Can a Hangover Cause a Fever?
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Imagine this: After an evening of having a few drinks with friends, you wake up feeling crummy, but this isn’t a usual hangover. It’s not just the typical headache and nausea, but also an unusual warmth flooding your body. You reach for the thermometer, and there it is — a fever. How did a night of drinking lead to feeling feverish the next day?
Is there a direct link between alcohol consumption and developing a fever? Or are these feelings just another dimension of the dreaded hangover? In this article, we'll dive into the effects of alcohol on the body, dissect the relationship between drinking and experiencing fever or chills, and explore whether "alcohol fever" is a myth or a medical reality. We'll also touch upon the risks of drinking when you’re already sick and provide guidance on when it might be time to seek medical attention.
So, if you've ever found yourself feeling unusually warm after a night out, read on to discover what's really happening inside your body.
As soon as we take a sip of alcohol, it starts making its way through our body. Alcohol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant, meaning it slows down nerve signals in our body. From the moment it touches our tongue, alcohol gets to work by dulling our sense of taste!
Alcohol is mostly absorbed into our bloodstream from our stomach and intestines. From there, it travels throughout the body and brain and changes how our neurotransmitters function. Here are some of the main neurotransmitters affected.
Meanwhile, our liver is hard at work metabolizing alcohol and getting it out of our system. The liver converts alcohol into a toxic compound called acetaldehyde, which is responsible for most of the nasty hangover symptoms we see the day after drinking.
Our brain doesn’t like being out of balance. To restore the proper ratio of neurotransmitters, the brain changes how much dopamine, glutamate, and GABA it produces. Once alcohol is out of our system, we have a rebound and feel the opposite way we did while drunk. Instead of calm and euphoric, we feel overstimulated and maybe a little down in the dumps.
But there’s more chemical chaos going on inside us than just changes to our neurotransmitters. Our liver is still working to eliminate the by-products of alcohol consumption, including that pesky compound we mentioned earlier: acetaldehyde.
The morning after drinking, acetaldehyde is still present in our system, making us feel crummy, achy, and nauseous. Throughout the day, our liver continues its cleanup efforts and gets rid of the acetaldehyde, converting it into acetate and expelling it through our urine.
All of this sounds pretty un-fun, and those of us who have experienced a hangover can confirm how unpleasant it is. But can a hangover cause a fever?
Acetaldehyde can trigger an inflammatory response as the immune system attempts to fight off the toxin. This can produce fever-like symptoms and chills that trick us into thinking maybe we’re coming down with something.
Acetaldehyde isn’t the only culprit in an alcohol fever — there’s a whole bunch of usual suspects to investigate.
Experiencing a fever after drinking alcohol might feel just like being sick, but it's a bit more complex than that. Alcohol interacts with several systems in our body that could produce fever-like symptoms and chills.
If we’ve ever felt feverish after drinking, we’re not imagining things! The term "alcohol fever" is a bit of a misnomer, however. In most cases, our “fever” is some combination of the conditions above.
Rest assured that those fever-like symptoms won’t last too long. Even if we do experience an immune system disruption, it’s likely to be mild, and it should resolve by the next day.
But what happens if we drink when we already have a fever? Can alcohol make things worse? Unfortunately, the answer is yes.
Drinking alcohol when we're already battling a fever introduces unnecessary challenges to a body that’s already fighting off foreign invaders. This combo could not only prolong our illness but could also introduce new health complications. Let’s take a closer look at why alcohol and fevers don't mix well.
Drinking alcohol with a fever is not a good idea. It can prolong illness and cause dangerous side effects. If you're feeling unwell or experiencing fever symptoms, the best course of action is to avoid alcohol entirely. Here are a few reasons why:
While it might be tempting to reach for a drink to ease the discomfort of a fever, drinking while feverish is risky. Making sure you’re hydrated, getting enough rest, and seeking proper medical care if needed are safer and more effective ways to recover.
It's crucial to be able to distinguish between the typical symptoms of a hangover and signs that something more serious might be going on. Most hangover symptoms are uncomfortable but not life-threatening. However, there are certain instances when seeking medical attention becomes necessary.
Hangovers can bring on headaches, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, dizziness, thirst, and fatigue. These symptoms usually resolve within 24 hours as our body processes the alcohol.
If you experience symptoms that are severe, unusual, or persist beyond the expected timeframe of a hangover, it might be indicative of a more serious issue. Watch out for these key signs:
If you’re experiencing the above symptoms, seek immediate medical care. Call 911 (or your local emergency services number) or enlist a trusted friend or loved one to get you to a hospital. These symptoms can’t wait until your doctor’s office opens — they indicate an emergency. If you're unsure whether your symptoms are hangover-related or indicative of a more serious condition, err on the side of caution and seek medical advice.
If you've consumed a significant amount of alcohol and begin to feel unusually unwell, it's important to monitor your symptoms closely. Keep notes or reach out to a trusted caretaker and ask them to check on you regularly. This is particularly true if you have underlying health conditions that could be exacerbated by alcohol consumption.
Remember, while a hangover can make us feel bad, it shouldn't make us feel like we're in danger. Paying attention to our body and recognizing abnormal symptoms can ensure that we receive appropriate care when needed.
Prioritizing our health after drinking is key to preventing complications. Of course, the best way to prevent alcohol-related complications is to drink mindfully and practice moderation.
If you feel like you aren’t in control of your drinking, consider seeking professional help and using an app like Reframe to evaluate your relationship with alcohol and make a plan to cut back or quit. You have the power!
1. Can you get a fever from a hangover?
It’s possible, but unlikely. Most of the time, a hangover fever is a combination of fever-like symptoms stemming from alcohol’s effects on our inflammatory response and ability to regulate body temperature. It’s possible for opportunistic infections to cause a low-grade fever (below 100.4ºF or 38ºC) but this should resolve within 24 hours.
2. How do I know if my fever is dangerous?
A low-grade fever is generally not dangerous for a few days, especially if you stay hydrated and rest. It can be difficult to distinguish a fever from hangover symptoms, but there are some warning signs of serious issues. Talk to a doctor if your symptoms last longer than 24 hours. Seek emergency medical care if your fever is high (over 101°F or 38.3°C) or experience uncontrollable vomiting, confusion, seizures, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe dehydration.
3. Can I drink if I have a fever?
You should not drink if you’re already feeling sick. Alcohol weakens your immune system, prolonging your recovery and increasing the risk of serious illness. Drinking while sick can also lead to dangerous dehydration.
4. Is it normal to experience fever and chills after drinking alcohol?
Some people are more prone to fever-like symptoms after drinking. You may experience these symptoms every time or only sometimes, but it’s not abnormal. These symptoms may be indicative of unhealthy alcohol use habits, however, so if you consistently experience fever after drinking you may want to consider developing a moderation plan. You’re not alone!
Although it isn’t a treatment for alcohol use disorder (AUD), the Reframe app can help you cut back on drinking gradually with the science-backed knowledge to empower you 100% of the way. Our proven program has helped millions of people around the world drink less and live more. And we want to help you get there, too!
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