- Unpleasant physical effects following the heavy use of alcohol.
- A letdown, as after a period of excitement.
- A vestige; a holdover: hangovers from prewar legislation.
hangover
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hang·o·ver (hăng'ō'vər)  |
n.
| 5min Related Video: Hangovers |
| World of the Body: hangover |
Suffering from a hangover — the after-effects of too much alcohol — is such a common experience that there has been little research on it. But most people know what it feels like! Kingsley Amis provides an evocative description of this undesirable state in his well-known novel Lucky Jim:
He lay sprawled, too wicked to move, spewed up like a broken spider-crab on the tarry shingle of the morning. The light did him harm, but not as much as looking at things did; he resolved, having done it once, never to move his eyeballs again. A dusty thudding in his head made the scene before him beat like a pulse. His mouth had been used as a latrine by some small creature of the night, and then as its mausoleum. During the night too, he'd somehow been on a cross-country run and then been expertly beaten up by secret police. He felt bad.
The long list of symptoms, documented in numerous medical and literary sources and abundant in personal accounts, can be grouped into eight categories: constitutional (fatigue, weakness, and thirst) ; pain (headache and muscle aches) ; gastrointestinal (nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain) ; sleep and biological rhythms (less sleep, and more disturbed sleep) ; sensory (vertigo, and sensitivity to light and sound) ; cognitive (decreased attention and concentration) ; mood (depression, anxiety, and irritability) ; sympathetic hyperactivity (tremor, sweating, and increased pulse rate and systolic blood pressure).
Some hangover symptoms are due to the direct effects of alcohol on the body — as a diuretic for example, increasing urination, dehydrating the body, and increasing thirst. Other symptoms result from the body's efforts to cope with the removal of alcohol and counteract its depressant effects on the central nervous system. Unpleasant sensations such as tremors, sweating, and rapid heartbeat plague the sufferer. Behaviours associated with the previous evening's drinking, such as eating too little, having less sleep than usual, or overdoing it on the dance floor, may also account for some of the aches and pains.
The experience of a hangover is not the same for everyone. If your hangovers seem worse than other people's, it may be because your personality or how you feel about your life is contributing to the symptoms. Researchers have suggested that personality traits, such as anger, defensiveness, and neuroticism, feelings of guilt about drinking, and experiencing negative life events (such as divorce, death, loss of employment, or other stressful events) can increase the experienced severity of hangovers. Other factors are involved too. We probably all know people who say they can drink certain kinds of alcohol without ill effect whereas other kinds result in misery the morning after. Red wine, for instance, is more likely to result in a severe hangover than white wine; bourbon and port are more likely to than gin or vodka. The ‘culprits’ responsible for these differences are known as ‘congeners’ — the toxins present in the organic chemicals used to colour and flavour alcoholic beverages (examples are methyl alcohol, aldehydes, and tannins). Research studies indicate that people vary in their tolerance of alcohol and of the congeners in different drinks, so that bodily reactions to ‘detoxifying’ — getting rid of poisonous substances — will reflect individual differences in the ways in which alcohol is metabolized and the body clears itself of toxins. Seasoned heavy drinkers may cope more easily with this process, possibly because their metabolism adjusts more quickly or because they have become less sensitive to the effects than the occasional or less heavy drinker.
So what can you do to enjoy the pleasures of alcohol and avoid the pain? There are steps you can take to alleviate the discomfort. Drinking plenty of water before going to bed helps counteract dehydration and dilutes the congeners; replacing lost fluids by drinking water, fruit juices, or tea the morning after might also reduce the intensity of a hangover. Although a strong cup of coffee will certainly not get rid of the alcohol in your body, caffeine is a stimulant and might perk you up. If you can face it, bland foods such as toast or crackers may relieve feelings of nausea. Medication can provide symptomatic relief, but needs to be used with caution, since some kinds of medication are likely to exacerbate symptoms or add to the toxicity in the body, and other kinds appear to be ineffective in reducing headaches and other hangover symptoms.
Down the ages, there have been numerous ‘folk’ cures and remedies for hangovers, one of the best known being ‘the hair of the dog that bit you’ — another drink on waking. It is the likely base of the ‘tissue restorer’ favoured by P. G. Woodhouse's Bertie Wooster and prepared by his manservant Jeeves:
He returned with the tissue restorer. I loosed it down the hatch, and after undergoing the passing discomfort, unavoidable when you drink Jeeve's patent morning revivers, of having the top of the skull fly up to the ceiling and the eyes shoot out of their sockets and rebound from the opposite wall like raquet balls, felt better.The remedy works — temporarily! But the body still has to clear itself of the after-effects of the drinking bout, and morning drinks, if taken too often, can signal problem drinking. Time, sleep, and rest are the best ‘cure’ for a hangover.
— B. Thom
Bibliography
- Rae, S. (ed.) (1991). The Faber book of drink, drinkers and drinking. Faber and Faber, London.
- Swift, R. and Davidson, D. (1998). Alcohol hangover mechanisms and mediators. Alcohol World Health and Research,
22 (1), 54-60
See also alcoholism.
| Food and Nutrition: hangover |
Headache and feeling of malaise resulting from excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. The severity differs with different beverages and is due to both the toxic effects of alcohol, and the presence of higher alcohols and esters (collectively known as congeners or fusel oil), the substances that give different beverages their distinctive flavours.
| Antonyms: hangover |
n
Definition: result of heavy drinking
Antonyms: sobriety
| Alternative Medicine Encyclopedia: Hangover |
Definition
Hangover is the collection of physical and mental symptoms that occur after a person drinks excessive amounts of alcohol.
Description
Hangovers have probably been experienced since prehistoric time when alcohol was first discovered. A survey found that about 75% of the persons who drank enough to be intoxicated (drunk) sometimes experienced hangover. Although very prevalent, hangovers have not been extensively studied. It is known that ethanol is the primary chemical component of alcohol to produce the effects associated with drinking.
Whether hangover affects complex mental tasks and the performance of simple tasks is unclear. Studies on these areas have yielded conflicting results, presumably due to differences in methods. Clearly, alcohol consumption can affect sleep, and sleep deprivation is known to affect performance.
Causes & Symptoms
The cause of hangover is believed to be multifactorial. Hangover is likely caused by a combination of direct effects of ethanol, effects of ethanol removal, effects of ethanol breakdown products, effects of other components of the alcoholic beverage, personal characteristics, and behaviors associated with alcohol use.
Direct Effects of Ethanol
Ethanol can directly affect the body by causing dehydration (loss of fluids), electrolyte (body chemicals) imbalance, stomach and intestinal irritation, low blood sugar, and sleep disruption. In addition, alcohol directly affects the circadian rhythm (internal 24-hour clock) causing a feeling similar to jet lag. Ethanol causes vasodilation (enlarged blood vessels) and affects bodily chemicals, like serotonin and histamine, which may contribute to the headache associated with hangover.
Effects of Ethanol Removal
Because hangover symptoms peak at around the same time that the blood alcohol concentration falls to zero, some researchers propose that hangover is actually a mild form of withdrawal. Excessive drinking causes changes in the chemical messenger system of the brain and, when the alcohol is removed, the system becomes unbalanced. Many of the symptoms of hangover are similar to those associated with mild withdrawal. Some differences exist, however, between hangover and withdrawal; specifically, hangover symptoms do not include the hallucinations, seizures, and the lengthy impairment of withdrawal.
Effects of Ethanol Breakdown Products
In the body, ethanol is first broken down to acetaldehyde and then to acetate. Acetaldehyde is a reactive chemical that, at high concentrations, can cause sweating, rapid pulse, skin flushing, nausea, and vomiting. Some researchers believe that acetaldehyde causes hangover. Although there is no acetaldehyde in the blood when the blood alcohol concentration reaches zero, the toxic effects of acetaldehyde on the body may still persist.
Other Factors
Most alcoholic beverages contain small amounts of other active compounds besides ethanol. These compounds add to the smell, taste, and appearance of the beverage. Gin or vodka, which contain almost pure ethanol, produce fewer hangover symptoms than alcoholic beverages that contain other alcohol compounds (such as red wine, brandy, or whiskey). For example, methanol is implicated in contributing to hangover. Red wine, whiskey, and brandy all contain high levels of methanol.
Some inherent personal traits place persons at risk of experiencing hangover. In some persons, high levels of acetaldehyde accumulate (because of a deficient enzyme) which causes them to experience more severe hangovers. Persons who are neurotic, angry, or defensive, feel guilty about drinking, experience negative life events, or have a family history of alcoholism have increased hangover symptoms.
Certain behaviors associated with drinking increase the chance of experiencing hangover. These include drug use, disruption of normal sleep patterns, restricted food intake, and cigarette use.
Hangover symptoms begin within several hours after a person has stopped drinking and may last up to 24 hours. The specific symptoms experienced may vary depending upon the individual, the occasion, and the type and amount of alcohol consumed. The physical symptoms of hangover include headache, fatigue, light and sound sensitivity, muscle aches, eye redness, thirst, nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain. Hangover can cause rapid heartbeat, tremor, increased blood pressure, and sweating. Mental symptoms associated with hangover are decreased sleep, changes in sleep stages, decreased attention, decreased concentration, depression, dizziness, anxiety, irritability, and a sense that the room is spinning (vertigo).
Treatment
Eating balanced meals, drinking extra water, and limiting total alcohol help to reduce or avoid hangover. There are also many alternative treatments to prevent or reduce hangover symptoms. Drinking additional alcohol to relieve hangover, although it reduces short-term symptoms, is not recommended. Some experts believe that drinking alcohol to relieve hangover is a sign of impending alcoholism. The primary measure to fight hangover is to drink plenty of water while drinking alcoholic beverages, before going to bed, and the day after. Sweating from exertion, exercise, sauna, or massage may also help.
Food Therapy
Hangover symptoms may be reduced by taking in lots of extra water and fluids and by eating foods that are high in vitamin C and the B vitamins, which are believed to speed the removal of alcohol from the body. Oranges, guava, grapefruit, and strawberries are rich in vitamin C and beans, fish, and whole grains are rich in the B vitamins. A cocktail prepared from orange juice (1 cup), pineapple juice (1 cup), kiwi fruit (one), vitamin-B-enriched nutritional yeast (1 tablespoon), and honey (1 tablespoon) provides important nutrients which the body needs to recover from hangover. Juice therapists recommend drinking a mixture of carrot juice (8 oz), beet juice (1 oz), celery juice (4 oz), and parsley juice (1 oz) twice during hangover. The Chinese drink fresh tangerine juice and eat 10 strawberries to treat hangover.
Eating bland complex carbohydrates, such as crackers or toast, is easy on the stomach and helps to raise blood sugar levels. Drinking tea or coffee can relieve fatigue and possibly the headache. Throughout the world, traditional food remedies for hangover have certain things in common. These include eggs, tripe, hot spices, hearty soups, and fruit and vegetable juices. These foods all serve to replenish vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients lost by the body as it detoxifies alcohol.
Ayurveda
Ayurvedic practitioners believe that hangover reflects the symptoms of excess pitta. Immediate relief may be found after drinking water containing lime juice (1 teaspoon), sugar (one half teaspoon), salt (pinch), and baking soda (one half teaspoon). Orange juice containing cumin (pinch) and lime juice (1 teaspoon) helps hangover. Drinking cool lassi, water containing yogurt (1 tablespoon) and cumin powder (pinch), three or four times daily may relieve nausea, headache, and drowsiness.
Herbals
The following herbal remedies are useful in treating hangover symptoms:
- An Ayurvedic remedy is to take one half teaspoon of a mixture of shatavari (5 parts), shanka bhasma (one eighth part), kama dudha (one eighth part), and jatamamsi (3 parts) with water 2–3 times daily.
- An Ayurvedic antidote for alcohol toxicity is one half teaspoon of tikta (or myrrh, aloe vera, or sudharshan) with warm water three times during the day.
- Barberry (Barberis vulgaris) tea reduces hangover symptoms.
- Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and burdock (Arctium lappa) tea (with gentian extract, powdered ginger, and honey) can ease the nausea.
- Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis) oil helps to replenish lost gamma-linoleic acid.
- Milk thistle (Silybum marinum) reduces alcohol toxicity on the liver.
- Nux vomica (Strychnos nux vomica) is a homeopathic antidote for alcohol overconsumption.
- Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) helps the body adjust to the stress of alcohol toxicity.
- Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens) tea with hot pepper (Capsicum) sauce relieves the headache.
Other Hangover Remedies
Various other remedies for hangover include:
- Acupressure. Point LI 4 (between the thumb and index finger) relieves headache and stomach ailments and the B2 points (upper edge of the eye socket) relieves headache accompanied by light sensitivity.
- Aromatherapy. The nausea of hangover may be relieved by drinking an aromatic cocktail of water, lemon juice, and a drop of fennel essential oil before breakfast.
- Imagery. The hangover sufferer may visualize being on a ship in a stormy ocean. The ocean gradually becomes calm until the ship is gently bobbing in the water.
- Probiotics. The bacteria Bifidobacterium bifidus is able to remove alcohol breakdown products. To fight hangover, naturopaths recommend taking B. bifidus before going to bed and again the following day.
- Supplements. Taking 50 mg of vitamin B3 before going to bed may relieve hangover.
- Hydrotherapy. Drinking a glass of water containing activated charcoal powder before going to bed may absorb alcohol in the stomach and reduce hangover symptoms.
Allopathic Treatment
Hangover symptoms may be relieved by taking antacids for nausea and stomach pain and aspirin or a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (ibuprofen or naproxen) for headache and muscle pains. Acetaminophen (Tylenol) should be avoided while drinking or during hangover because alcohol enhances acetaminophen's toxic effects on the liver. Caffeine, usually taken as coffee, is historically used to treat hangover, although this has not been studied.
Expected Results
There is no cure for hangover. Left untreated, hangover will resolve within several hours. Treatments may reduce the severity of certain symptoms.
Prevention
Hangover may be prevented by limiting the intake of alcohol, or drinking alcoholic beverages with a lesser incidence of causing hangover such as gin, vodka, or pure ethanol. Getting adequate sleep may reduce the fatigue associated with hangover. Drinking nonalcoholic beverages, both during and after drinking alcohol, may reduce dehydration and reduce hangover symptoms. Taking 120 mg of milk thistle before drinking can help the liver detoxify the alcohol.
Resources
Books
"Hangover." In New Choices in Natural Healing: Over 1,800 of the Best Self-Help Remedies from the World of Alternative Medicine. edited by Bill Gottlieb, et al. Rodale Press, Inc., 1995.
Periodicals
Cameron, Elizabeth. "Help for Hangovers." Natural Health 27 (November 1997): 58+.
Finnigan, Frances, Richard Hammersley, and Tracy Cooper. "An Examination of Next-Day Hangover Effects After a 100 mg/100 ml Dose of Alcohol in Heavy Social Drinkers." Addiction 93 (1998):1829-1838.
O'Neill, Molly. "Get Over It: Hangover Remedies for the Morning After." New York Times Magazine 149 (26 December 1999): 51+.
Maeder, Thomas. "After the Party." Health 13 (November/December 1999): 106+.
Swift, Robert and Dena Davidson. "Alcohol Hangover." Alcohol Health & Research World 22 (1998): 54+.
[Article by: Belinda Rowland]
| Word Tutor: hangover |
IN BRIEF: n. - Something that has survived from the past; An official who remains in office after his term; Disagreeable aftereffects from the use of drugs (especially alcohol).
Tutor's tip: The guest with the "hangover" (an ill feeling resulting from heavy consumption) may need to "hang over" (to lean over) the ship's railing.
| Wikipedia: Hangover |
"hungover" redirects here. For the song by Michelle Williams, see Hungover (song). For other uses, see hangover (disambiguation).
A hangover (pronounced /'hæŋoʊvɜr/) (veisalgia) describes the sum of unpleasant physiological effects following heavy consumption of alcoholic beverages. The most commonly reported characteristics of a hangover include headache, nausea, sensitivity to light and noise, lethargy, dysphoria, diarrhea and thirst. A hangover may also induce psychological symptoms including heightened feelings of depression and anxiety.
Hypoglycemia, dehydration, acetaldehyde intoxication, and vitamin B12 deficiency are all theorized causes of hangover symptoms. Hangovers symptoms may persist for several days after alcohol was last consumed. Approximately 25-30% of drinkers may be resistant to hangover symptoms.[1] Some aspects of a hangover are viewed as symptoms of acute ethanol withdrawal, similar to the longer-duration effects of withdrawal from alcoholism, as determined by studying the increases in brain reward thresholds in rats (the amount of current required to receive to electrodes implanted in the lateral hypothalamus) following ethanol injection.[2]
Contents |
Etymology
The term hangover was originally a 19th Century expression describing unfinished business—something left over from a meeting—or "survival". In 1904, the meaning "morning after-effect of drinking too much" first surfaced.[3][4]
Symptoms
An alcohol hangover is associated with a variety of symptoms that may include dehydration, fatigue, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, weakness, elevated body temperature, hypersalivation, difficulty concentrating, sweating, anxiety, dysphoria, irritability, sensitivity to light and noise, erratic motor functions (including tremor), trouble sleeping, severe hunger, halithosis, and lack of depth perception. Many people will also be repulsed by the thought, taste or smell of alcohol during a hangover. The symptoms vary from person to person, and occasion to occasion, usually beginning several hours after drinking. It is not clear whether hangovers directly affect cognitive abilities.
Causes
Ethanol has a dehydrating effect by causing increased urine production (diuresis), which causes headaches, dry mouth, and lethargy. Dehydration also causes fluids in the brain to be less plentiful. This can be mitigated by drinking water after consumption of alcohol. Alcohol's effect on the stomach lining can account for nausea.
Another factor contributing to a hangover are the products from the breakdown of ethanol via liver enzymes. Ethanol is converted to acetaldehyde by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase, and then from acetaldehyde to acetic acid by the enzyme acetaldehyde dehydrogenase. Acetaldehyde (ethanal) is between 10 and 30 times more toxic than alcohol itself,[5] as well as being cocarcinogenic (not carcinogenic solely by itself) and mutagenic.[6]
These two reactions also require the conversion of NAD+ to NADH. With an excess of NADH, the lactate dehydrogenase reaction is driven to produce lactate from pyruvate (the end product of glycolysis) in order to regenerate NAD+ and sustain life. This diverts pyruvate from other pathways such as gluconeogenesis, thereby impairing the ability of the liver to supply glucose to tissues, especially the brain. Because glucose is the primary energy source of the brain, this lack of glucose contributes to hangover symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, mood disturbances, and decreased attention and concentration.
Alcohol consumption can result in depletion of the liver's supply of glutathione[7] and other reductive detoxification agents,[6] reducing its ability to effectively remove acetaldehyde and other toxins from the bloodstream. Additionally, alcohol induces the CYP2E1 enzyme, which itself can produce additional toxins and free radicals.[8]
There are various nervous system effects: the removal of the depressive effects of alcohol in the brain probably account for the light and noise sensitivity.
In addition, it is thought that the presence of other alcohols (such as fusel oils), by-products of the alcoholic fermentation also called congeners, exaggerate many of the symptoms (congeners may also be zinc or other metals added primarily to sweet liqueurs to enhance their flavor); this probably accounts for the mitigation of the effects when distilled alcohol, particularly vodka, is consumed instead.[9]
Red wines have more congeners than white wines, and some people note less of a hangover with white wine. Some individuals have a strong negative reaction to red wine, distinct from hangover, called red wine headache that can affect them within 15 minutes after drinking a single glass of red wine. The headache is usually accompanied by nausea and flushing[citation needed].
In alcohol metabolism, one molecule of ethanol (the primary active ingredient in alcoholic beverages) produces 2 molecules of NADH, utilizing vitamin B12 as a coenzyme. Over-consumption of ethanol may cause vitamin B12 deficiency as well.
Possible remedies
There is debate about whether a hangover might be prevented or at least mitigated, along with much folk medicine and simple quackery. There is currently no empirically proven mechanism for preventing hangover except reducing the amount of ethanol consumed, or for making oneself sober short of waiting for the body to metabolize ingested alcohol, which occurs via oxidation through the liver before alcohol leaves the body. However, drinking a large amount of water or a rehydration drink prior to sleep will effectively reduce a large proportion of the symptoms.[citation needed] It may also be helpful to replenish with electrolytes via food to avoid aggravating electrolyte disturbances induced by alcohol through consuming only water.[citation needed]
A four page literature review in British Medical Journal on hangover cures by Max Pittler of the Peninsula Medical School at Exeter University and colleagues concludes: "No compelling evidence exists to suggest that any conventional or complementary intervention is effective for preventing or treating alcohol hangover. The most effective way to avoid the symptoms of alcohol induced hangover is to avoid drinking."[10]
Potentially beneficial remedies
- Food and water: Simple consumption of foods such as eggs, which contain cysteine, and water may be enough to replenish lost moisture and at least rehydrate the body, making a hangover shorter. A bacon, egg and cheese sandwich has also been claimed to effectively relieve hangovers [11]
- The Scottish soft drink Irn-Bru is also a popular remedy.[12]
- Rehydration: "Effective interventions include rehydration, prostaglandin inhibitors, and vitamin B6".[13]
- Oxygen: In a double-blind random study of 231 patients at two Vienna hospitals, published in Anesthesiology in 1999 and reported by The New York Times, it was found that the side-effects of general anesthesia could be diminished by giving patients a mix of 80 percent oxygen and 20 percent nitrogen during the surgery, and for two hours afterward. Only 17 percent of the patients receiving supplemental oxygen experienced nausea and vomiting, compared with 30 percent of the group who were given the standard 30 percent oxygen and 70 percent nitrogen.[14] The study's leader characterized the results for the Times, "Extra oxygen is cheap, risk-free and reduces the incidence of nausea as well as any known drug." A related study by members of Dr. Sessler's team, published in Anesthesiology in October 1999, indicated that patients given oxygen in amounts up to 80 percent did not suffer impaired lung function. In addition, there have been anecdotal reports from those with easy access to a breathing oxygen supply — medical staff, SCUBA divers and military pilots — that oxygen can also reduce the symptoms of hangovers sometimes caused by alcohol consumption. The theory is that the increased oxygen flow resulting from oxygen therapy improves the metabolic rate, and thus increases the speed at which toxins are broken down.[15] However, one source states that (in an aviation context) oxygen has no effect on physical impairment caused by hangover.[16]
- Tolfenamic acid (TA): A study concludes, "TA was found significantly better than placebo in the subjective evaluation of drug efficacy (p < 0.001) and in reducing the reported hangover symptoms in general (p < 0.01). In the TA group, significantly lower symptom scores were obtained for headache (p < 0.01), and for nausea, vomiting, irritation, tremor, thirst, and dryness of mouth (all p < 0.05)."[17]
- Vitamin B6 (pyritinol): Some studies have found large doses of Vitamin B6 (several hundred times the recommended daily intake) can help to reduce hangovers.[13][18]
- Chlormethiazole: "Chlormethiazole was found to lower blood pressure and adrenaline output and, furthermore, to relieve unpleasant physical symptoms, but did not affect fatigue and drowsiness. The cognitive test results were only slightly influenced by this agent, while psychomotor performance was significantly impaired. Subjects with severe subjective hangover seemed to benefit more from the chlormethiazole treatment than subjects with a mild hangover."[19] "However, all 8 subjects had unpleasant nasal symptoms following chlormethiazole, and it is therefore not an ideal hypnotic for this age group."[20]
- Rosiglitazone: [Study in rats] "Rosiglitazone alleviated the symptoms of ethanol-induced hangover by inducing ALD2 expression..."[21]
- Acetylcysteine: There are claims that N-acetylcysteine can relieve or prevent symptoms of hangover through scavenging of acetylaldehyde, particularly when taken concurrently with alcohol.[22][23] Additional reduction in acetaldehyde toxicity can be achieved if NAC is taken in conjunction with vitamin B1 (thiamine).[5]
- Hair of the dog: The belief that consumption of further alcohol after the onset of a hangover is a viable treatment of the symptoms. Some say that this is based upon the theory that hangover symptoms are likened to withdrawal symptoms and that by satiating the body's need for alcohol they will be assuaged.
- benzodiazepines: These, such as lorazepam, along with other CNS depressants, are useful in treating hangovers, as they suppress alcohol withdrawal symptoms and often provide a smoother taper than a direct taper off of alcohol (which is fairly rapidly metabolized in the liver). The utmost in caution must be used however.
Ineffective remedies
- Antipokhmelin: Also known under its tradename RU-21, it is an over-the-counter dietary supplement whose primary active ingredient is succinic acid, an extract of amber. It has been touted by internet marketers as a miracle cure for alcohol hangovers, alleged to have been produced by Soviet scientists for a KGB spy program. To-date, however, no double-blind, placebo-controlled scientific studies confirming the marketers' claims have been released.
- Globe artichoke (Cynara scolymus) extract: "Our results suggest that artichoke extract is not effective in preventing the signs and symptoms of alcohol-induced hangover."[24]
- Artichoke and Sarsaparilla extract: A November 2004 issued U.S. Patent No. 6,824,798 states that the method described in the patent "results in complete elimination of veisalgia (hangover) in more than 80% of individuals". These plant extracts, when administered separately, do not seem to have a similar effect. The patent further states that the right combination of the extracts of both of these plants are required and that they then contain a complex of polyphenols, flavonoids, and phytosterols that are effective. However, no evidence is required for such statements to appear in a patent application or in the patent itself. The existence of a patent is merely legal evidence of intellectual property, not evidence of efficacy.
- Propranolol: "We conclude that propranolol does not prevent the symptoms of hangover."[25][26]
- Fructose and glucose: A 1976 research has come to the conclusion that "The results indicate that both fructose and glucose effectively inhibit the metabolic disturbances induced by ethanol but they do not affect the symptoms or signs of alcohol intoxication and hangover."[27] Nevertheless, consumption of honey (a significant fructose and glucose source) is often suggested as a way to reduce the effect of hangovers.[28]
- Kudzu (Pueraria lobata): A study concluded, "The chronic usage of Pueraria lobata at times of high ethanol consumption, such as in hangover remedies, may predispose subjects to an increased risk of acetaldehyde-related neoplasm and pathology. ... Pueraria lobata appears to be an inappropriate herb for use in herbal hangover remedies as it is an inhibitor of ALDH2."[29]
See also
References
- ^ Howland J, Rohsenow DJ, Allensworth-Davies D, et al. (May 2008). "The incidence and severity of hangover the morning after moderate alcohol intoxication". Addiction 103 (5): 758–65. doi:. PMID 18412754. http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/resolve/openurl?genre=article&sid=nlm:pubmed&issn=0965-2140&date=2008&volume=103&issue=5&spage=758.
- ^ Schulteis G, Liu J (May 2006). "Brain reward deficits accompany withdrawal (hangover) from acute ethanol in rats". Alcohol 39 (1): 21–8. doi:. PMID 16938626. PMC 2266583. http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0741-8329(06)00106-6.
- ^ "Hangover: Online Etymology Dictionary". Etymonline.com. http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=hangover. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
- ^ "Frank Kelly Rich: On the Cuff & Under the Table: The Origins and History of Drinking Words and Phrases (Modern Drunkard Magazine 2008)". Drunkard.com. http://drunkard.com/issues/02_05/02-05_on_the_cuff.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
- ^ a b Sprince H, Parker CM, Smith GG, Gonzales LJ (April 1974). "Protection against acetaldehyde toxicity in the rat by L-cysteine, thiamin and L-2-methylthiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid". Agents Actions 4 (2): 125–30. doi:. PMID 4842541. http://www.springerlink.com/content/w307w62037125v33/.
- ^ a b Stickel F, Schuppan D, Hahn EG, Seitz HK (July 2002). "Cocarcinogenic effects of alcohol in hepatocarcinogenesis". Gut 51 (1): 132–9. doi:. PMID 12077107. PMC 1773267. http://gut.bmj.com/cgi/content/full/51/1/132.
- ^ Kera Y, Ohbora Y, Komura S (1989). "Buthionine sulfoximine inhibition of glutathione biosynthesis enhances hepatic lipid peroxidation in rats during acute ethanol intoxication". Alcohol Alcohol. 24 (6): 519–24. PMID 2576368. http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=2576368.
- ^ Kessova I, Cederbaum AI (September 2003). "CYP2E1: biochemistry, toxicology, regulation and function in ethanol-induced liver injury". Curr. Mol. Med. 3 (6): 509–18. doi:. PMID 14527082. http://www.bentham-direct.org/pages/content.php?CMM/2003/00000003/00000006/0004M.SGM.
- ^ Wiese JG, Shlipak MG, Browner WS (06 June 2000). "The alcohol hangover". Ann. Intern. Med. 132 (11): 897–902. PMID 10836917. http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/132/11/897.
- ^ Pittler MH, Verster JC, Ernst E (December 2005). "Interventions for preventing or treating alcohol hangover: systematic review of randomized controlled trials". BMJ 331 (7531): 1515–8. doi:. PMID 16373736. PMC 1322250. http://bmj.bmjjournals.com/cgi/content/full/331/7531/1515.
- ^ Telegraph.co.uk [1] 2009;
- ^ "Scotland | New fame for Scotland's 'hangover cure'". BBC News. 1999-11-17. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/524684.stm. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
- ^ a b Wiese JG, Shlipak MG, Browner WS (June 2000). "The alcohol hangover". Ann. Intern. Med. 132 (11): 897–902. PMID 10836917. http://www.annals.org/cgi/content/full/132/11/897.
- ^ Dr. Daniel Sessler Extra Oxygen for Anesthesia's Hangover The New York Times 9 November 1999
- ^ Timothy Walker and Mary Fitzgerald A drinker's guide to hangover cures The Independent 17 April 2007
- ^ Reihheart, Richard (2007). Basic Flight Physiology. McGraw-Hill Professional. p. 179. ISBN 0-7735-0801-5.
- ^ S. Kaivola1, J. Parantainen, T. Österman and H. Timonen "Hangover headache and prostaglandins: Prophylactic treatment with tolfenamic acid". Cephalalgia 3: 31. March 1983. doi:10.1046/j.1468–2982.1983.0301031.x (inactive 2009-07-02). http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/links/doi/10.1046%2Fj.1468-2982.1983.0301031.x.
- ^ Khan MA, Jensen K, Krogh HJ (December 1973). "Alcohol-induced hangover. A double-blind comparison of pyritinol and placebo in preventing hangover symptoms". Q J Stud Alcohol 34 (4): 1195–201. PMID 4588294.
- ^ Myrsten AL, Rydberg U, Ideström CM, Lamble R (1980). "Alcohol intoxication and hangover: modification of hangover by chlormethiazole". Psychopharmacology (Berl.) 69 (2): 117–25. doi:. PMID 6779303.
- ^ Castleden CM, George CF, Sedgwick EM (March 1979). "Chlormethiazole—no hangover effect but not an ideal hypnotic for the young". Postgrad Med J 55 (641): 159–60. doi:. PMID 379841.
- ^ Jung TW, Lee JY, Shim WS, et al. (2006). "Rosiglitazone relieves acute ethanol-induced hangover in Sprague-Dawley rats". Alcohol Alcohol. 41 (3): 231–5. doi:. PMID 16554376. http://alcalc.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/pmidlookup?view=long&pmid=16554376.
- ^ Fawkes, SW CERI: Living with Alcohol Smart Drug News 1996 Dec 13
- ^ Ozaras R, Tahan V, Aydin S, Uzun H, Kaya S, Senturk H (April 2003). "N-acetylcysteine attenuates alcohol-induced oxidative stess in rats". World J. Gastroenterol. 9 (4): 791–4. PMID 12679934. http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/9/791.asp.
- ^ Max H. Pittler, Adrian R. White, Clare Stevinson and Edzard Ernst Effectiveness of artichoke extract in preventing alcohol-induced hangovers: a randomized controlled trial CMAJ December 9, 2003; 169 (12)
- ^ Bogin RM, Nostrant TT, Young MJ (1986). "Propranolol for the treatment of the alcoholic hangover". Am J Drug Alcohol Abuse 12 (3): 279–84. doi:. PMID 3503570.
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- ^ "UMDNJ Experts Suggest Remedies for Holiday Headaches". Umdnj.edu. 2007-12-20. http://www.umdnj.edu/about/news_events/releases/07/r122007_UMDNJ_Expert_SuggestsHoney.htm. Retrieved 2009-10-18.
- ^ McGregor NR (November 2007). "Pueraria lobata (Kudzu root) hangover remedies and acetaldehyde-associated neoplasm risk". Alcohol 41 (7): 469–78. doi:. PMID 17980785. http://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0741-8329(07)00137-1.
External links
 |
Look up hangover in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
|
Look up veisalgia in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
- How to Cure a Hangover, a how-to article from wikiHow.
- "Alcohol Hangover: Mechanisms and Mediators" [PDF] by Robert Swift, M.D., Ph.D. and Dena Davidson, Ph.D., NIAAA Alcohol Health and Research World, January 14, 2002, retrieved November 22, 2004.
- "The party's over: Advice on treating hangovers" by Dr. Thomas Stuttaford, The Times, December 13, 2004 retrieved August 24, 2005. A colorful article on hangovers, their cause and treatment along with reference to famous Soho drinkers, such as Jeffrey Bernard, Dylan Thomas and Francis Bacon.
- "The ultimate hangover cure?" by Becky McCall, BBC News Magazine, December 28, 2005, retrieved December 28, 2005.
- Hangover Cure: Pathology and Possible Remedies by J. Wesley, 11 August 2008
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
| Translations: Hangover |
Dansk (Danish)
n. - tømmermænd, rest, levn
Nederlands (Dutch)
kater, ontnuchtering, overblijfsel, overlevering
Français (French)
n. - gueule de bois, (fig) héritage (de)
Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - πονοκέφαλος από οινοποσία
Italiano (Italian)
postumi di sbornia
Português (Portuguese)
n. - ressaca (f), sobra (f)
Русский (Russian)
похмелье, пережиток, наследие прошлого
Español (Spanish)
n. - resaca (después de una borrachera), remanente
Svenska (Swedish)
n. - baksmälla, kvarleva
中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
残留物, 宿醉, 遗物
中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 殘留物, 宿醉, 遺物
한국어 (Korean)
n. - 잔존물, 유물, 숙취, (약의) 부작용
العربيه (Arabic)
(الاسم) أثر متخلف أو عادة متخلفه من الماضي, الآثار البغيضه التي يخلفها في المرء في صباح اليوم التالي إسرافه في الشراب, الشراب في الليله السابقه
עברית (Hebrew)
n. - שארית, שרידים, זנבת הסביאה, כאב ראש לאחר שתייה
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Mentioned in
- I'll Share My World with You (1969 Album by George Jones)
- Violent Green (Rock Band, '90s)
- The Hangovers (Electronica Band, '90s)
- Simply Terrific (1938 Comedy Film)
- Deutschlandlied (1984 Film)
- Cheap Trick: Music For Hangovers (2000 Music Film)
- Armor for Sleep: A Comprehensive Guide to Touring (Music Film)
- Sour Grapes: Survivor (TV Episode) (2003 Reality Show TV Episode)
- Music for Hangovers (1999 Album by Cheap Trick)
- Taboos (Quotes About)
- The Hired Guns (Rock Band, '90s)
- Burn the Honky-Tonk Down (1986 Album by George Jones)
- Men Are Such Fools (1938 Comedy Drama Film)
- Tombe Du Ciel (1946 Comedy Film)
