Hangovers Affect the U.S. Economy and the Rest of the World
The average annual opportunity cost due to hangovers adds up to $2000 per person and job. In other countries, the trends are similar. The damage in Great Britain adds up to $3.3 billion, in Canada $1.4 billion, in Australia $3.8 billion, and in New Zealand $331 million. In Finland, which has a population of only 5 million people, more than 1 million are lost each year due to hangovers.It is interesting to note that most of these costs are caused by the light-to-moderate drinker and that only a small portion of the total societal cost of alcohol use is due to chronic alcoholism.
Alcohol is a toxin. After alcohol is consumed, our body attempts to protect itself by producing enzymes to metabolize and remove the toxins. In particular, the liver is the organ which produces enzymes that help to metabolize the alcohol in the body. If you drink enough and the toxin level exceeds your body's ability to metabolize the toxins in an efficient manner, you experience the unpleasant symptoms associated with a hangover.
It is important to note that you do not need to consume a tremendous amount of alcohol to induce a hangover. Studies conducted over the past 30 years have shown that 1.5 g alcohol per kg of body weight (approximately 5 to 6 drinks for an 80-kg man and 3 to 5 drinks for a 60-kg woman) almost always lead to hangover.
The typical symptoms associated with an alcohol related hangover include: headache, nausea, fuzziness depression, anxiety/palpitations, fatigue/energy drain. However, everybody is different and the effects and after-effects of drinking alcohol vary by individual.
How to avoid hangovers?
There are several ways to prevent hangovers or to get a relief form a hangover.
First you should always drink water while consuming alcohol. Rehydrate your Body.
Alcohol is a diuretic causing excessive water loss, and dehydration contributes greatly to hangover symptoms.
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