Hangover : locut. A hangover is an uncomfortable feeling that occurs as a result of excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. It appears 6 to 8 hours after alcohol consumption, when the blood alcohol level decreases, and it reaches a maximum when the blood alcohol level becomes zero again.
The origin of the hangover has not yet been fully elucidated. It is recognized that it is a complex and multifactorial disorder. Three substances are thought to be the cause of a hangover: ethanol (or pure alcohol), acetaldehyde (product of the metabolism of ethanol) and congeners, which are substances present in alcoholic beverages, derived from alcoholic fermentation or added during the manufacturing process.
The expression "having a hangover" is thought to have come from having a dry mouth like wood (musty) after drinking too much alcohol (dehydration), then evolved to refer to alcohol-induced symptoms upon waking .
A hangover can appear as soon as one drink is consumed, and affects almost everyone after five drinks.
The expression was transformed into an adjective: "hungover" by the author of French detective novels Frédéric Dard (1921-2000) who describes someone who has a hangover.
Hangover phenomenon study : Hangover is an uncomfortable feeling that occurs after excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. It appears 6 to 8 hours after alcohol consumption, when the blood alcohol level decreases, and it reaches a maximum when the blood alcohol level returns to zero. The intensity of symptoms increases with the amount of alcohol consumed.
The hangover mechanism has not yet been fully elucidated. It is recognized that it is a complex and multifactorial disorder. Three substances would be involved: ethanol (or pure alcohol), acetaldehyde (product of ethanol metabolism) and substances present in alcoholic beverages, resulting from alcoholic fermentation or added during the manufacturing process.
Origin of the phrase : The expression "having a hangover" is thought to have come from having a dry mouth like wood (musty) after drinking too much alcohol (dehydration), then would have evolved to designate the symptoms due to alcohol at the awakening.
In some French-speaking regions such as Quebec or Belgium, we can meet the term "xylostomiasis" (inspired by ancient Greek, with a humorous intention) to designate the hangover. We also find "xylostomy" in Alphonse Allais.
The term "veisalgia" (*) would be a medical term coined recently to designate in pseudoscientific language the hangover, coming from the Norwegian kveis, meaning "discomfort following debauchery", and from the Greek algia or "pain".
(*) Veisalgia are the unpleasant symptoms that appear after excessive alcohol consumption (hangover). Hangover symptoms usually appear after a few hours.
Possible symptoms are fatigue, thirst, headache, nausea, sensitivity to sound and light, and dizziness.
Pain relievers can help relieve symptoms.
A severe hangover can be a sign of alcohol poisoning and requires emergency treatment.
Events : The hangover results in, among other things, dry mouth, uneasiness and nausea.
The most frequent manifestations, studied in 1 students, are as follows:
- the feeling of weakness (76%);
- fatigue (73%);
- difficulty concentrating (72%);
- nausea (68%);
- headaches (68%).
A hangover is also manifested by a significant decrease in alertness and memory. This decrease in performance at the individual level results in an alteration in driving skills, as observed in a study carried out in an airplane piloting simulator.
Mechanism : The mechanism of the hangover has not been fully elucidated. There are several hypotheses that can complement each other:
three disturbances appear during excessive alcohol consumption and could explain it: a disruption of natural defenses, nutrient deficiencies and oxidative stress. Rumors that hangovers are caused by dehydration or lack of alcohol have been investigated by scientists and appear unlikely:
- the symptoms of dehydration and a hangover are different,
- the hormonal and hemodynamic changes observed during a hangover are different from those observed during a lack of alcohol;
- on the other hand, many symptoms are those of hypoglycemia. Heavy alcohol consumption, especially in a short period of time, can in turn cause hypoglycaemia, the body adapting with a delay and alcohol also causing reactive dehydration;
selon le Alcohol Treatment Center of Lausanne University Hospital, it is probably not the alcohol itself or its degradation products that are at the origin of the hangover symptoms, but rather the substances contained in drinks such as methanol, histamine or polyphenols. Methanol and its breakdown products, formaldehydes and formic acid, have been suspected of explaining some or all of the symptoms of a hangover: headache, thirst, sweating and dizziness.
Alcohols containing a lot of methanol (wine, bourbon, brandy) would cause more intense hangovers than those which contain little (vodka) or not (pure alcohol).
Prevention : None of the tests carried out on products reputed to prevent hangovers have proved conclusive, the best means remaining abstention from consumption or its moderation.
It is therefore recommended, with a view to mitigation:
- limit their alcohol consumption;
- not to drink alcohol on an empty stomach;
- to drink large quantities of water, or even to alternate between a glass of water and an alcohol, this does not however prevent the dehydration induced by alcohol;
- limit the consumption of alcohols more concentrated in methanol, such as wine or bourbon-type alcohols;
- to eat something fatty before consuming;
- to drink half a liter of water after consumption.
Treatment : None of the tests carried out on products reputed to alleviate a hangover have shown themselves to be conclusive. Traditional remedies such as very strong or salty coffee, borage, and artichoke have not been shown to be effective.
It is preferable to drink a large amount of water, which will have the advantage of counteracting the dehydration induced by the inhibition of ADH by alcohol, and the feeling of dry mouth. To fight against possible hypoglycemia, a sweet drink is recommended, such as fruit juice. Regarding coffee, beware of its diuretic effects which can accentuate dehydration.
With respect to drugs, alcohol interacts negatively with more than 150 of them, most of which are in common use. Avoiding any medication during a hangover is therefore recommended. To fight against the headache, we will therefore avoid:
paracetamol, since its hepatotoxicity could be enhanced by the metabolism of alcohol;
ibuprofen, aspirin or naproxen: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs effective against headaches but capable of aggravating gastritis; in addition, taking aspirin suddenly increases the alcohol level in the blood, and therefore its toxicity.
See Pig Rinser.
In popular culture:
Gueule de bois is a painting by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec representing Suzanne Valadon, painted in 1888.
The day after is a painting by Edvard Munch, painted in 1894.
Hanging Over is a song by British band Blur, released in 1993.
The Hangover (The Hangover) American-German comedy directed and produced by Todd Phillips, released in 2009.
Cuites is a book by Victoire Loup, published in 2020 by Human Humans editions.
According to popular culture, January 1 is National Hangover Day.
In 2016, North Korea claimed to have created an anti-hangover alcohol, Kaesong Alcohol.
Having a hangover in some languages:
In German: “Ich habe einen Kater”
In English: “I got a hangover”
In Chinese (simplified): “Wǒ sù zuìle”
In Spanish: “Tengo una resaca”
In Greek: “echo ponokéfalo apó to potó”
In Irish: "I'm in Lego"
In Italian: “Ho i postumi della sbornia”
In Japanese “Futsukayoi ni narimashita”
In Mexican “Estoy crudo”
In Polish: “mam kaca”
In Portuguese: “estou de ressaca”
In Russian: “u menya pokhmel'ye”.
– Quote from the American writer John Fante (1909-1983) from the novel Ask the dust (1939)
“He was depressed, his head was knocked up from his hangover.”