Hangover is characterized by the combination of unpleasant physical and mental symptoms that occur after a bout of heavy alcohol drinking. Physical symptoms of a hangover include fatigue, headache, increased sensitivity to light and sound, redness of the eyes, muscle aches, and thirst. Signs of increased sympathetic nervous system activity can accompany a hangover, including increased systolic blood pressure, rapid heartbeat (i.e., tachycardia), tremor, and sweating. Mental symptoms include dizziness; vertigo; and possible cognitive and mood disturbances, especially depression, anxiety, and irritability.
| Symptoms of Hangover |
| Class of Symptoms | Type |
| Constitutional | Fatigue, weakness, and thirst |
| Pain | Headache and muscle aches |
| Gastrointestinal | Nausea, vomiting, and stomach pain |
| Sleep and biological rhythms | Decreased sleep, decreased REM(rapid eye movements), and increased slow-wave 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 and systolic blood pressure |
The particular set of symptoms experienced and their intensity may vary from person to person and from occasion to occasion. Besides, it may depend on the type of alcoholic beverage consumed and the amount a person drinks. Typically, a hangover begins within several hours after the cessation of drinking, when a person's blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is falling. Symptoms usually peak about the time BAC is zero and may continue for up to 24 hours thereafter.
Overlap exists between hangover and the symptoms of mild alcohol withdrawal (AW), leading to the assertion that hangover is a manifestation of mild withdrawal. Hangovers, however, may occur after a single bout of drinking, whereas withdrawal occurs usually after multiple, repeated bouts. Other differences between hangover and AW include a shorter period of impairment (i.e., hours for hangover versus several days for withdrawal) and a lack of hallucinations and seizures in hangover. People experiencing a hangover feel ill and impaired. Although a hangover may impair task performance and thereby increase the risk of injury, equivocal data exist on whether hangover actually impairs complex mental tasks.
http://alcoholism.about.com/od/hangovers/a/causes.htm
http://biology.about.com/library/weekly/aa010104b.htm
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