Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Physiology & Medicine => Topic started by: thedoc on 12/01/2016 16:32:49

Title: Why do some people not get hangovers, but others do?
Post by: thedoc on 12/01/2016 16:32:49
In your Christmas broadcast, you covered the subject of hangovers. But why is it that some people do not get hangovers? I have two sisters. Myself and one sister never get hangovers, yet my other sister does. Why is this?
Asked by John Hockenhull

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Title: Re: Why do some people not get hangovers, but others do?
Post by: dhjdhj on 14/01/2016 19:42:56
obviously some people are more prone to hangovers than others but there is also the factor of what you drink. We are told anecdotally not to mix the grain and the grape but that might not be the whole story. Some years ago I had the pleasure of spending a week in the Haut Medoc region of France on a wine holiday. Every day I visited different chateaus ( including many of the great ones) sampling wine. All without the hint of a hangover, which was not my normal situation. It was explained to me that this was because good wine is refined by filtering with egg white which removes impurities, and it these impurities that reduce your tolerance to hang overs. I have also found unfortunately that tolerance reduces with age and I am now on just a small one.
Title: Re: Why do some people not get hangovers, but others do?
Post by: daveco on 07/02/2016 19:21:31
I think it also depends what you eat before a heavy drinking session.

High amounts of protein will have a negative effect, I assume because of the kidneys having to work harder.

Also never underestimate how many bs about not getting hangovers when they take a sachet or two of dioralyte and some NSAIDs before dropping off to sleep!
Title: Re: Why do some people not get hangovers, but others do?
Post by: cheryl j on 08/02/2016 02:35:46
My guess would be more efficient liver function. I know in my university days, it was rare for a hangover to last past 10 am.  There's also been some recent studies suggesting that some of the hang over effects are an inflammatory reaction which may be more vigorous in some people than others. Folk remedies include taking an aspirin or ibuprofin before you go to sleep (although aspirin can irritate the stomach) rather than waiting until you wake up.