Jorge Ángel, a nurse, on why you get sad when you drink: "A huge comedown."

It's quite common in Spain to celebrate things by toasting with alcohol , a drink that accompanies our party nights, special events, and even difficult days, despite being fully aware that it's best to avoid it or only drink it at specific times and in moderate quantities.

In general, we associate alcoholic drinks with fun , having a drink to go out on a night out, however, it is quite common to feel a certain sadness after drinking alcohol, something that has an explanation, as the nurse Jorge Ángel has made clear on his networks.

The reason why you get sad when you drink

Many people drink alcohol to feel a little more cheerful , but the truth is that the result of those drinks is likely to be a certain feeling of sadness, especially the next day, when it's time to deal with the consequences, like the inevitable hangover . That feeling of sadness isn't caused by the discomfort of a hangover, as we might think; it has a scientific explanation, which Jorge Ángel has shared on his social media, which he dedicates to sharing and disseminating health advice and tips.

Hangovers make us feel sad, and there's an explanation not everyone knows. "Alcohol is a powerful central nervous system depressant," reveals the health professional. "It produces an imbalance between neurotransmitters , such as dopamine and serotonin, and it also lowers blood glucose levels and causes dehydration."

This has consequences for the body and also on an emotional level. "It makes you fatigued, irritable... and then there's the feeling of guilt , the psychological factor of having wasted the whole morning when you could have been out for a walk, listening to the birds, or exercising."

The health risks of alcohol consumption

In addition to being addictive, alcohol has negative effects on our health , but its consumption is so normalized in society that we sometimes forget how much it can affect us, at least until the hangover hits . The truth is that several studies indicate that drinking any amount of alcohol can be a health risk, so it's important to understand its effects.

Moderate alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing some types of cancer , such as breast or colorectal cancer; the more you consume, the greater the risk. Excessive consumption can alter your mood and affect the way your brain functions. Excessive and prolonged alcohol consumption damages neurons.

It can also damage the heart , increasing the risk of developing problems such as arrhythmias or heart disease, as well as strokes or high blood pressure , which will be more difficult to control. It can affect the liver, causing diseases such as alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis, or cirrhosis, and also the pancreas, producing toxic substances that can lead to pancreatitis.

Alcohol and its abuse can affect other areas of life , creating family conflicts or causing problems at work. It can also cause accidents, which increases the risk of injury or death.

References

Health Risks of Alcohol Use: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia . (n.d.). https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000494.htm