A popular belief suggests that drinking water after a night of heavy drinking can prevent or alleviate hangovers. However, new research from Utrecht University in the Netherlands reveals that this common remedy may not be effective.
The study analyzed data from three different research projects and found that dehydration, while a factor, is not the primary cause of hangover symptoms. The researchers divided participants into two groups: one that drank water before sleeping and another that did not. Both groups reported similar levels of hangover symptoms, including nausea, headaches, and fatigue, despite differences in thirst levels.
Dr. Joris Verster, the lead author, emphasized that while dehydration from alcohol consumption can cause thirst, it does not account for the full range of hangover symptoms. “Drinking water may help with thirst and dry mouth but does not alleviate the overall misery, headaches, or nausea associated with a hangover,” he explained.
The study highlights that dehydration is only one aspect of a hangover. Alcohol activates a hormone system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance, leading to the loss of water and electrolytes. This results in the common symptom of thirst the next day.
However, other hangover symptoms are attributed to oxidative stress and inflammation. Oxidative stress, an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants, contributes to headaches and other discomforts. The body’s inflammatory response to alcohol also causes significant distress, which water alone cannot address.
Additionally, the research indicates that hangovers tend to worsen with age. As people grow older, liver function declines, alcohol metabolism slows, and the body’s water content decreases, increasing alcohol concentration in the bloodstream.
Currently, there is no scientifically proven, commercially available cure for hangovers. The best way to avoid a hangover is to drink less or abstain from alcohol altogether.