Quick Answer
A hangover happens because alcohol dehydrates you, disrupts sleep, and irritates the stomach lining. The most effective prevention is drinking in moderation, staying hydrated throughout, and eating before and during drinking — no cure works as well as avoiding the causes in the first place.
Why Do Hangovers Happen?
Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it increases urination and contributes to dehydration, which is behind much of the headache and fatigue felt the next day. It also disrupts normal sleep patterns, irritates the stomach, and produces byproducts as your body metabolizes it — all of which add up to that familiar next-day feeling.
Practical Ways to Reduce Hangover Risk
- Eat a meal before and during drinking — food slows alcohol absorption
- Alternate alcoholic drinks with water throughout the night
- Pace yourself — drinking slowly gives your body more time to process alcohol
- Choose clear spirits over darker ones, which tend to contain more congeners linked to worse hangovers
- Get a full night's sleep when possible, since sleep disruption worsens next-day symptoms
What Helps the Morning After?
- Rehydrate with water or an electrolyte drink
- Eat a balanced meal, even if you don't feel very hungry
- Over-the-counter pain relievers can help with headache, though some should be avoided on an irritated stomach — ask a pharmacist or doctor if unsure
- Rest — there's no shortcut that replaces time and hydration
When Is It More Than a Hangover?
Severe vomiting, confusion, difficulty waking someone up, slow or irregular breathing, or seizures are signs of alcohol poisoning, not a typical hangover, and need emergency care immediately.
Everything in One Place
If you're dealing with severe dehydration, persistent vomiting, or you're worried about a loved one after drinking, our emergency team can evaluate and treat it directly, with lab work and IV fluids available on site.
Severe symptoms after drinking? Our emergency team is available 24/7.
References
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIH) — Hangovers
- Mayo Clinic — Hangover overview
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) — Alcohol and your health
