By: Kathy Hubbard
New Year’s Eve. Time to welcome the end of the holiday season and to optimistically await the next twelve months. And for many of us, it’s time to make a few resolutions, and to drink to the health of our friends and family.
Drink? A cup of kindness? I hope. Like alcohol? Well, that’s a possibility too. And that might make tomorrow a little less joyful.
“Anyone who drinks alcohol can have a hangover,” Mayo Clinic says. “But some people are more likely to have hangovers than others are. A difference in a gene that affects the way the body breaks down alcohol may make some people flush, sweat or become ill after drinking even a small amount of alcohol.”
Issues that might make a hangover more likely include drinking on an empty stomach; using other drugs, such as nicotine along with alcohol; not getting a good night’s sleep after consuming alcohol; having a family history of alcohol use disorder; or drinking darker colored alcoholic beverages.
“Darker colored drinks often contain a high level of congeners (compounds produced during fermentation) and may be more likely to produce a hangover,” Mayo explains. “Congeners are more likely to produce a hangover or make a hangover worse. But drinking too much alcohol of any color can still make you feel bad the next morning.”
And talking about color, they also explained that some people have a headache a few hours after drinking wine, especially red wine. The cause of the headache isn’t clear, but it’s different from a hangover.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism says that because everyone is different, it’s impossible to predict how much alcohol will cause a hangover. But they do know what factors contribute to them.
“Alcohol suppresses the release of vasopressin, a hormone produced by the brain that sends signals to the kidneys causing them to retain fluid. As a result, alcohol increases urination and excess loss of fluids. The mild dehydration that results likely contributes to hangover symptoms such as thirst, fatigue, and a headache,” they say.
They also say that although you might fall asleep faster after drinking, often sleep is fragmented causing you to wake up earlier. Not only that, but alcohol also irritates the lining of the stomach and increases acid release which can lead to nausea and other stomach ailments.
“Alcohol increases inflammation in the body. Inflammation contributes to the malaise that people feel when they are sick, so it may play a role in hangover symptoms as well. And Alcohol metabolism, primarily by the liver, creates the compound acetaldehyde, a toxic, short-lived
byproduct, which contributes to inflammation in the liver, pancreas, brain, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs,” they explain.
Obviously, the less alcohol you consume, the less likely you are to have a hangover. Mayo suggests it might be helpful if you eat before and while you’re drinking.
They also remind us to keep hydrated. “Drinking a full glass of water after each alcoholic drink will help you stay hydrated. It’ll also help you drink less alcohol.”
It’s a good idea to decide ahead of time how much you intend to drink, and not allow anyone to talk you into drinking more. It’s also a good idea to drink slowly. One drink an hour is just about right.
“Some people take pain relievers to prevent hangover symptoms,” Mayo continues. “But ask your healthcare professional if this is safe for you and how much medicine is best for you. Aspirin and ibuprofen can cause your stomach to make more acid, which can irritate your stomach. And acetaminophen may cause serious liver damage if taken with too much alcohol.”
If you’ve ever had a hangover, you know that time is the only effective cure. Symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, thirst, headache, muscle aches, nausea, stomach pain, vertigo, sensitivity to light and sound, anxiety, irritability, sweating and increased blood pressure can last up to 24 hours.
Sip water or fruit juice. Do not drink more alcohol. Eat bland foods. Avoid the urge to eat a fry-up breakfast. If you can, go back to sleep. If you can’t, sit down and write a few resolutions. Maybe drinking less might be one.
Kathy Hubbard was a charter member of Bonner General Health Foundation. She can be reached at [email protected]. This article was written for publication in the Bonner County Daily Bee on December 31, 2025.