It is not at all uncommon to wake up with a hangover after a night in which you consumed a large amount of alcohol. But if you wake up with a severe headache, nausea and dehydration – even though you did not drink a single drop of alcohol the night before – it may be something else to blame.
Yes, it is possible to have a hangover without drinking, mainly because the symptoms of a hangover are common to many other conditions.
What happens to your body when you have a hangover is a bit complicated. You can feel anything from nausea because of the way alcohol bothers your empty stomach, to headaches caused by dehydration, to stress from a chemical your body produces called acetaldehyde. But even without alcohol consumption, sometimes these symptoms still persist.
Common symptoms of a hangover include general symptoms such as fatigue, thirst and pain. “And more specific symptoms such as headache, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound and irritability,” said Dr. Beth Ricanati, MD If you feel this way despite abstaining from alcohol, it’s worth doing some research to understand the reasons. “There are some common conditions that can mimic a hangover, but it’s actually worth consulting your doctor as they may need more medical attention,” says Ricanati.
See below the most common reasons why you feel like you have a hangover, without having drunk.
Dehydration
“Anything that dehydrates the body can cause hangover-like symptoms,” he said. Greg Burrell, MD, Vice President at Carbon Health. For example, simply forgetting to drink water during exercise can quickly lead to dehydration which can cause hangover-like symptoms such as headache and fatigue.
Fortunately, it’s easy to feel better with adequate fluid replacement, he says. The general recommended daily water intake is 11.5 cups, or 2.7 liters, to stay properly hydrated. Drink more water if you plan to exercise or if you sweat a lot on a hot day.
Caffeine
Did you increase your regular coffee consumption? According to Ricanati, too much caffeine in your body can make you feel just like a hangover. A typical cup of coffee contains 70 to 100 mg of caffeine. Although there is no specific daily dose for caffeine, a 2021 study recognizes that up to 400 mg per day is considered safe for people without health conditions. More than that, it can make you start experiencing other side effects, such as increased stress.
To stay hydrated and compensate for any side effects, Ricanati recommends drinking a glass of water with your morning coffee.
Stopping caffeine consumption
On the other hand, if you have recently reduced your caffeine intake, you are likely to feel the hangover more intensely. A 2021 study found that caffeine withdrawal symptoms tend to appear 12 to 24 hours after the last cup of coffee, peak around 20 to 51 hours and can last from two to nine days.
Symptoms range from headaches, fatigue and drowsiness to depression or difficulty concentrating. There is also a risk of irritability and all of these symptoms can range from mild to severe. And yet, even if you only drank one caffeinated beverage a day, not consuming it can cause withdrawal symptoms.
Lack of sleep
If it ‘s been a century since you last slept well at night, the annoying hangover symptoms may start to show up. If you experience a lack of sleep, you will probably feel tired. But you can also experience more serious side effects such as reduced mobility and loss of coordination. Your mental health can also take a plunge with the onset of anxiety and depression.
Migraines
If you have migraines, then you already know that it is more than just a headache. But if you have not experienced it before, you may not know how serious it can be.
Migraines, a specific category of headaches, are known to cause long-term hangover-like symptoms even after the end of the migraine, known as postdrome.
If you can spot the symptoms back in a severe headache, then this is probably the connection. Light exercise, maintaining hydration and avoiding overstimulation can help with this.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy causes a number of physical changes, including what you probably know as nausea. While this all-day nausea and tiredness may be stronger in the morning after a night out, they are actually caused by hormonal changes.
This is because the body in pregnancy prefers to distribute the nutrients to the baby first and so the pregnant woman may end up feeling tired or dehydrated if she does not get enough of these nutrients.
Antihistamines
There are many medications that can lead to side effects, including antihistamines. These medications, which are used to reduce allergy symptoms, have the potential to cause headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, dry mouth, and even nausea and vomiting. Sounds like a hangover, right?
Read also:
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