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Alcohol causes an upset stomach due to acetaldehyde, a byproduct of digesting ethanol. Dehydration caused by drinking can also result in stomach pain. Drinking slowly and alternating with soft drinks can help avoid stomach pain, while drinking water and eating light snacks can help with a hangover.
Alcohol and an upset stomach go hand in hand for many people, especially in the morning after a night of heavy drinking. Other symptoms of a drinking hangover can include vomiting, headache, dizziness, anxiety and shaking. Alcohol can cause an upset stomach due to a byproduct called acetaldehyde, which is produced when the body digests the ethanol in alcohol. Stomach pain can also be the result of dehydration caused by drinking.
Acetaldehyde is a poisonous substance in alcohol. It is what causes the effects of drinking because it depresses the central nervous system, leading to impairments such as dizziness, loss of inhibition, loss of balance and slurred speech. This substance is also what causes vomiting if you consume too much alcohol, as the body needs to forcefully get rid of the toxin. Acetaldehyde affects the brain, liver and stomach. One reason alcohol and stomach pain are related is that the toxin irritates the lining of the stomach, causing pain, contractions, and heartburn.
If a person drinks alcohol and has an upset stomach, dehydration could also be the cause. Dehydration is more likely if a person drinks too fast or does not drink water or other soft drinks along with alcohol. Unnecessary alcohol is more likely to cause an upset stomach because it takes a lot of water for the body to process it.
Since alcohol has no nutritional value, it is not broken down and delivered to cells and tissues in the same way as food. Instead, the alcohol is diluted by the water in the blood and delivered directly into the bloodstream. If more alcohol is consumed than the bloodstream can dilute, the body begins to draw water from the organs and brain. This leads to dehydration, which can cause headaches or nausea.
To avoid stomach pain from alcohol, it is best to drink slowly or alternate between alcoholic and soft drinks. Depending on body weight and muscle density, it typically takes men about 45 minutes to process a 4-ounce (118.4 mL) shot of spirits, beer, or glass of wine. Women usually need an hour to clear the alcohol from their systems because their bodies generally contain more fat than muscle and muscle contains more water. Drinking plenty of water is usually an effective way to deal with a hangover accompanied by an upset stomach. Eating light snacks can also calm abdominal contractions.
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