Alcohol hangovers can occur at anytime of the year, but medical practitioners in Anguilla tend to see more individuals with alcohol hangovers during the Christmas and New Year holidays than at other times of the year. Hangovers are not just a nuisance to the individual but they can have severe social and economic costs for many countries, including Anguilla. The costs are related to absenteeism and poor job performances.

What is Alcohol Hangover?
Alcohol hangovers are a poorly understood clinical entity that has been around for many years. Despite numerous research studies, we are still not clear over all the features of alcohol hangovers. We know that it is related to an individual drinking large amounts of alcohol that often results in alcohol intoxication. Many researchers believe that multiple factors might contribute to hangovers. These include the amount and type of alcohol, use of other drugs, personality traits and poor health. Symptoms tend to occur when the blood alcohol levels have fallen to zero after the individual had high blood alcohol concentrations.
The type of alcohol consumed has a significant effect on reducing symptoms of hangovers. Alcohol beverages that contain congeners (e.g. pure ethanol, vodka and gin) are associated with a lower incidence of hangover than are beverages that contain a number of congeners (e.g. brandy, whisky and red wine). Non-alcoholic beverages do not cause hangovers.
There are numerous changes that occur in the body when one has an alcohol hangover. There are changes in many hormones and neurotransmitters and other biological substances in the body. Many individuals often develop dehydration and lose important minerals, like magnesium and potassium, from the body.

What are the symptoms of alcohol hangover?
Symptoms might vary from one individual to another and on the amount of alcohol consumed. The vast majority of symptoms disappear after 8 to 24 hours. Symptoms include:
• Feeling tired and weak
• Severe headaches
• Nausea and vomiting
• Dizziness
• Vertigo
• Muscle pains
• Redness of eyes
• Trembling
• Rapid heart rate
• Very sensitive to light and sound
• Poor attention span
• Poor concentration
• Depression
• Anxiety
• Unable to sleep

Prevention of hangovers
Prevention is the best way to avoid hangovers. Hangovers are not associated with non-alcoholic beverages!
Individuals who must consume alcohol beverages should avoid drinking large amounts of alcohol at a time (amounts that will lead to intoxication) and should not drink on an empty stomach. Some individuals might benefit by using snacks and fruits while using alcohol.

Treatment
Despite being around for many years the treatment of alcohol hangovers is still not clear. Sleep is a sure way of dealing with hangovers, as over a period of time the symptoms will go away.
There is no scientific evidence that caffeine (often used as coffee) helps to counteract the fatigue and other symptoms of hangovers.
Analgesics might improve your headaches but aspirin and drugs similar to aspirin might irritate your stomach especially if the individual has gastritis associated with alcohol use. Panadol can damage your liver especially if the liver was previously damaged from high alcohol levels. If individuals are using analgesic they must do so with caution.

Antacids might help with the nausea associated with a hangover.

Individuals with hangovers are encouraged to drink plenty of water but should avoid orange or grapefruit drink.

Conclusion
Alcohol hangovers are common during the holiday period and many individuals undergo several hours of pain and misery unnecessarily. Hangovers can be prevented and the socio-economic impact of hangovers on the island can be markedly reduced. Individuals can lessen their chances of developing a hangover if they adhere to a few things, the most important being:avoid consuming large amounts of alcoholic beverages especially amounts that will lead to alcohol intoxication.

Ask Your Doctor is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. Dr. Brett Hodge is an obstetrician/gynaecologist and family doctor who has over twenty years in clinical practice. Dr. Hodge has a medical practice in the Johnson Building in The Valley.

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