Is This Hangover Gonna Last Forever?

If you’re in the throes of a monster hangover, relief can’t come soon enough.

Fortunately, hangovers typically go away within 24 hours. There are some reports online of them lasting for up to 3 days, but we can’t find much evidence to back this up.

Still, 24 hours can feel like an eternity when you’re dealing with a mishmash of physical and mental symptoms. And depending on various factors, some symptoms can be worse than others in terms of severity and duration.

Speaking of symptoms, here are some of the most common ones:

• a pounding headache
• dry mouth
• feeling tired and “out of it”
• upset stomach
• irritability
• sensitivity to light and sound
• trouble sleeping
• dizziness or feeling like the room is spinning

There are several factors that influence how long a hangover lasts and how bad you feel.

How much you had to drink

Believe it or not, how many drinks you have doesn’t appear have a significant impact on how long a hangover lasts, according to a 2017 study.

However, drinking more does often make for a more severe hangover, and severe hangovers usually last longer.

How much sleep you get (or don’t get)

There’s evidenceTrusted Source that reduced sleep after drinking leads to more severe hangovers.

Alcohol affects sleep, and not in a good way. It may help you fall asleep faster, but the sleep is likely to be fragmented and short.

The less sleep you get after drinking, the crummier you’re going to feel.

Drinking on an empty stomach

Indulging in some bevvies on an empty stomach is never a good idea for several reasons.

For one, it gets you intoxicated faster and makes day-after misery a lot more likely. Plus, hangovers tend to be more severe after drinking on an empty stomach.

Alcohol also irritates the lining of your stomach. If you haven’t eaten, you’re a lot more likely to have stomach pain and vomiting after drinking.

How dehydrated you are

Alcohol has a diuretic effect that makes you pee more, leading to dehydration if you’re not also drinking water. If you drink enough alcohol to vomit, then that’s even more fluid lost.

Mild dehydration can give you a headache, dry mouth, and make you feel dizzy and tired — all common symptoms of a hangover.

The more dehydrated you are, the worse you’ll feel, and longer.

Existing health conditions

Medical conditions that affect the way your body metabolizes alcohol or those that affect your blood sugar can affect the severity and duration of a hangover.

Some examples are kidney and liver disease as well as diabetes.

If you’re prone to migraine attacks, you’re also more likely to have problems with hangovers, particularly hangover headaches, because alcohol is a common migraine attack trigger.

Certain medications

Some medications interfere with your body’s ability to properly metabolize alcohol. As a result, you’re more likely to throw up and have your hangover linger for a longer period.

Some common drugsTrusted Source that affect the way your body processes alcohol include:

• antidepressants
• anti-anxiety medications
• allergy medications
• antibiotics

Always check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before drinking if you take any medications.

Your age

You aren’t imagining it; you really can’t hold your liquor like you used to.As we get older, our body’s ability to process toxins slows down. As a result, you might be down for the count on less alcohol (and for longer) than before. Sorry.

You know those hangover remedies passed down for generations or miracle hangover cures you see online?None of them have actually been scientifically proven. Some may actually do more harm than good.Skip these if you’re stuck in nightmarish hangover:

• Hair of the dog. Drinking a little alcohol the morning after can actually make your hangover last longer by preventing your body from recovering. Avoid alcohol for at least 48 hours after heavy drinking.
• Greasy foods. Who doesn’t love to hit a quintessential greasy spoon for burgers and fries or a big breakfast after drinking? The thing is, greasy food can mess with your already irritated stomach, bring on or worsen nausea, and make you feel even more sluggish.
• Too much caffeine. A cup of java can have a stimulating effect and help with some grogginess and even a headache. However, caffeine has a diuretic effect. It can pick up where the alcohol left off and continue dehydration.
• Skipping meals. It’s easy to skip meals when you’re nauseous or just want to stay in bed all day, but that can mess with your blood sugar and make you feel worse. Stay nourished with healthy things like fruits and veggies, or stick with bland foods if you’re feeling queasy.