Drinking Water Won’t Cure Hangover Symptoms: New Study
By Akanksha Upadhyay
By Akanksha Upadhyay
CNBC-TV18.com
Published Sept 18, 2024
Published Sept 18, 2024
New research from Utrecht University in the Netherlands challenges the belief that drinking water after heavy alcohol consumption can prevent hangovers.
The study found that while staying hydrated reduces thirst, it has little effect on common hangover symptoms such as headaches, nausea, and fatigue.
Researchers divided participants into two groups: those who drank water before bed after drinking alcohol and those who did not.
Both groups reported similar hangover symptoms the next morning, including headaches, nausea, and tiredness, regardless of whether they drank water.
The hydrated group experienced less thirst, but the overall severity of their hangovers was similar to those who didn't drink water.
Dr. Joris Verster, the study's lead author, noted that while water helps with thirst, it does not alleviate the core hangover symptoms.
The research showed that dehydration caused by alcohol is not the main reason for hangover discomfort, which is driven more by oxidative stress and inflammation.
Alcohol consumption causes a hormonal reaction that leads to water and electrolyte loss, but dehydration from drinking resolves faster than other hangover effects.
Hangovers tend to worsen with age due to declining liver function and lower water content in the body.