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Causes of Hangover

Alcohol acts as a diuretic and leads to dehydration, which causes many of the symptoms associated with a hangover. Diuretics increase the amount of urine produced by encouraging the removal of salts such as potassium and sodium (salt) from the blood. As a result, an increased amount of water is drawn out of the blood and into the kidneys, where it is passed out through the urine.

Alcohol can also cause malnutrition because it uses it the body’s store of vitamins and minerals and reduces blood sugar levels. Together with dehydration, this can be responsible for the throbbing headache you may experience with a hangover. Alcohol can also cause blood vessels in the head to dilate, adding to the pain of a hangover headache.

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