Anatomy of a hangover

Headache, poor sense of well-being, sensitivity to light and sound, diarrhea, loss of appetite, trembling, nausea, fatigue, decreased heart rate and blood pressure, dehydration, lack of concentration, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, weakness.

The list of symptoms for a hangover is longer than that for the average cancer.

Webster's New World Dictionary defines a hangover as "an after affect of drinking much alcohol." Acccording to www.WebMD. com, a hangover "refers to the unpleasant symptoms that develop 4 to 6 hours after drinking too much alcohol."

But what actually happens to your body after alcohol consumption?

The Web site www.howstuffworks.com breaks it down into four categories:

1.) Vasopressin Inhibition

Ever suffer from dry mouth? Here's why: When alcohol is consumed, it enters the bloodstream and causes the pituitary gland in the brain to block the creation of vasopressin. Without that chemical, the kidneys send water directly to the bladder instead of reabsorbing it in the body. So the morning after heavy drinking, the body sends a message to replenish its water supply.

2.) Congeners

Different types of alcohol can result in different hangover symptoms, because some types of drinks have a higher concentration of congeners: by-products of fermentation. The greatest amount of these toxins are found in red wine and dark liquors, like bourbon, brandy and whiskey.

3.) Acetaldehyde

Symptoms such as headaches and vomiting may be caused by a product of alcohol metablosim called acetaldehyde, which is actually more toxic than alcohol itself. Consuming large amounts of alcohol inhibits the liver's ability to produce glutathione, which helps neutralize the acetaldehyde. Without glutathione, the toxin builds up in body, causing headaches and vomiting.

4.) Glutamine Rebound

Not sleeping well after binge drinking? That's because the body is rebounding from alcohol's depressive effect. Alcohol inhibits glutamine, one of the body's natural stimulants. When the drinker stops drinking, the body tries to make up for lost time by producing more glutamine than it needs.

Other symptoms of glutamine rebound include fatigue, tremors, anxiety, diarrhea, loss of appetite and increased blood pressure.

Remedies

When it comes to "curing" a hangover, there are all sorts of myths floating around. The Web site www.howstuffworks.com offers a breakdown of some of those remedies and information on why they may or may not work.

Local bartenders and bar owners have their own opinions. Here's what some of them have to say about their favorite quick fixes:

At Buckner Brewing Company, Bob McKlin says the bartenders swear by this post-drinking hangover mix: a can of Red Bull combined with cranberry juice, pineapple juice and orange juice.

Bartenders at Breakaway's say they fill up on greasy food and suck on lemons or drink lemon juice the morning after a binge.

At the D'Ladium, bartender Gina Phillips says the powder form of an acetaminiphin taken with a glass of milk helps ease headaches and other hangover-related pain faster than taking the pill-form of a pain reliever.

But the best hangover remedy? Don't overindulge.

cmiller@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 128