Why Does Alcohol Cause Hangxiety? Understanding the Physiological Factors Behind the Morning After

Why Does Alcohol Cause Hangxiety? Understanding the Physiological Factors Behind the Morning After

2024-03-16 10:13:09

Entered 2024.03.16 19:10 Entered 2024.03.16 19:10 Modified 2024.03.16 12:12 Views 4

Alcohol produces acetaldehyde, a carcinogen. [사진=게티이미지뱅크]Drinking too much alcohol can leave you with a severe headache and constant anxiety the next day. This phenomenon is called ‘hangxiety’. Experts say that this phenomenon also has physiological factors.

David Nutt, an author and neuropsychopharmacologist who specializes in the effects of alcohol on the brain at Imperial College London, told National Geographic, “If you drink small amounts, you may feel confused. However, if you drink a lot, you may feel anxious,” he said.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), a neurotransmitter in the brain, can reduce stress and anxiety by calming the central nervous system. However, alcohol also temporarily has the same effect by binding to the protein that GABA affects.

Because alcohol mimics the effects of GABA, the body produces less GABA and, as a result, does not have enough of the chemical to reduce anxiety the day following drinking. “This is why when people drink alcohol, they feel more relaxed, less inhibited, and less cautious,” Yale School of Medicine professor Stephen Holt told National Geographic.

Additionally, increased GABA activity while drinking reduces the effectiveness of glutamate, a stimulatory neurotransmitter that increases energy. This causes the brain to produce excessive glutamate. “It can take several months for the body to properly regulate the GABA-glutamate system,” Professor Holt said. “People who drink alcohol on a daily basis may show symptoms of dysregulation before their first drink because their brains have been trained to anticipate alcohol consumption and naturally lower GABA levels,” Nutt said.

Alcohol can be considered a poison because it breaks down in the liver and produces acetaldehyde, a carcinogen that can cause stomach upsets, headaches, and anxiety.

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