Scientists don’t need reminding that hangovers are unpleasant. Excessive alcohol intake can trigger a cascade of headaches, nausea, fatigue, and inflammation.
While the long-term health hazards of alcohol consumption are well-known, it’s surprising that research on hangovers is quite limited.
“When I searched for ‘hangovers’, I found about 600 articles since 1945,” notes Professor J Leigh Leasure, who maintains a database of biomedical and lifestyle research. “It’s astonishing how little has been explored on this topic.”
Leasure, a neuroscientist at the University of Houston studying the effects of alcohol, is among the researchers striving to enhance our understanding of this unclear condition.
As a participant, she has experimented with various hangover remedies—from traditional eggs and bacon to electrolytes, vitamin mixes, and caffeine infusions.
High-Intensity Exercise to Sweat Out Hangovers
Meanwhile, some individuals tackle their hangovers through high-intensity workouts. Whether it’s a run or a spin and kettlebell class, the goal remains the same: to sweat out the “toxins” from the previous night.
“Interestingly, many people swear by sweating it out,” says Leasure.
In 2024, she and her colleagues released their first study examining whether exercise can alleviate hangover symptoms. Published in the journal Addictive Behavior, the research involved approximately 1,600 university students who had experienced at least one hangover in the past three months.
Participants completed a survey regarding their alcohol consumption, activity levels, and the frequency and severity of hangovers.
Some findings were unsurprising: increased drinking correlated with more severe hangovers.
However, the study also revealed that students who engaged in intense exercise during the previous three months reported fewer and less severe hangovers compared to those who were less active.
It’s worth mentioning that this was a retrospective study. The students were not tested in a controlled setting, so the results should be viewed with some caution.
This study suggests that vigorous exercise might generally mitigate the worst hangover effects, rather than alleviating them in the immediate aftermath.
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Reduced Inflammation from Elevated Endorphins
There’s reason to believe that training after a hangover can be beneficial. Endorphins released by rigorous exercise act as natural painkillers, which could help alleviate headaches.
One study indicates that high-intensity exercise is particularly effective at boosting endorphin production compared to lighter workouts.
Leasure posits that exercise may also have anti-inflammatory properties.
“One prevailing idea is that alcohol, especially in large amounts, elevates short-term inflammation, while exercise tends to counteract this,” she explains.
Research has shown that regular exercise can reduce the likelihood of chronic inflammation. In 2023, Harvard Research identified one mechanism involving the release of regulatory T cells that modulate the body’s inflammatory response.
Earlier studies suggest that moderate exercise for just 20 minutes can trigger an anti-inflammatory response.
However, don’t expect to break personal records on your morning run. While exercise can help with hangovers, the hangover itself can impair performance, says Leasure.
“As one might expect, hangovers don’t improve athletic performance. Research indicates they make physical activity more challenging.”
Another unexpected finding emerged from Leasure’s study.
“There is a substantial body of literature examining the connection between exercise and alcohol consumption,” she states. “Physically active individuals tend to drink, which seems somewhat paradoxical.”
One theory from Leasure and her colleagues suggests that people often have a debit and credit mindset regarding health. Engaging in unhealthy habits like drinking might lead some to compensate by pursuing healthier activities, such as an intense workout on a Sunday morning.
As this study continues, the effects on hangovers will become clearer.
About Our Experts
Professor J Leigh Leasure is a neuroscientist and associate professor in the Department of Biology and Biochemistry, focusing on the effects of alcohol at the University of Houston in the United States. She has published in multiple scientific journals including Alcohol, Neuroplasticity, and Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
