Hangovers and Recovery
Why do Hangovers Get Worse With Age?
Nov
Why Do Hangovers Get Worse As We Get Older?
As we get older, hangovers can get worse both physically and psychologically. Here are the reasons why and what you can do about them.
Why do hangovers get worse as we get older? We will look at why and give tips on reducing your hangover symptoms so you can enjoy your night out and the morning after.
What Exactly Is A Hangover?
Most of us enjoy having a few drinks while out as it loosens us up and makes it easier to socialise with friends and family, but as with everything in life, there is a consequence: the hangover.
A hangover is an amalgamation of symptoms that are an inevitable stage of healing. The body must process alcohol as quickly as it can, which can bring feelings of discomfort and lethargy.
But why does a hangover have to happen in a way that makes us feel unwell?
There are several factors involved in creating the experience of a hangover, which include:
Dehydration
Alcohol causes the body to produce more urine than usual, leading to dehydration, a common cause of hangover symptoms such as headaches and fatigue. The older we become, the water content of our body lowers, and alcohol spends longer in our liver than when we are younger.
It is essential to drink plenty of water before, during, and after drinking alcohol to stay hydrated. Staying hydrated can help to reduce the severity of your hangover and help you feel better the next day.
Stomach Inflammation
Alcohol is a stomach irritant that can lead to gastrointestinal irritation and boost acid production, causing nausea and vomiting, common hangover symptoms.
We recommend eating a meal before drinking and avoiding mixing different types of alcohol to reduce hangover symptoms.
Over-the-counter antacids can also help relieve gastrointestinal distress caused by alcohol.
Acetaldehyde
When alcohol is consumed, it enters the bloodstream and is transported to the liver for processing. The liver metabolises the alcohol, converting it into a toxic compound known as acetaldehyde.
Acetaldehyde is a compound responsible for causing widespread inflammation throughout the body, which can lead to various health problems.
In addition, acetaldehyde is believed to contribute to the unpleasant symptoms often experienced during a hangover, such as headache, nausea, and fatigue. Therefore, it is important to consume alcohol in moderation and avoid excessive drinking to prevent the adverse effects of acetaldehyde on the body.
Mini-withdrawals
Alcohol induces temporary euphoria and reduces anxiety and depression. However, heavy consumption can cause a “hangover” effect, leading to opposite effects, including anxiety.
Hangover symptoms can be unpleasant and peak when your blood alcohol concentration reaches zero, lasting up to 24 hours. In some cases, you may even feel unwell for longer than that.
Low-quality Sleep
Drinking alcohol may make you feel drowsy at first, but it can disrupt your sleep quality as the night goes on, particularly REM sleep, when your brain recharges itself.
Poor sleep can exacerbate feelings of illness or anxiety, making your hangover symptoms feel even worse.
Older people already find sleep more challenging. As we age, we spend more time in the light stages of sleep and less time in the deep REM sleep – the type that makes us feel revitalised. For this reason, older people wake up more and sleep less soundly than younger people. Alcohol makes this situation worse; as the drowsiness wears off, you are more likely to wake prematurely. The older you get, the less likely you will be able to get back to sleep.
Mental Health and Age
You might not associate mental health with hangovers, but a lot of the negative feelings we get after drinking too much are linked to serious chemical imbalances in our brains. Depression and anxiety are the two most common mental health issues older people deal with and also the two most impacted by drinking alcohol.
Drinking too much causes fluctuations in GABA, which is responsible for keeping us calm and allowing us to experience happiness and relaxation. Changes in GABA can leave us feeling depressed or anxious and disrupt our sleep and eating habits.
There is also a sense of shame among older people regarding drinking. They are more likely to be embarrassed by drunken behaviour or feel they have failed in responsibilities such as family, work or community.
What makes hangovers worse as we get older?
At the beginning of the article, we briefly looked at what could be causing your hangovers to get worse as the years go on, but now, we will take a more detailed look at what could be behind the horrible feeling of the morning after.
Below is a list of possible factors behind the ageing hangover, which includes –
- The older the body gets, the slower the liver processes alcohol, resulting in a longer-lasting hangover.
- Reduced alcohol tolerance is another possible reason hangovers worsen as we age. As we age, our bodies become less efficient at breaking down alcohol, which means that the same amount of alcohol that we used to handle well in our early twenties can now cause more severe hangovers.
- Another possible factor behind the worsening of hangovers as we age is the decrease in total body water. Our bodies contain less water as we age, so the alcohol we consume becomes less diluted. A more concentrated alcohol level can lead to higher blood alcohol levels and a slower elimination of alcohol from the body, resulting in more severe hangovers.
If you read this list and can relate, it may make you feel better about those hard-to-shift hangovers. The truth is that slowing down with age is an experience many share.
Unfortunately, getting rid of a hangover isn’t possible, but it can reduce the symptoms, giving you the chance of a hangover from the good old days of youth.
Let us look at how we can reduce the symptoms of our ageing hangovers.
What Helps with Hangovers for Older People?
To this day, no one has found a cure for a hangover. There is a sound reason for this. A cure for a hangover can only happen if the body does not need to process alcohol, which, of course, is impossible. But there is some good news.
Below, we have made a list of things you can do to ensure your hangover is a bit more bearable, allowing you to do more with your days of ‘hangxiety’ (hangover anxiety).
- Avoiding shots and sticking with either beer, wine, or mixed drinks can help reduce the severity of your hangover symptoms. It is easier for the body to consume drinks slowly over time instead of pounding shots, as this can lead to a slower absorption of alcohol and a lower risk of a severe hangover.
- It is vital to drink plenty of water, eat some nutritious food before drinking alcohol and avoid mixing different types of alcohol to reduce the risk of gastrointestinal irritation and other hangover symptoms.
- Some of us turn to hangover pills to fix our symptoms quickly, but limited evidence supports their effectiveness. While some ingredients in these pills, such as electrolytes and vitamins, may help alleviate some symptoms, others may not be as effective or harmful. It is essential to be cautious when taking hangover pills and consult a healthcare professional before use. It is also important to note that the best way to prevent a hangover is to drink alcohol in moderation and stay hydrated.
Now, the effectiveness of the above suggestions will depend on the body. Drinking in moderation is probably the most effective relief for a hangover. Here are some handy ways to help you moderate alcohol intake.
- Set a limit before you head out, and create a plan for sticking to it, deciding on a certain number of drinks or setting a time limit for how long you’ll be out drinking. Additionally, consider alternating alcoholic drinks with water or other non-alcoholic beverages to stay hydrated and avoid drinking too much too quickly.
- One of the best ways to reduce the severity of your hangover is to pace yourself throughout the evening. Furthermore, having a drink or two followed by a glass of water can also help to reduce the intensity of your hangover the next day. Remember, the key is to drink in moderation and not exceed your limits. A drink per hour is ideal.
This sounds like decent advice, but truthfully, it is easier said than done. When we are out with friends, and we are in the thick of the night, enjoying ourselves, it is very tempting to abandon any plans we may have made.
The Voice Of Justification.
Being prepared for that voice of justification is one of the best plans you can have. It could even be called the ‘plan of plans’.
We have all heard the voice that says, ‘I don’t have to stick to my plans tonight. I could drink moderately another night.’ Drinking alcohol often comes with a careless attitude, which helps us throw caution to the wind, causing heavy hangovers and heavy lessons.
How Can Desistal Help?
At Desistal, we understand how difficult it can be to change your drinking habits. Curbing your intake or bringing it to an end entirely takes perseverance, and part of that perseverance is finding effective ways to help support you through that change.
Many of our clients have found ways to reduce or end their drinking by trying the different techniques covered in the article while taking our popular supplement designed to reduce any cravings you may have along the way.
To find out more about our supplement or any local services or treatments that can help with addiction, please call our support team now.
Our experienced staff members are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and can be reached by phone, email or online chat, which can be found at the bottom right-hand side of the screen on our website.
We understand every situation is different, so we approach all of our clients with patience and understanding. Any information shared will remain private and confidential. Desistal encourages safe spaces for those who wish to talk openly about their situation.
Sources
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-of-older-adults
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8406052/ Alcohol Hangover Across the Lifespan: Impact Of Sex and Age