DEAR DOCTORS: I always thought that you get a hangover from drinking too much. But when I have a single mixed drink, or sometimes even just one glass of wine, I wake up feeling nauseated and with a bad headache. What causes a hangover? Is there a cure?
DEAR READER: The term “hangover” refers to the collection of deeply unpleasant (and sometimes debilitating) symptoms that can occur after drinking too much alcohol.
The specific symptoms, as well as their intensity and duration, vary from person to person. They include headache, stomach upset, fatigue, muscle aches, dizziness, sweating, nausea, vomiting, persistent thirst, rapid heartbeat and an increased sensitivity to light and sound. A hangover can also affect someone emotionally, leaving them feeling anxious, irritable or depressed. People sometimes find that their motor skills and cognition take a temporary hit as…
