1. Hangover Symptoms
It also causes a reduction of fluid the brain and is the cause of headache associated with a
hangover.
By drinking water before, during and after consumption of alcohol some of the lost fluid can
be replaced which may reduce the headache symptoms. Alcohol's effect on the stomach
lining can account for nausea.
Ethanol is broken down by liver enzymes. Ethanol is first converted to acetaldehyde, and
then from acetaldehyde to acetic acid. Acetaldehyde (ethanol) is between 10 and 30 times
more toxic than alcohol itself.
The breakdown of alcohol also interferes with the chemical reaction that produce the energy
needed to sustain life. The body is forced to use an alternative pathway which is less efficient
and reduces the ability of the liver to control the release of glucose into the blood. So the liver
is unable to compensate for a drop in blood glucose.
Since glucose is the primary energy source of the brain, this lack of glucose (hypoglycemia)
contributes to symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, mood disturbances, and decreased
attention and concentration.
The by-products of alcoholic fermentation, known as congeners, are thought to be
responsible for hangover symptoms. They are present in higher concentrations in dark
coloured alcoholic beverages such as red wine but are less concentrated in colourless
alcoholic beverages such as vodka.
Alcohol affects the brain by inhibiting glutamine which is one of the body's natural stimulants.
When the drinker stops drinking, the body tries to make up for lost time by producing more
glutamine than it needs. This stimulates the brain which disturbs sleep. Severe glutamine
rebound during a hangover may also be responsible for tremors, anxiety, restlessness and
increased blood pressure.
Alcohol is removed from the bloodstream by either metabolism (liver enzymes), excretion (via
the urine), or evaporation (in breath). It takes approximately one hour to metabolise one unit
of alcohol BUT only if you stop drinking. If you continue to drink then there is an accumulative
effect and it takes much longer to metabolise the alcohol.
The legal limit for driving with alcohol in the blood for US and UK is 0.08%. That means
0.08% of a person's blood, by volume, is alcohol. At 0.06 to 0.09% the feelings become
blunted, reasoning, depth perception, peripheral vision, and glare recovery are impaired.
The safest way to avoid drink driving is not to drink at all if you know you have to drive. So

2. stay safe this coming Christmas and don't do anything you may live to regret.
Over consumption of alcohol invariably results in a hangover; just how much alcohol is
necessary to produce one depends on the biochemical individuality of the consumer, and the
type of drink consumed. Distilled liquors, such as whiskey and gin, have a more immediate
impact than wines or beers, and all alcohol is absorbed more quickly when mixed with a
carbonated beverage. Once in the bloodstream, alcohol reaches the brain in minutes. At first
it acts as a stimulant, producing euphoria. This soon gives way to central nervous system
depression and feelings of numbness, and finally to sleep or unconsciousness.
Rapid ingestion of a large amount of alcohol can be fatal. The severity of a hangover is
partially influenced by congeners, by-products of the fermentation process that contribute to
the taste and aroma of an alcoholic beverage. hangover symptoms