Holidays are around the corner, which means many parties and celebrations related to alcohol. Research shows that the average American drinks 27% more alcohol during the holidays compared to other times of the year. People often think this is because everyone is celebrating and having fun, but a survey indicates that 38% of people say their stress levels significantly increase during the holidays. Stress is one of the biggest risk factors for increased substance use.
To enhance safety and harm reduction, it is worth examining the health issues related to increased drinking during the holidays. This is particularly important for those who have to deal with more binge drinking and terrible hangovers.
As a recovering alcoholic, I remember holiday hangovers well. As a former nurse, I also know how dangerous these hangovers can be for the nervous system. In my old drinking days, December 26 always felt like a day of depression, disillusionment, and sheer exhaustion. It would take me days to recover, and that only applies if I decided to stop drinking on the 26th instead of continuing the party.
However, inevitably, the hangover process begins, and it takes time to recover. For some people, it can take a week to recover from a hangover.
Mild hangovers cause symptoms like nausea, headaches, and anxiety. More severe hangovers can worsen significantly, leading to symptoms like hallucinations, tremors, and paranoia. Nausea and headaches usually disappear within a day, but why do fatigue, irritability, and anxiety persist?
Our gastrointestinal system may bounce back, but the nervous system takes much longer to recover.
Alcohol is incredibly neurotoxic. Every time you drink beyond the recommended dosage, the nervous system takes a hit. Can a night of significant drinking cause damage to the nervous system? Of course. And if the drinking is extreme, neurotoxic damage can actually lead to death.