With the parties of end of the year, surely you are already worried about the famous hangover. It is caused by the excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.
“Alcohol is absorbed and gets into the bloodstream, so it will be distributed to all organs. The first symptoms that we have of euphoria, well-being and dizziness, and which later on gives rise to depression, are the effects of alcohol on the central nervous system [no cérebro]”, explained to CNN Débora Poli, gastroenterologist at Hospital Sírio-Libanês.
When alcohol reaches the liver, it becomes an ‘aggressor’. “All these external substances need to be metabolized to be eliminated.” For this to happen, the liquid is first transformed into acetic acid — a task performed by the liver.
However, the body takes a long time to make this transformation. [devido ao excesso de bebida]. Thus, the substances of alcohol and acetaldehyde (toxic product) continue to circulate in the body until they are transformed into acetic acid.
Acetaldehyde (ethanal) is deposited in various organs of the body, exerting its toxicity and thus causing the symptoms of a hangover. In addition, according to Rogério Pinheiro Alves, a gastroenterologist at Beneficência Portuguesa (BP), alcohol causes the inhibition of an antidiuretic hormone that makes people urinate much more — consequently eliminating water and becoming dehydrated.
Pinheiro Alves said that the “hangover is the result of the dehydration that the body suffers and of these substances in alcohol that end up being metabolized in a not-so-good way.”
What is good for a hangover?
The day after drinking, all “anti-hangover” ingredients are welcome. And then, anything goes: antacids, juices, coffee, Coca-Cola.
Rogério Pinheiro Alves, from BP – Beneficência Portuguesa in São Paulo, points out that the best way to treat a hangover is to hydrate yourself.
“As alcohol increases diuresis, it is important to always hydrate yourself very well. Water, coconut water, juices in general. In addition to fruits that have plenty of liquid, such as melon and watermelon — in addition to resting,” said Débora Poli, a gastroenterologist at Hospital Sírio-Libanês.
Experts also point out that a hangover can be avoided with some simple measures, such as eating something while drinking, drinking more slowly, consuming non-alcoholic liquid with drinks. And most importantly, according to Poli, the quality of the drink it also makes a difference.
“Be careful when buying alcoholic beverages, especially spirits. Counterfeit drinks sometimes have other toxic substances that can give a hangover even worse”, warns the doctor.
hangover symptoms
Only those who have had a hangover know the feeling of waking up the day after the famous ‘drunk’. The gastroenterologist Pinheiro Alves says that this is the body’s way of showing that something is wrong.
“Usually, the main symptoms of a hangover involve pain in the body, feeling sick, headache [dor de cabeça], dry mouth. Everything very much related to dehydration.”
Despite these mild and common symptoms, the gastric system can be compromised by excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol can cause an acute injury to the mucosa — as if it were ‘gastritis’ — and this causes nausea and vomiting”, explains Pinheiro Alves.
Débora Poli points out that alcohol also causes inflammation in the stomach and intestine, so it can cause stomach pain, diarrhea — in addition to worsening reflux and causing heartburn and burning.
“Rarely we can have an important gastritis to the point of bleeding related to alcohol use”, said the specialist from Sírio-Libanês.
how long does the hangover last
Of course, a person with a hangover wants to get rid of the sick feeling as quickly as possible. Weakness, tiredness and nausea tend to diminish the body’s ability to carry out simple everyday tasks.
But after all: how long does a hangover last? The doctor explains that it depends a lot on liver enzymes in the metabolism of alcohol. According to her, those who are in the habit of consuming alcohol will often have less hangovers than those who are not used to drinking.
“Intensity, severity and duration, this varies from person to person,” said Débora Poli. “This component genetic counts so much for the time [que a pessoa fica bêbada], as for the duration of the hangover.”
“Usually, a hangover is cured in a day — if you stop drinking,” explained Pinheiro Alves.
Can a hangover cause long-term problems?
According to Pinheiro Alves, the hangover “will not cause any problems in the long term. Nothing chronic”
“These symptoms of headache, dehydration, this has no major consequences, other than the malaise itself”, said Débora Poli.
The Sírio-Libanês gastroenterologist said that the biggest consequences caused by the hangover are the loss of working days [por conta de indisposição] and the socio-emotional effects—the famous moral hangover.
Despite this, both experts heard by the report said that the frequent alcohol consumption may cause problems such as cirrhosis and cardiac changes.
Reference: CNN Brasil
