Since when has we been a hangover (or “vesalgia” for scientists)? Presumably for much longer than wine and other fermented drinks have been invented. Indeed, 10 million years ago already, our ancestors could have consumed fruits that have fallen to the ground, potentially rotten and therefore loaded with alcohol. However, if this consumption has an advantage because of the richness in calories of ethanol, with its 7 kilocalories per gram against only 4 for carbohydrates or proteins, it does not come without a backlash which our predecessors were undoubtedly quickly realized: alcohol first makes it gay … then sick.
Indeed, our organism is not well suited for this consumption and alcohol remains toxic, even if the evolution has done what it could by stabilizing in our genome a mutation in the gene coding for the enzyme adh4 (alcohol dehydrogenase 4), making it 40 times more efficient to carry out the first stage of detoxification of alcohol. This mutation does not immunize us against its effects.
As soon as swallowed, alcohol quickly passes the stomach to reach the intestine, then the blood circulation (it is detected in the blood a few minutes after ingestion), then irrigating all our organs, whose brain (the first effects are then felt) and the liver (the second effects arrive), in a fairly spectacular way if the doses ingested are extreme. The organization then signals poisoning by nausea, vomiting … even an ethyl coma (and death) in the most serious cases.
But let’s come back to the case, fortunately more common, of a “moderate excess”. In the brain, first, alcohol will have different roles, including that of boosting the secretion of dopamine (hence the rather stimulating effect and euphoricing in the first place), before the sedative effect takes over and causes the characteristic drowsiness phase. We then fall asleep from a rather agitated sleep. The alarm clock painfully reminds us of the excesses of the day before and the more or less severe poisoning that results from it.
Because it is at the liver that the decomposition of alcohol returns, to transform ethanol into acetaldehyde and then into acetate, these two compounds unfortunately still toxic for our organism. However, alcohol also disrupts the production of vasopressin, an antidiuretic hormone which regulates the activity of the kidneys, which is rather a good thing, because it is necessary to urinate to eliminate all these toxins: the body then uses water, a lot of water to eliminate alcohol … In fact, causing dehydration which is one of the causes of migraine.
Add to that the vasodilator effect of alcohol (with this little feeling of “hot stroke” after the first sips, which is a real trap, because, passed the misleading sensation, the body cools even faster), as well as the disturbance of blood sugar, the secretion of neurotransmitters and the triggering of an inflammatory response. So many effects that contribute to headaches, without the mechanisms being always clear.
On this subject, suspicious to legends: yes, even the very good wines give the hangover. Even “nature” wines. Because no, sulfur is not responsible, but alcohol. Or only in some people particularly sensitive to sulfites; But others will be more so to histamines and other biogenic amines, which certain wines precisely not sulfitated contain in larger quantity.
Finally, in the event of excess not avoided, are there any relief strategies? Foods that can help? Medicines? Only the diet seems to be recommended (to lighten the liver) and rehydration using your best winter herbal teas, even if it will not produce a miracle on your skull pain. As for the parapharmacy market, it may be flooded with “anti-wooden war” formulas (based on vitamins supposed to boost the activity of the liver or probiotics supposed to “capture” alcohol before it passes into the blood), no scientific study worthy of this name could prove the effectiveness of these pills.
It only remains paracetamol or ibuprofen, to relieve pain. Beware, however, of the hepatotoxic effects of these molecules: it is not a question of completing your liver. And above all, also avoid the temptation to treat evil with evil by taking up a blow of alcohol, because if the anesthetic and analgesic effect can give the impression of temporarily relieving your cranial pain, it will only be to see it re -emerge from the more beautiful!
