SCIENCE OF A HANGOVER

My friend Justin asked me forever ago to post about the science of hangovers--it seems appropriate after my last post showcasing musicians. In truth, only half the musicians in the last post were addicits (can you guess which were and which weren't?) Anyway, the regretful state of hangover is a combination of a few body responses. Alcohol is a sedative, and to make sure we don't pass out from it before we make it home to our comfy beds, our nervous system steps up a notch to overcompensate. The nervous system remains heightened, even when alcohol has left the body, resulting in sensitivity to light, sound, and sweating. In addition, alcohol is slow to metabolize in the liver. Fast drinking floods our system with acetylaldehyde, a half-metabolized form of alcohol on its way to acetate. Acetylaldehyde causes flushing of the skin, sweating, and rapid pulse. A combination of acetylaldehyde, inflated nervous system activity, and dehydration can create mental confusion. Some researchers say a drop in seratonin can create a bad mood. There are many more effects that alcohol has on the body--more than i will mention here. Next time you down a few celebratory libations, know you can trust the old addage..."beer before liquor, never been sicker, liquor before beer, in the clear." There actually is science behind it! Check it out here. I heard the movie sucked, though. Answer: Joe Cocker and Elliot Smith were hopeless drunks.