Many people report that their hangovers have become more severe as they age. But what does the research say? (Image credit: izusek via Getty Images)
Many people are aware of the effects of a few extra drinks: a pounding headache, clammy skin, jumbled thoughts, and digestive upset. Often, these hangover symptoms seem to become more pronounced as the years go by; older people notice that the amount of alcohol they could drink in their youth without any consequences now leaves them feeling drained.
But do hangovers really get worse with age?
Oddly enough, there are plenty of people who will tell you yes based on their own experience – but there is no hard scientific evidence that hangovers actually get worse with age. However, there are some plausible reasons why this might be the case.
“It’s not clear whether hangovers get worse with age for everyone or just some people,” Aaron White, chief of the epidemiology and biometrics branch at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, told Live Science in an email. “There really isn’t enough research on this.” There are a few theories, though.
A hangover is caused by a variety of changes in the body that occur after drinking alcohol. Alcohol is toxic to cells because it can damage DNA and interfere with important cellular processes. During metabolism, alcohol is briefly converted into another toxic compound called acetaldehyde before being converted into a less toxic substance known as acetate and eventually into water and carbon dioxide.
However, as we age, the enzymes in our liver that are responsible for metabolizing alcohol and its toxic byproducts can become less effective, allowing toxic chemicals to remain in the body longer than they once did. When acetaldehyde lingers in the liver, it can also cause significant inflammation in the body. Cytokines, the chemical messengers responsible for inflammation, are associated with malaise, anxiety, irritability, and fatigue—all typical hangover symptoms.
Additionally, compared to younger people, older adults are more likely to suffer from chronic pain and diseases that cause associated inflammation, such as diabetes and arthritis. So, drinking too much alcohol can lead to a double whammy of inflammation on top of the already high initial levels. White noted that this can “exacerbate existing physical discomfort” and ultimately lead to a worse hangover.
Alcohol consumption and the natural aging process can make it difficult for the body to stay hydrated, so the combination of the two can lead to a rough morning.
Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it removes water from the body. Scientists are still debating exactly what role dehydration plays in hangovers, White said, but it’s well known that dehydration can cause headaches and fatigue, both common hangover symptoms. And after age 60, the total amount of water in the body begins to decline due to tissue loss. That dehydration not only sets you up for a hangover, but it can also raise your blood alcohol concentration after drinking, White added.
“It's possible that as you age, each new drink feels more intense,” he noted, “which could lead to more suffering the next day.”
Both alcohol and age also negatively impact sleep quality. A few drinks can speed up the process of falling asleep, but they can also worsen sleep quality and cause people to wake up earlier, leading to an overall worse night's rest. White added that sleep quality tends to decline with age anyway, so “we may feel the impact of alcohol on fatigue the next day more than when we were younger.”
While there are many potential reasons why alcohol may have a stronger effect as you age, severe hangovers are not an inevitable part of aging. One survey of more than 50,000 people aged 18 to 94 found that older participants actually
Sourse: www.livescience.com
