Alcohol & Its Effects on Dehydration

The symptoms of a hangover, like headache and fatigue, may be the result of dehydration brought on by alcohol consumption. Dehydration in general causes a variety of symptoms and makes your body have to work harder to perform essential functions. Exercise, high altitudes, poor access to fluids, diarrhea, infections and heat cause dehydration to occur.

Alcohol As a Diuretic

• Alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it causes fluid to be removed from your body through urination. So more water is coming out than going in, and you are also losing electrolytes such as potassium and sodium.

Alcohol and Mucus Membranes

• Alcohol flushes water from the body and also dries up mucus membranes. This leads to dry eyes, throat and nose. Drinking water in between alcoholic beverage servings may slow down the dehydration process, but it will not stop all dehydration from happening.

Alcohol Speeds Up Dehydration

• If you have a bout of illness or are hiking at higher altitudes, among other dehydrating situations, drinking alcohol will only speed up the process of dehydration. Alcohol may be a fluid, but it has a diuretic effect.

Alcohol Exaggerates Conditions

• Certain conditions are made worse by dehydration. Skin conditions like rosacea or eczema get worse the more dehydrated you are. So alcohol consumption may make symptoms exaggerated. A B-vitamin deficiency will be made worse by drinking and so will depression.