Biology of a Hangover: Vasopressin Inhibition

[WebHead]

From: www.howstuffworks.com
For more information of first hand experience: See Cleetus

When alcohol is consumed, it enters the bloodstream and causes the pituitary gland in the brain to block the creation of vasopressin. Without this chemical, the kidneys send water directly to the bladder instead of reabsorbing it into the body. This is why drinkers have to make frequent trips to the bathroom after urinating for the first time after drinking.

According to studies, drinking about 250 milliliters of an alcoholic beverage causes the body to expel 800 to 1,000 milliliters of water; that's four times as much liquid lost as gained. This diuretic effect decreases as the alcohol in the bloodstream decreases, but the aftereffects help create a hangover.

The morning after heavy drinking, the body sends a desperate message to replenish its water supply -- usually manifested in the form of an extremely dry mouth. Headaches result from dehydration because the body's organs try to make up for their own water loss by stealing water from the brain, causing the brain to decrease in size and pull on the membranes that connect the brain to the skull, resulting in pain.

The frequent urination also expels salts and potassium that are necessary for proper nerve and muscle function; when sodium and potassium levels get too low, headaches, fatigue and nausea can result. Alcohol also breaks down the body's store of glycogen in the liver, turning the chemical into glucose and sending it out of the body in the urine. Lack of this key energy source is partly responsible for the weakness, fatigue and lack of coordination the next morning. In addition, the diuretic effect expels vital electrolytes such as potassium and magnesium, which are necessary for proper cell function.

[Cleetus]

I remember the last bad one...

Started at 2:30 PM, me a friend and the voodoo killed a case(24), then we went to eat at 6, had 2 vodka sprites and a beer, went to bar, had people buying me drinks all night, jeagar bombs, red bull vodka, sprite vodka, some other shot, whiskey coke, left the bar when it closed at 2. Got back to friends, remember finishing a beer, I think, then waking up the next mornig in the middle of floor. I wish I had died, took me two days to recoop.

Age is a big factor. At about 27 they really started hitting. God I miss being 19-23, drink all night, get plowed, wake up have some greasey food a gatorade and start all over again.

[WebHead]

Yup. I drank most of all of last weeks evenings. By Saturday I was running on fumes. Even today I'm still not at 100%. I think I will be by tomorrow. Man,.. drinking just isn't the same as it used to be.

[Budd]

the hangovers started getting really bad at 25, anymore i have to stop at a good buzz or i won't be worth a damn the next day

[Archer]

Yes alcohol is a diuretic thats why its wise to drink a large glass of water after a drinking session and before going to bed.

Not forgetting to get out of bed before you go for a pee