Toxicoloog vertelt: zo ontstaat de kater

Onze zuiderburen bogen zich over deze vraag en gingen in gesprek met Jan Tytgat, toxicoloog en professor bij de Faculteit Farmaceutische Wetenschappen aan de KU Leuven. Hij vertelt in deze uitzending meer over het ontgiftingsproces, acetaldehyde, de vochtbalans en de slaapcyclus. 

Weakness and headache due to fluid loss

The main culprit behind a hangover is fluid loss, also known as thirst. Alcohol encourages your kidneys to excrete extra fluid. This means you have to urinate more often and your body dries out. The loss of fluid makes you feel weak and tired, and causes a dry mouth. Furthermore, dehydration causes the fluid that is between your brain and skull to disappear. As a result, your brain 'bumps' against your skull, which is quite painful.

Hoofdpijn van acetaldehyde

Another cause of your headaches and a shaky feeling the day after is 'acetaldehyde'. This toxic substance is created during the breakdown of alcohol. Your body also tries to break down this substance as quickly as possible. Do you have a major headache and difficulty keeping your glass of water upright? Then these are two indications that not all acetaldehyde has been removed yet.

Moe van de slechte nacht

The Sleep Cycle

The sleep cycle works like this: sleep consists of dream sleep (REM sleep) and regular, deep sleep (NREM sleep). During the night, our body goes through the cycle several times a night. Your body starts with NREM sleep, then moves on to REM sleep and back to NREM sleep. A sleep cycle lasts about 90 minutes. Drinking alcohol before going to sleep increases deep sleep and decreases the amount of dream sleep.

Wrong order

Drinking alcohol also has an effect on the order of your sleep cycle. Alcohol causes the first deep sleep (REM sleep) to be brought to the fore. This means that you dream earlier and the brain has to process all the information and impressions of that day faster. The second part of the night, REM sleep takes place much later, overloading the brain. Because the deep sleep does not take place proportionally, sleeping problems occur. Such as sleepwalking, talking in your sleep and sleep apnea. In addition, there is an increased risk of intense dreams or nightmares.

Benieuwd wat toxicoloog en professor Jan Tytgat nog meer te vertellen heeft over het ontstaan van de kater? Beluister de hele uitzending hier.