Overview

A hangover is a group of unpleasant symptoms that can happen after drinking too much alcohol. As if feeling awful weren’t bad enough, frequent hangovers also are linked with poor performance and conflict at home, school and work.

Generally, the more alcohol you drink, the more likely you are to have a hangover the next day. But there’s no easy way to know how much you can safely drink and still avoid a hangover.

However unpleasant, most hangovers go away on their own, though they can last up to 24 hours. If you choose to drink alcohol, doing so responsibly can help you stay away from hangovers.

Symptoms

Hangover symptoms often begin when your blood alcohol content drops and is at or near zero. Symptoms are usually in full effect the morning after a night of heavy drinking. Depending on what and how much alcohol you drank, you may notice:

• Extreme tiredness and weakness.
• Thirst and dry mouth.
• Headache and muscle aches.
• Nausea, vomiting or belly pain.
• Poor sleep or not getting enough sleep.
• Low tolerance for light and sound.
• Dizziness or a sense of the room spinning.
• Shakiness and sweating.
• Problems concentrating or thinking clearly.
• Changes in mood, such as depression, anxiety and irritability.
• Fast heartbeat.

When to see a doctor

Hangovers after a single night’s drinking go away on their own. Talk with your healthcare professional if you’re concerned that frequent heavy drinking may lead to serious problems, such as alcohol withdrawal.

When it’s an emergency

More-serious symptoms from heavy drinking may be a sign of alcohol poisoning — a life-threatening emergency. Alcohol poisoning is a serious and sometimes deadly result of drinking large amounts of alcohol in a short period of time. Drinking too much too quickly can affect breathing, heart rate, body temperature and gag reflex. In some cases, this can lead to coma and death.

Call 911 or your local emergency number if a person who has been drinking shows symptoms of:

• Confusion.
• Vomiting.
• Seizures.
• Slow breathing — less than eight breaths a minute.
• Irregular breathing — a gap of more than 10 seconds between breaths.
• Damp or sweaty skin.
• Blue or gray skin color due to low oxygen levels. Depending on skin color, these changes may be harder to see.
• Slow heart rate.
• Low body temperature.
• Difficulty remaining conscious.
• Passing out and not being able to be awakened.

A person who can’t be awakened is at risk of dying. If you suspect that someone has alcohol poisoning — even if you don’t see the classic symptoms — get medical help right away.

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