You drank too much last night, and now you feel it all over your body. You may be tempted to try quick hangover remedies, like a shower, coffee or greasy breakfast. But the best hangover cure is to wait it out and drink lots of water. Hangover symptoms usually get better within a day.
A hangover is when you have unpleasant physical and mental symptoms after drinking too much alcohol.
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Hangovers usually begin several hours after you stop drinking. The symptoms can vary in intensity, depending on the person and the type and amount of alcohol consumed.
Symptoms of a hangover include:
You’re also more likely to have memory, concentration and coordination problems when you have a hangover. In general, the severity of your symptoms depends on how much you drank and for how long. But your health and other factors also play a role. Some people get a hangover after even one drink. Other people who drink heavily don’t get symptoms.
Typically, your symptoms are the worst when your blood alcohol level returns to zero. Symptoms can last about a day or possibly longer.
Hangovers are very common in people who consume too much alcohol. In one study, researchers found that about 75% of people who drank excessively the night before reported hangover symptoms. The researchers concluded that 25% to 30% of people who drink may be resistant to hangovers.
Alcohol causes hangovers — but it’s not simple. Drinking affects your body in several ways:
Direct effects of alcohol
Effects of alcohol withdrawal
A hangover is a milder form of alcohol withdrawal. Both have similar effects and symptoms. Drinking helps you feel calm, relaxed and even happy. Your nervous system adjusts to these effects. But when the alcohol wears off, your nervous system has to readjust. You may end up feeling more restless, anxious and irritable than before you drank.
Effects of alcohol metabolites
When the body processes alcohol, one of the byproducts is acetaldehyde. This substance can cause a fast pulse, sweating and nausea. In most people, the body breaks down acetaldehyde before it causes problems. But it can cause inflammation in organs, leading to uncomfortable symptoms.
If you have alcohol intolerance, you may have a genetic inability to process the acetaldehyde fast enough. You may feel the effects after drinking even a small amount of alcohol.
Effects of factors other than alcohol
Having more than one drink per hour can cause problems. Your body needs about an hour to metabolize, or process, one drink, which is:
Most people who get hangovers can diagnose themselves based on their alcohol consumption and symptoms. If you feel sick after consuming alcohol, you most likely have a hangover.
Many hangover remedies claim to treat a hangover. But they’re often not based in science, and some can be dangerous. For example, drinking more alcohol (“hair of the dog”) will not cure a hangover. More alcohol just increases the toxicity of the alcohol already in your body.
Steps you can take to improve hangover symptoms include:
While people may claim that coffee or a shower helps you recover faster, there’s no way to truly speed recovery. The brain and body need time to recover and heal, and there’s no way to fast-track that.
If you want to enjoy a drink without unpleasant hangover symptoms, you can try hangover prevention steps:
Hangovers can cause more than just unpleasant symptoms. With a hangover, you’re not thinking clearly. Alcohol impairs your attention, decision-making processes and muscle coordination. You might engage in risky behavior you wouldn’t ordinarily do. For example, driving during a hangover can be dangerous or even deadly. People can also injure themselves at work.
Call 911 if you’re with someone who’s been drinking and has any of these signs:
Hangovers tend to go away on their own, even if you don’t do anything. As the body readjusts to the lack of alcohol, you start to feel better.
However, talk to your provider if you have signs of alcohol use disorder. Your provider can talk to you about options for treatment. Signs include:
If you are concerned about hangover symptoms, ask your provider:
A note from Cleveland Clinic
A hangover is unpleasant, but symptoms tend to go away within a day or so. If you drank too much alcohol and feel sick, try at-home hangover remedies such as drinking plenty of water, eating some carbs and sleeping. There’s no quick cure for hangovers. You need to let your body rid itself of the alcohol and heal. If excessive drinking and hangover symptoms are interfering with your life, talk to your healthcare provider.
Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 09/24/2020.
Learn more about our editorial process.
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy