Nausea after alcohol

For many people, nausea, lightheadedness, especially after a hangover, is an extremely painful, unpleasant condition. And this is the first sign of poisoning of the body.

“Alcohol is a cellular poison,” explains psychotherapist, narcologist Ilya Kisler. – You may have already managed to fall in love with alcoholic beverages, but not your cells. I was reminded of an anecdote here:

“At first we drank vodka. When the vodka ran out, we bought wine. Then Sasha turned out to have cognac, when they drank it, they went for beer, and then I got poisoned … with oatmeal cookies. But in fact, you can, of course, get poisoned by the foods you ate. But to understand what exactly became the reason for the departure, it will not work on your own – here you need the help of specialists. But it’s worth asking your table neighbors who ate the same dishes.

Why do you feel sick after alcohol

The cause of nausea immediately after a feast may be an excess of alcohol. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) in the United States, nausea is possible when a woman or a man drinks about 4 or 5 drinks of alcohol (a serving is 30 ml of vodka, a glass of wine, or half a can of beer) within 2 hours.

In the morning, the breakdown products of alcohol can be the cause of nausea. The liver converts alcohol into a toxic chemical called acetaldehyde. Then she decomposes it into simpler components and removes from the body. If the toxin level is higher than the liver can handle, the body will eliminate the excess by vomiting. Vomiting is often preceded by nausea.

But there are other factors that can also cause nausea after drinking alcohol.

• Gastritis. Drinking alcohol can cause a person’s stomach to produce more acid than normal. Its excess can irritate the gastric mucosa, causing both gastritis.
• Alcoholic ketoacidosis. It usually occurs in people with chronic alcohol use, although it sometimes affects people who drink occasionally. In alcoholic ketoacidosis, a person experiences persistent nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. This condition lasts 1 to 3 days and can be life-threatening if left untreated.
• Alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning is another cause of nausea. Poisoning occurs when a person consumes large amounts of alcohol over a short period of time. And it can be life threatening!

What to do at home if you feel sick after alcohol?

“Nausea is an important sign of intoxication,” emphasizes Dr. Ilya Kisler. – The body seeks to get rid of everything superfluous and dangerous. Help him with this. Drink activated charcoal, plenty of water and induce vomiting. Do a gastric lavage. For the future – try to know the measure, and do not mix different drinks. And one more thing: if the vomit is the color of coffee grounds, with impurities of blood, call an ambulance immediately! This is a very dangerous symptom. The same thing, if vomiting does not stop for more than a day, the risk of dehydration is high.

Popular questions and answers

Nausea followed by vomiting after drinking alcohol can relieve stomach pain caused by alcohol. If a person vomits shortly after drinking, the body may not have absorbed the alcohol. In this case, vomiting is a good sign! The risk of poisoning and a hangover is significantly reduced.

However, vomiting can also be a very dangerous symptom.