SCIENCE
WHAT IS A HANGOVER?
The biochemistry behind your body’s backlash after a night of heavy drinking
WORDS SCOTT DUTFIELD
Did you know?
Women are more likely to experience hangovers
THE MORNING AFTER
How the body is affected by alcohol and the consequences ofoverindulging
Headaches, nausea and fatigue are just some of the reminders of last night’s boozy antics. Commonly known as a hangover, ‘veisalgia’ is the medical term for the group of unpleasant symptoms that follow a period of excessive alcohol consumption. One of the main causes of its symptoms is related to dehydration. Vasopressin is a vital hormone that is sent to the kidneys from the brain, signalling that they retain fluid. But consuming alcohol suppresses the release of vasopressin, which causes an increase in urination and the loss of fluids.