Title:A Review of the Physiological Factors Associated with Alcohol Hangover
Volume: 9
Issue: 2
Author(s): Celeste T. Tipple, Sarah Benson and Andrew Scholey*
Affiliation:
- Centre for Human Psychopharmacology, Swinburne University, Melbourne,Australia
Keywords:
Alcohol, cognition, hangover, hormones, inflammatory activation, mood, oxidative stress, sleep.
Abstract: Alcohol hangovers are a commonly experienced consequence of drinking and are frequently
associated with worsened mood and cognitive functioning. The physiological changes that occur with
an alcohol-induced hangover state are largely unknown. This review focuses on key physiological factors
of an alcohol-induced hangover, more specifically, oxidative stress, hormonal fluctuations, dehydration
and changes to the immune system. The role of sleep disturbances and headaches will also be briefly
discussed. Increased understanding of the relationship between the physiological factors and symptoms
of a hangover is needed to further elucidate the mechanisms of an alcohol-induced hangover and potentially
identify a treatment. The direct effects of the physiological factors occurring during an alcoholinduced
hangover state should be further assessed under laboratory settings.
