Is it Just a Bad Hangover or Something More Serious?

By: Scot Thomas, MD

Update on November 16, 3030

Headache, upset stomach, and feeling run down the morning after over-consumption is common. How can you know if it’s just a bad hangover or something more serious?

When hangover symptoms last several days or get worse as time goes on, it could indicate alcohol withdrawal. (Photo source: iStock)

Have you ever over-indulged, drinking four or even more alcoholic beverages in a short period of time. And then got up the next morning with a headache, nausea, and generally feeling run down the next morning? These symptoms are all quite common after a night of over-consumption. But how can you know if it is just a bad hangover or something more serious? Read on.

What’s Behind a Hangover?

In addition to its pleasant, intoxicating properties, alcohol has several potentially negative physical effects. Alcohol can do the following:

• dehydrate your body (hence the frequent trips to the bathroom)
• alter blood vessel dilation
• increase blood pressure
• irritate the stomach lining and,
• together with its metabolite acetaldehyde, it serves as a source of direct toxicity to several tissues and organ systems.

Physiological effects like these can help to explain the headache and nausea commonly…