Drinking water before going to bed doesn’t help cure hangover: Study

It is long believed that having water following a night of drinking can help overcome a hangover but a recent studyhas challenged this notion. Researchers from Utrecht University in the Netherlands have concluded that dehydration is not the only major factor behind a hangover and thus drinking water may be of little help.

The study

For the purpose of the study, the researchers enlisted two groups of volunteer boozers. They gave water to one group before bed, as the other group hit the hay with considerable dehydration.

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The results achieved the next morning were shocking.

While the former group experienced less dehydration, they felt the same degree of pain, nausea, and exhaustion as the latter.

This showed that consuming water had little or no effect on the intensity of the hangover.

Johnny Parvani, REVIV founder and chief medical officer, was quoted as saying by the New York Post, “A hangover is a clinical condition that is characterized by a combination of effects from alcohol metabolism and dehydration.” Thissupportsthe claim that a hangover includes but is not limited to dehydration.

The lead author of the study, Dr Joris Verster from Utrecht University, says that the relationship between drinking and hangover is directly proportional.

“The more you drink, the more likely you are to get a hangover. Drinking water may help against thirst and a dry mouth, but it will not take away the misery, the headache and the nausea,” Verster was quoted as saying by NY Post.

However, the research noted that consuming alcohol may trigger dehydration. It happens because alcohol activates the hormone system responsible for regulating blood pressure, fluid, and electrolyte balance. This process leads to the loss of water and electrolytes from our body, which in turn triggers thirst.

But thirst and dehydration are relatively short-lived in comparison tothe other symptoms of hangover caused by "oxidative stress".

(With inputs from agencies)