Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning that it causes your body to produce more urine. This can lead to dehydration, which can cause a variety of symptoms, including headache, fatigue, and dizziness.

Nutrient depletion

Alcohol can also deplete your body of certain nutrients, including B vitamins, potassium, and magnesium. This can lead to a range of symptoms, including muscle weakness, fatigue, and anxiety.

Liver damage

Alcohol can damage the liver, which is responsible for filtering toxins from the body. This can lead to a buildup of toxins in the blood, which can cause a variety of symptoms, including nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Immune system suppression

Alcohol can also suppress the immune system, making you more susceptible to infection. This can lead to a variety of symptoms, including fever, chills, and sore throat.

Congeners

Congeners are impurities that are found in alcoholic beverages. Some congeners have been linked to an increased risk of hangovers. For example, bourbon and red wine contain higher levels of congeners than vodka and white wine, and they are more likely to cause hangovers.

Genetics

Some people are more likely to get hangovers than others. This may be due to genetic differences in the way that the body metabolizes alcohol.

Age

As people get older, they are more likely to experience hangovers. This is because the body's ability to metabolize alcohol decreases with age.

Gender

Women are more likely to experience hangovers than men. This is because women have a lower body water content than men, so alcohol has a more concentrated effect on their bodies.

Other factors

Certain factors can increase the risk of experiencing a hangover, including:

- Drinking on an empty stomach

- Mixing different types of alcoholic beverages

- Drinking rapidly

- Consuming caffeinated or carbonated beverages while drinking alcohol

- Going to sleep drunk