This Is Why Your Hangovers Feel Even Worse With Age

If you feel like your hangovers have gotten worse with age, you aren’t imagining things. Long gone are the days when a bagel and a bottle of water were all you needed to stop your head from pounding and your stomach from doing somersaults after a long night of Jell-o shots and pitchers of beer. These days your old hangover foods and remedies probably don't cut it quite like they used to, and you feel like you need a full day in bed—and possibly an I.V. drip to recover from a cocktail party or bachelorette weekend.

A hangover, or the set of symptoms that occur after in hours after lots of heavy drinking, can look different for everyone, but folks will typically complain of dizziness, sensitivity to light and sound, nausea, headache, and fatigue, according to The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Aside from disrupting liver function, a hangover can impact hormone levels, sleep patterns, and your gut health.

And given the natural changes our bodies undergo with age, it makes total sense that these hangover symptoms—brought on by the body's efforts to process alcohol—often feel even more pronounced or occur after fewer drinks as we get older.

Why Your Hangovers Get Worse When You're Older

The older we get, the less efficiently we metabolize alcohol.

Age plays a big part in why you feel extra "blah" after you’ve had a few too many. “As we age, our bodies become less efficient at metabolizing alcohol,” says David Kahana, MD, gastroenterologist and formulator at 1MD Nutrition. “Age-related changes in liver function and overall health can also contribute."

Dr. Kahana explains that everything we consume filters through the liver, and as we get older, the main enzymes responsible for breaking down alcohol become less active causing alcohol to linger in our bodies longer—making our hangovers feel worse. "Aging involves a gradual decline in our body’s resilience and ability to recover from stressors and a reduced ability to bounce back from the effects of alcohol.”

The older we get, the harder it is to stay properly hydrated.

“Aging can also impact our body’s ability to maintain proper hydration levels,” Dr. Kahana says. "Alcohol is a diuretic, and when combined with age-related changes in water retention, it can lead to more dehydration and an intensifying hangover.” Remember that much of the reason you feel so terrible when hungover is intense dehydration, thanks to alcohol's diuretic effects.

On the flip side if you happen to wake up after a night of Aperol spritzes feeling fabulous, good for you! But be careful—that doesn’t necessarily mean you aren’t struggling internally. “Remember that just because you don’t feel hungover doesn’t mean that drinking doesn’t affect your health,” Dr. Kahana says. “Regular alcohol consumption causes a lot of stress in the body, which can lead to our bodies aging at a quicker rate.”

The Only Real Hangover Cure Is Hangover Prevention

Slow down and avoid overdoing it.

The only way to prevent a hangover regardless of age is to avoid drinking excessively (even if you swear by the "beer before liquor, never sicker" method, you're not immune to hangovers). Despite countless hangover potions and supplements on the market, the NIAAA notes there is no such thing as a magic hangover cure; in most cases, your symptoms will subside in about 24 hours.

Keep hydrating and replenishing electrolytes.

If you find yourself hungover, Dr. Kahana says hydration is key. He suggests food and drink sources that support the body’s natural healing process: ingredients like ginger, which is anti-inflammatory, and may help with nausea, and fluids containing electrolytes help with hydration.

The Bottom Line: Be Kind to Your Body

Remember that it's completely normal and natural for your system to take longer to recover from margarita night when you're no longer in your 20s. So the next time you feel the urge to refill on rosé, opt for water or sparkling seltzer infused with fruit in between rounds. Not only are these alternate sips refreshing, but they'll keep you hydrated so the afterparty effects aren't quite so gruesome. “The effects of alcohol on our health as we get older may be magnified,” Dr. Kahana says. “The most effective way to prevent or recover from a hangover is by drinking responsibly, pacing oneself, staying hydrated.”