How does alcohol cause hangovers? - Judy Grisel

譯者: 柏陞 郭 審譯者: SF Huang

In a 1973 study, 20 volunteers got drunk once a week for 8 consecutive weeks,

1973 年，20 名自願者參與了一場 為期八週，每週喝醉一次的研究。

each time on a different alcoholic beverage,

每一週喝的是不同酒精飲料，

and each time with precisely the same dosage—

但每次飲用的劑量都完全相同。

this was science, after all.

畢竟這是場科學研究嘛。

The goal of this experiment was to find out which alcoholic drinks

研究的目標是找出哪一種酒精飲料，

cause worse hangovers.

會造成更嚴重的宿醉。

Of course, it takes much more than one small study to answer such a question.

當然，想要解答這個問題 可不是只有靠這場小實驗。

Since then, science has learned a lot about hangovers—

自那場實驗後，科學家對於宿醉 已經有了更多的了解，

though some mysteries remain.

儘管仍有一些未知的謎團。

The molecule responsible for hangovers is ethanol,

乙醇分子是造成宿醉的原因，

which we colloquially refer to as alcohol.

我們一般稱它為酒精。

Ethanol is present in all alcoholic beverages, and generally speaking,

所有的酒精飲料都含有乙醇， 而且普遍來說，

the more ethanol, the greater the potential for a hangover.

乙醇含量越高，宿醉的可能性就越大。

The symptoms and severity can vary depending on weight, age,

至於有什麼症狀、程度輕微與否， 則根據個人的體重、年齡、

genetics, and other factors.

遺傳和其他因素而異。

But still, hangovers generally share some common— and unpleasant— features.

但總歸來說，每個宿醉幾乎伴隨著 那些常見、令人不舒服的徵狀。

So how exactly does alcohol cause a hangover?

那麼酒精到底是怎麼引發宿醉的呢？

And is there any way to reliably prevent one?

有任何方法能夠預防嗎？

Alcohol slows down the communication between neural cells.

酒精會減緩神經細胞的訊息傳遞。

After someone has had their last drink,

在某人喝光了最後一口酒後，

as the concentration of alcohol in the blood drops back to zero,

隨著血液中的酒精濃度降為零時，

the brain rebounds from sedation and swings in the other direction,

大腦就會從鎮靜中甦醒並快速轉換

entering a hyperactive state.

變成超級活躍狀態。

This may lead to the tremors or rapid heartbeat associated with hangovers.

這時可能會引發宿醉相關症狀， 像是震顫或是心跳加速。

It also makes sleep shorter and less restful than normal.

同時讓睡眠變得更短， 精神也比平常亢奮。

But these effects are just the beginning—

但這些都才剛剛開始——

alcohol impacts so many of the body’s processes,

酒精會影響身體的許多層面，

throwing delicate balances off-kilter.

讓身體機能失衡。

And even the most familiar hangover symptoms have surprising contributors.

連造成最常見的宿醉症狀， 也都是由意想不到的因素所導致。

For example, alcohol disrupts levels of many hormones.

舉例來說，酒精會在各方面 打亂許多激素的運作。

One of those hormones is cortisol.

其中有個激素叫做皮質醇。

Normally, fluctuating cortisol levels help regulate wakefulness

流動的皮質醇平常使我們 無論在白天還是黑夜

throughout the day and night.

都能保持清醒。

So the disruption in cortisol during a hangover

因此當宿醉擾亂了皮質醇的運作，

may cause people to feel groggy or disoriented.

就會讓人昏昏欲睡， 或者失去方向感。

Another hormone alcohol interferes with is vasopressin,

另一個受到酒精影響的激素 叫做血管加壓素，

which normally decreases the volume of urine made by the kidneys.

平時會減少腎臟產生的尿液量。

By decreasing levels of vasopressin,

若酒精降低了血管加壓素的作用，

alcohol causes people to pee more and become dehydrated.

就會讓人頻尿和脫水。

Dehydration can lead to thirst, dry mouth, weakness, lightheadedness, and headache,

脫水會引起口渴、口乾舌燥、虛弱、 頭暈目眩以及頭痛，

one of the most common hangover symptoms.

是宿醉時常見的症狀之一。

In addition to dehydration, hangover headaches can result

除了脫水之外，宿醉時的頭痛

from alcohol’s influence on chemical signaling in the brain,

是因為酒精影響 大腦內化學物質的傳遞。

especially on neurotransmitters involved in pain signaling.

特別是負責痛覺感知的神經傳導介質。

Alcohol can also damage mitochondria,

酒精也會對粒線體造成損害，

which are responsible for producing the ATP that gives us energy.

而粒線體又是負責製造 供給能量的三磷酸腺核苷。

This may contribute to the fatigue, weakness, and mood disturbances

這會造成疲憊、虛弱、情緒失調

experienced during a hangover.

這類宿醉時的感受。

Meanwhile, alcohol stimulates the immune system,

同時，酒精會刺激免疫系統，

leading to inflammation that can damage cells within the brain,

造成發炎並損害腦細胞。

affect mood, and impair memory.

甚至影響情緒和造成失憶。

And it can irritate the gastrointestinal tract

酒精還能刺激腸胃，

and inflame the lining of the stomach and intestines.

使得胃和消化道的內壁發炎。

Alcohol may also slow down stomach emptying,

此外，酒精也會讓胃的消化變慢，

which could lead to increased production of gastric acid.

進一步導致胃酸增生。

This is why alcohol can cause stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.

這就是為什麼酒精會造成 胃痛、噁心和嘔吐。

Alcoholic drinks also contain other substances that are produced

酒精飲料含有一些 在發酵過程中產生的物質，

during the fermentation process that give the drink its specific flavor.

讓酒產生其獨特的味道。

Some evidence suggests that one of these, methanol,

一些證據指出， 其中一個叫甲醇的物質

is particularly bad for hangovers.

在宿醉時特別有害。

The body doesn’t start metabolizing methanol

因為身體要先代謝完乙醇

until it’s done processing ethanol.

才能處理甲醇。

And when it does, the toxic metabolites of methanol

當這個過程發生時， 甲醇的毒性代謝產物

may potentially worsen the hangover symptoms.

就很可能惡化宿醉的症狀。

Beverages that are closer to pure ethanol, such as gin and vodka,

所以像是琴酒和伏特加， 這類接近純乙醇的酒精飲料，

may cause fewer hangover effects.

可能可減少一些宿醉造成的影響。

Meanwhile, the presence of flavoring ingredients in beverages

而用增添風味材料製作的酒，

like whiskey, brandy, and red wine,

像是威士忌、白蘭地和紅酒，

may make these kinds of alcohol cause more hangover symptoms.

因其產生的物質 而可能引發更多的宿醉症狀。

So, the choice of alcoholic beverage matters,

所以說，慎選酒精飲料很重要，

but any of them can cause hangovers, simply because they all contain alcohol.

但它們都含有酒精，都會造成宿醉。

So, do common hangover remedies actually work?

那麼，那些普遍緩解宿醉的 方法確實有效嗎?

Drinking water and electrolyte beverages can help reduce symptoms

攝取水分和含電解質的飲料

能夠有效緩解脫水症狀。

related to dehydration.

And eating— especially carbs— can help replenish the glucose levels

在進食方面，攝取醣類能夠補充

被酒精減緩作用的葡萄糖。

alcohol reduces.

But ultimately, the only sure way to prevent a hangover

總歸來說，避免宿醉最有效的方法

is to drink alcohol in moderation or not at all.

還是適度飲酒或著乾脆不喝。