Does alcohol get you all worked up after just one drink? What if what you think is a hangover is actually an intolerance to alcohol? Doctor Gérald Kierzek explains the differences between these two phenomena which can sometimes be difficult to discern.
Drinking too much carries risks, including waking up with a hangover. Between nausea, headaches and dehydration, the list of unpleasant symptoms is long. However, in some cases, it is not a real excess but rather an intolerance to this substance. Doctor Gérald Kierzek, medical director of TipsForWomens, explains the differences between the two.
Hangover or intolerance?
Often confused, hangovers and alcohol intolerance are, according to Dr. Kierzek, “two completely different things”.
In the first case, it is an excess linked to too much alcohol ingested. “A hangover can therefore occur in everyone, with more or less severe symptoms depending on the ability to metabolize alcohol”, specifies the doctor. Typical symptoms of this phenomenon include: “thirst, headaches, muscle pain, nausea, stomach aches and increased fatigue”he adds.
On the other hand, “Alcohol intolerance mainly affects people with an enzyme deficiency. This means that they are unable to metabolize even a very small amount of alcohol.” This phenomenon would therefore rather be a form of allergy to alcohol. The symptoms observed are rather “stomach aches, migraines, itching, redness or even a blocked nose”.
If you consume alcohol, watch out for your health!
Whether it's a hangover or an intolerance, the conclusion is the same: alcohol is dangerous for your health and should be consumed in moderation.
“In addition to being particularly unpleasant or even painful, a hangover can be dangerous”, recalls the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Being in such a weak state has “a negative impact on a person's decision-making and muscular coordination”, and thus makes the activities of daily life more dangerous. Like excessive alcohol consumption, a hangover has long-term consequences, particularly linked to the risk of cardiovascular and digestive diseases, or cancer.
Like any allergy, alcohol intolerance is also quite risky. This phenomenon can in particular be a “allergy co-factor”, which means that it potentiates the allergic reaction, when present“, as the doctor and allergist, Dr Julien Cottet, explained to us in a previous article. Combined with another allergen, alcohol therefore risks triggering a more serious reaction in an intolerant person.
If you think you may be intolerant to alcohol, it is recommended to consult your doctor or an allergist. Furthermore, know that in both cases, the only way to prevent these unpleasant symptoms is to avoid the substance that causes them!