What is Veisalgia?

Veisalgia, or more commonly known as a hangover. Veisalgia is a term used to refer to a range of unpleasant physical effects that occur within the body following excessive alcohol consumption. Derived from the Norwegian word for ‘Debauchery,’ which means uneasiness,’ and the Greek word ‘Algia,’ translated to pain in English. A rather appropriate title for the unpleasant symptoms experienced by individuals how to drink heavily when on a night out and for chronic alcoholics.

Common side effects of veisalgia can include but are not limited to:

• Nausea
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensitivity to sounds
• Vomiting
• Thirst
• Lethargy
• Fatigue
• Anxiety
• Difficulty sleeping
• Trembling
• Increased heart rate
• Dry mouth
• Diarrhoea
• Poor overall wellbeing

The severity of the hangover will solely depend on how much alcohol your body consumes. There is currently no medical or scientifically proven way to ‘cure or treat a hangover.’

Binge drinking

Binge drinking has to be the most notorious contributor to an individual experiencing the symptoms of veisalgia. Within a course of heavy drinking, your blood alcohol level will continue to rise until such time that you stop drinking. Your body will work continuously to break down the alcohol consumed throughout the drinking session to halt the substance from forming damaging oxygen free radicals and acetaldehyde. The longer the acetaldehyde is within your body, the greater the damager to your:

• Proteins
• DNA
• Cellular membranes

Your body’s enzymes will be hard at work attempting to metabolize the acetaldehyde into a less toxic compound within the body called acetate.

While the individual sleeps, their ethanol levels will continue to drop due to the body’s metabolic process. How much you drunk through the night will determine the type of hangover you will experience when you wake.

How does the body respond to veisalgia?

Medical research has minimal knowledge on the exact cause of veisalgia; however, they are aware that the body’s natural response to the substance is to change the individual hormone levels to reduce the likelihood of cellular distress and dehydration.

Alcoholic substances, when consumed, will also affect several neurotransmitter systems within the brain; this can include:

• Dopamine
• Glutamate
• Serotonin

Further inflammation of the body’s tissues and your digestive system is also interfered with, resulting in individuals experiencing stomach cramps or diarrhoea.

What can help with veisalgia?

If you have had a heavy night of drinking and are feeling worse for wear, here are a few things that may help ease the pain and recover at a quicker pace:

Drink fluids: You must increase your body’s hydration levels, so ensure you drink water and fresh juices.

Take a pain reliever but never Tylenol: Ibruprofen, Asprin any nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug that is known to help with headache.

Avoid dark color drinks: When consuming alcohol, try to drink liquids that are clear in colors, such as vodka and gin. Experiments have shown that these types of drinks tend to cause a less severe hangover than the likes of alcoholic beverages that are dark in color, such as whiskey.

Sip on coffee or tea: Caffeine is a well-known stimulant that can help aid the groggy feeling within a hangover.

Eat some carbohydrates: Drinking an excessive about of alcohol can lower blood sugar levels; therefore, some of the pain you may be feeling in your head may be from your brain working without enough fuel.

What if you think you are an alcoholic?

If you have found yourself experiencing veisalgia more often or have witnessed a loved one experiencing these signs, there is a risk of alcohol addiction.

We know changing behavior and establishing new habits is vital to achieving sobriety. That’s why we offer a much-needed routine to the residents of our recovery home. Shoreline Sober Living is designed and structured to enhance our residents’ personal and professional growth, helping them become reliable, responsible, and self-supporting. Give us a call today to get you on the road to recovery.