Do you know all the symptoms of a hangover?

Many of us will have experienced suffering from a headache, nausea, tiredness and dehydration, as they are the most common symptoms of a hangover. However, hangovers do vary from person to person and some people can also struggle to concentrate, feel irritable and be sensitive to light. But did you know that there are actually thirteen symptoms of a hangover?

These include:

FEELING EXTREMELY THIRSTY OR DEHYDRATED

Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes you urinate more and you can become dehydrated as a result. Symptoms of dehydration might include dry mouth, thirst, dizziness and headache.

FEELING MORE TIRED THAN USUAL

Many people find they fall asleep more easily after drinking alcohol, but they often sleep less soundly. This is because your body is recovering from the depressive effect of alcohol, disturbing your normal sleep rhythm, so you won’t get as much deep sleep leaving you groggy and tired.

EXPERIENCING A HEADACHE

Alcohol causes your blood vessels in your brain to expand, which can trigger a headache — one of the most common symptoms of a hangover.

HAVING DIFFICULTY CONCENTRATING

Some people struggle to concentrate when they are hungover, due to low blood sugar levels. Alcohol can prevent your body from maintaining its tight control on blood sugar levels, causing a low blood sugar concentration.

FEELING VERY NAUSEOUS

Alcohol irritates the lining of your stomach, which can cause abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting.

HAVING A LOT OF TROUBLE SLEEPING

Alcohol disrupts your sleep pattern, so you won’t wake up rested. This can affect your mood and energy levels.

FEELING VERY WEAK

Low blood sugar is one of the main causes of fatigue and weakness that people experience as part of a hangover

BEING MORE SENSITIVE TO LIGHT AND SOUND

Drinking alcohol affects the neurotransmitters for chemicals in your brain.  When you start drinking it makes you feel euphoric because the disruption of these neurotransmitters results in large amounts of reward chemicals, like dopamine, being released all at once. However, this disruption will also make you have an extreme sensitivity to light and sound when hungover.

SWEATING MORE THAN USUAL

When you are hungover your body is dehydrated, which means it has difficulty regulating your temperature and this leads to increased sweating.

VOMITING

Alcohol can cause inflammation of your stomach lining (gastritis), leading to nausea, vomiting and stomach pain.

FEELING ANXIOUS

Alcohol affects the level of serotonin in your brain, which is the chemical that regulates mood, and can cause feelings of anxiety and depression.

EXPERIENCING TREMBLING OR SHAKING

Alcohol can cause your blood sugar to fall. If your blood sugar dips too low, you may experience fatigue, weakness, shakiness, and mood disturbances.

FEELING DEPRESSED

Alcohol is a depressant: it alters the balance of chemicals in your brain. Initially, you may feel more energetic or cheerful because alcohol depresses your inhibitions. However, it will then slow down the way you think, speak, move and react.

All in all, not a pleasant experience and thirteen excellent reasons to take more drink free days.