That hangover comes later

My very first hangover, I still remember it like it was yesterday. With a lead-heavy head and a stomach that did an average triple somersault every ten seconds, I trudged alongside my mother through a crowded shopping street. Miserable at that moment, but a few hours later I could just start all over again and let the glasses clink generously. Unfortunately, that has become a far-off reality, because now I feel like I've been run over by ten trucks after a long and heavy night. How can that be? Why do hangovers get worse as you get older?

Research has shown that the older we get, the more our body struggles to break down alcohol. This leads to the substance acetaldehyde lingering and increases the levels of the inflammatory mediators prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane B2. As a result: headaches and nausea.
Two typical symptoms after a night of heavy drinking. But that's not all; alcohol also inhibits the production of glutamine, a natural stimulant that makes us feel exhausted. But why does this get worse with the years?

1. Hydration

Over the years, it could very well be that a few kilos are added to the hips. You know it, I know it. But the effect of that is that your body has more trouble staying hydrated. And since alcohol has a dehydrating effect, that hangover hits twice as hard. So, having a glass of water in between is not a bad idea.

2. Liver

Your liver has to work harder to break down alcohol as you get older. Additionally, your liver produces fewer antioxidants than it used to. As you age, your body breaks down alcohol less quickly. Your liver has to work harder to break down alcohol.

3. Brain

Unfortunately, the brain doesn't cooperate either. As you get older, changes occur in your brain; you produce fewer endorphins than in your younger years and more cortisol. And the latter makes your hangover feel even more intense.

4. Sleep

When we consume alcohol, it often goes hand in hand with short nights. Drinking alcohol disrupts our sleep cycle, preventing it from going as we would like. You might fall asleep like a log, but you don't enter the deep sleep we need after a drink. When you're younger, you don't need as much sleep to function. As we get older, we need that rest to survive the day.