scholarly journals Updating the Definition of the Alcohol Hangover

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joris C. Verster ◽  
Andrew Scholey ◽  
Aurora J.A.E. van de Loo ◽  
Sarah Benson ◽  
Ann-Kathrin Stock
Keyword(s):  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Heavy Drinking ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Blood Alcohol ◽  
Single Episode ◽  
New Findings ◽  
Alcohol Hangover ◽  
Definition Of

In 2016, the Alcohol Hangover Research Group defined the alcohol hangover as “the combination of mental and physical symptoms experienced the day after a single episode of heavy drinking, starting when blood alcohol concentration (BAC) approaches zero”. In the light of new findings and evidence, we carefully reviewed the different components of that definition. Several studies demonstrated that alcohol hangovers are not limited to heavy drinking occasions. Instead, data from both student and non-student samples revealed that at a group level, alcohol hangover may occur at much lower BAC levels than previously thought. Regression analysis further revealed that for individual drinkers, the occurrence of hangovers is more likely when subjects consume more alcohol than they usually do. However, hangovers may also occur at a drinker’s usual BAC, and in some cases even at lower BAC (e.g. in case of illness). We also carefully reviewed and modified other parts of the definition. Finally, hangovers are not necessarily limited to the ‘next day’. They can start at any time of day or night, whenever BAC approaches zero after a single dinking occasion. This may also be on the same day as the drinking occasion (e.g. when drinking in, or until the morning and subsequently having a hangover in the afternoon or evening). To better reflect the new insights and sharpen the description of the concept, we hereby propose to update the definition of the alcohol hangover as follows: “The alcohol hangover refers to the combination of negative mental and physical symptoms which can be experienced after a single episode of alcohol consumption, starting when blood alcohol concentration (BAC) approaches zero”, and recommend to use this new definition in future hangover research.

scholarly journals The Alcohol Hangover Research Group: Ten Years of Progress in Research on the Causes, Consequences, and Treatment of the Alcohol Hangover

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 3670
Author(s):  
Joris C. Verster ◽  
Lizanne Arnoldy ◽  
Sarah Benson ◽  
Andrew Scholey ◽  
Ann-Kathrin Stock
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Research Group ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Blood Alcohol ◽  
Single Episode ◽  
10Th Anniversary ◽  
Recent Advances ◽  
Alcohol Hangover

The alcohol hangover is defined as the combination of negative mental and physical symptoms, which can be experienced after a single episode of alcohol consumption, starting when blood alcohol concentration (BAC) approaches zero. Here, we present the book “The alcohol hangover: causes, consequences, and treatment”, written to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Alcohol Hangover Research Group (AHRG), summarizing recent advances in the field of alcohol hangover research.

scholarly journals Exacerbation of Hangover Symptomology Significantly Corresponds with Heavy and Chronic Alcohol Drinking: A Pilot Study

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 1943 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vatsalya Vatsalya ◽  
Hamza Z. Hassan ◽  
Maiying Kong ◽  
Bethany L. Stangl ◽  
Melanie L. Schwandt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Use ◽  
Alcohol Drinking ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Heavy Drinking ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Timeline Followback ◽  
Domain Specific ◽  
Heavy Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Alcohol Hangover

Alcohol hangover is a combination of mental, sympathetic, and physical symptoms experienced the day after a single period of heavy drinking, starting when blood alcohol concentration approaches zero. How individual measures/domains of hangover symptomology might differ with moderate to heavy alcohol consumption and how these symptoms correlate with the drinking markers is unclear. We investigated the amount/patterns of drinking and hangover symptomology by the categories of alcohol drinking. We studied males and females in three groups: 12 heavy drinkers (HD; >15 drinks/week, 34–63 years old (y.o.)); 17 moderate drinkers (MD; 5–14 drinks/week, 21–30 y.o.); and 12 healthy controls (social/light drinkers, SD; <5 drinks/week, 25–54 y.o.). Demographics, drinking measures (Timeline followback past 90 days (TLFB90), Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT)), and alcohol hangover scale (AHS) were analyzed. Average drinks/day was 5.1-times greater in HD compared to MD. Average AHS score showed moderate incapacity, and individual measures and domains of the AHS were significantly elevated in HD compared to MD. Symptoms of three domains of the AHS (mental, gastrointestinal, and sympathetic) showed domain-specific significant increase in HD. A domain-specific relation was present between AUDIT and specific measures of AHS scores in HD, specifically with the dependence symptoms. Exacerbation in hangover symptomology could be a marker of more severe alcohol use disorder.

scholarly journals Sensitivity to Experiencing Alcohol Hangovers: Reconsideration of the 0.11% Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) Threshold for Having a Hangover

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 179 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joris C. Verster ◽  
L. Darren Kruisselbrink ◽  
Karin A. Slot ◽  
Aikaterini Anogeianaki ◽  
Sally Adams ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Intake ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Threshold Value ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Absolute Amount ◽  
Blood Alcohol ◽  
Higher Alcohol ◽  
Lower Alcohol ◽  
Alcohol Hangover ◽  
Drinking Occasion

The 2010 Alcohol Hangover Research Group consensus paper defined a cutoff blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.11% as a toxicological threshold indicating that sufficient alcohol had been consumed to develop a hangover. The cutoff was based on previous research and applied mostly in studies comprising student samples. Previously, we showed that sensitivity to hangovers depends on (estimated) BAC during acute intoxication, with a greater percentage of drinkers reporting hangovers at higher BAC levels. However, a substantial number of participants also reported hangovers at comparatively lower BAC levels. This calls the suitability of the 0.11% threshold into question. Recent research has shown that subjective intoxication, i.e., the level of severity of reported drunkenness, and not BAC, is the most important determinant of hangover severity. Non-student samples often have a much lower alcohol intake compared to student samples, and overall BACs often remain below 0.11%. Despite these lower BACs, many non-student participants report having a hangover, especially when their subjective intoxication levels are high. This may be the case when alcohol consumption on the drinking occasion that results in a hangover significantly exceeds their “normal” drinking level, irrespective of whether they meet the 0.11% threshold in any of these conditions. Whereas consumers may have relative tolerance to the adverse effects at their “regular” drinking level, considerably higher alcohol intake—irrespective of the absolute amount—may consequentially result in a next-day hangover. Taken together, these findings suggest that the 0.11% threshold value as a criterion for having a hangover should be abandoned.

scholarly journals Sex Differences in the Presence and Severity of Alcohol Hangover Symptoms

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (6) ◽  
pp. 867 ◽  
Author(s):  
van Lawick van Pabst ◽  
Devenney ◽  
Verster
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Alcohol Intoxication ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Blood Alcohol ◽  
Small Magnitude ◽  
Severity Scores ◽  
Alcohol Hangover ◽  
Peak Blood ◽  
Drinking Occasion

Studies have demonstrated significant sex differences in alcohol intoxication effects. In contrast, the majority of studies on the alcohol hangover phase did not investigate sex differences. Therefore, the current study examined possible sex differences in the presence and severity of alcohol hangover symptoms. Data from n = 2446 Dutch students (male = 50.7%, female = 49.3%) were analyzed. They reported the presence and severity of 22 hangover symptoms experienced after their past month heaviest drinking occasion. Subjects were categorized according to their estimated peak blood alcohol concentration (eBAC) and presence and severity of the hangover symptoms were compared between men and women. In the lowest eBAC group (0% ≤ eBAC < 0.08%), no significant sex differences were found. In the subsequent eBAC group (0.08% ≤ eBAC < 0.11%), severity of nausea was significantly higher in women than in men. In the third eBAC group (0.11% ≤ eBAC < 0.2%), women reported higher severity scores on nausea, tiredness, weakness, and dizziness than men. Men reported the presence of confusion significantly more often than women, and women reported the presence of shivering significantly more often than men. In the fourth eBAC group (0.2% ≤ eBAC < 0.3%), women reported higher severity scores on nausea and tiredness than men. In the highest eBAC group (0.3% ≤ eBAC < 0.4%), no significant sex differences were found. In conclusion, across the eBAC groups, severity scores of nausea and tiredness were higher in women than in men. However, albeit statistically significant, the observed sex differences in presence and severity of hangover symptoms were of small magnitude, and therefore, have little clinical relevance.

scholarly journals Perceived Immune Fitness, Individual Strength and Hangover Severity

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (11) ◽  
pp. 4039
Author(s):  
Aurora J. A. E. van de Loo ◽  
Nikki Kerssemakers ◽  
Andrew Scholey ◽  
Johan Garssen ◽  
Aletta D. Kraneveld ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Immune Status ◽  
Important Determinant ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Heavy Drinking ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Convenience Sample ◽  
Single Item ◽  
Checklist Individual Strength ◽  
Alcohol Hangover ◽  
Drinking Occasion

Various factors may contribute to alcohol hangover severity. The purpose of the current investigation was to evaluate the possible impact of alcohol consumption patterns, perceived immune status, and baseline fatigue on hangover severity. A survey was completed by a convenience sample of N = 199 Dutch students who reported on their latest past month’s heavy drinking occasion, including subjective intoxication (perceived drunkenness) and next-day hangover severity, which were rated on single-item scales ranging from 0 (absent) to 10 (extreme). In addition, perceived (momentary) immune fitness was assessed, and the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS) was completed to assess baseline fatigue. The analysis revealed that instead of the amount of alcohol consumed or estimated blood alcohol concentration, it appeared that subjective intoxication (i.e., level of drunkenness) was the most important determinant of alcohol hangover severity. Especially in men, albeit modest, it was perceived that immune fitness also significantly contributed to the level of hangover severity experienced.

scholarly journals Prevalence of Hangover Resistance According to Two Methods for Calculating Estimated Blood Alcohol Concentration (eBAC)

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 2823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantal Terpstra ◽  
Andrew Scholey ◽  
Joris C. Verster ◽  
Sarah Benson
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Blood Alcohol ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Alcohol Hangover ◽  
Total Body ◽  
Answering Questions

Hangover resistance may be linked to an increased risk of continuing harmful drinking behaviours as well as involvement in potentially dangerous daily activities such as driving while hungover, mainly due to the absence of negative consequences (i.e., hangover symptoms) the day after alcohol consumption. The aim of this study was to examine the occurrence of claimed alcohol hangover resistance relative to estimated blood alcohol concentration (eBAC). A total of 1198 participants completed an online survey by answering questions regarding their demographics, alcohol consumption and occurrence of hangover. Two methods were used to calculate eBAC, one based on the modified Widmark Equation (N = 955) and the other from an equation averaging the total body water (TBW) estimates of Forrest, Watson, Seidl, Widmark and Ulrich (males only) (N = 942). The percentage of participants who claimed to be hangover resistant decreased rapidly with increasing eBAC and only a small number of hangover resistant drinkers remained at higher eBACs. Comparisons of the eBACs calculated by the two methods revealed significantly higher BACs when using the modified Widmark equation. These findings suggest that additional research for eBAC calculations is needed to improve accuracy and comprehensiveness of these equations for future alcohol hangover research.

THE DRUNKEN HAIR: INTRODUCING IN VIVO DEMONSTRATION OF INCREASED BLOOD ALCOHOL CONCENTRATION TEMPORARY DISRUPTING HUMAN HAIR FOLLICLES EMISSION OF ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 123-130
Author(s):  
Abraham A. Embi
Keyword(s):  
Electromagnetic Radiation ◽  
Hair Follicle ◽  
Human Hair ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Physical Symptoms ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Hair Follicles ◽  
Blood Alcohol

The human hair consists of a follicle a.k.a root penetrating the skin and an outer skin structure commonly called the shaft. The hair follicle has been classified as a miniorgan having its own cells divisions; aging stages and also demonstrated to be an energy emitter in the form of electromagnetic radiation. The intent of this manuscript is to introduce documentation from in vivo experiments showing the deleterious effect of alcohol consumption on the previously documented hair follicle intrinsic and orderly emission of energy a.k.a. Electromagnetic Radiation (EMR). This was possible by a minor modification of a tabletop optical microscopy technique introduced in 2015 and designed to display plant and animals tissue EMR. In vitro control experiments had shown that a drop of white wine covering a human hair follicle placed on a glass slide caused what appeared to be a disruption on the hair follicle EMR emissions; the addition of chemicals to the wine during manufacturing could have caused that effect. The answer could lie in an in vivo alcohol drinking approach by increasing only the blood alcohol concentration (BAC). In this manuscript two in vitro and two in vivo are presented where the author, a non-alcohol drinker, purposely and during fasting underwent two binge-drinking episodes aimed to increase his BAC and investigate its impact on hair follicles. Several black beard hair samples were plucked via tweezers as controls; additional samples were also plucked and processed at approximately peak alcohol physical symptoms such cheek numbness and dizziness which occurred between 35 and 45 minutes post two episodes of wine or wine and beer binges. Images and video-recordings are presented.

scholarly journals ALCOHOL AND MORTALITY BY TRAUMA IN EUROPEAN COUNTRIES

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 3-6
Author(s):  
Daniel Ion ◽  
Georgiana Radu ◽  
Marina Leontescu ◽  
Dan Nicolae Păduraru ◽  
Alexandra Bolocan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Alcohol Intoxication ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Heavy Drinking ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
European Countries ◽  
Blood Alcohol ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Positive Effect ◽  
Overall Mortality

Alcohol consumption alters one’s consciousness and may lead to accidents and traumatic events with deadly consequences. We aimed to analyze the most recent information available in WHO databases about overall mortality rates and alcohol consumption in European countries. The parameters taken into account were the total number of deaths by trauma, alcohol consumption per capita, prevalence of heavy drinking episodes and national legal blood alcohol concentration while drinking The mortality rate by trauma is influenced by many factors and alcohol intoxication could be one of them. Our analysis shows a moderate correlation between overall alchool consumption and death by trauma in Europe in 2015. There are studies who show a positive effect of alcohol consmption on the overall chance of survival after trauma. Chronic consumption is associated with an increase in mortality. Nonetheless, further research is needed and strongly encouraged.

The Importance of Alcohol Testing by Gas Chromatography vs the Cordebard Classical Method Modified in the Medico Legal Investigation

2018 ◽  
Vol 69 (9) ◽  
pp. 2407-2410
Author(s):  
Dan Perju Dumbrava ◽  
Carmen Corina Radu ◽  
Sofia David ◽  
Tatiana Iov ◽  
Catalin Jan Iov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gas Chromatography ◽  
Chromatographic Method ◽  
Classical Method ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Blood Alcohol ◽  
Technical Details ◽  
Gas Chromatographic Method ◽  
Alcohol Testing ◽  
Living Person

Considering the growing number of requests from the criminal investigations authorities addressed to the institutions of legal medicine, testing of blood alcohol concentration both in the living person and in the corpse, we believe that a presentation of the two methods which are used in our country, is a topic of interest at present. The purpose of this article is to provide the reader with the technical details on how blodd alcohol concentration is realised by means of the gas chromatographic method and the classical one, (Cordebard modified by D. Banciu and I. Droc) respectively. Another purpose of this article is to also show, in a comparative way, the elements that make the gas chromatographic method superior to the former one.

A Driving Simulator Study of the Performance Effects of Low Blood Alcohol Concentration

1996 ◽  
Vol 40 (18) ◽  
pp. 943-946 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Wade Allen ◽  
Zareh Parseghian ◽  
Anthony C. Stein
Keyword(s):  
Divided Attention ◽  
Driving Simulator ◽  
Blood Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Alcohol Concentration ◽  
Blood Alcohol ◽  
Performance Effects ◽  
Driving Task ◽  
Simulator Study ◽  
And Performance

There is a large body of research that documents the impairing effect of alcohol on driving behavior and performance. Some of the most significant alcohol influence seems to occur in divided attention situations when the driver must simultaneously attend to several aspects of the driving task. This paper describes a driving simulator study of the effect of a low alcohol dose, .055 BAC (blood alcohol concentration %/wt), on divided attention performance. The simulation was mechanized on a PC and presented visual and auditory feedback in a truck cab surround. Subjects were required to control speed and steering on a rural two lane road while attending to a peripheral secondary task. The subject population was composed of 33 heavy equipment operators who were tested during both placebo and drinking sessions. Multivariate Analysis of Variance showed a significant and practical alcohol effect on a range of variables in the divided attention driving task.

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