Drinking and Diarrhea go hand-in-hand when one consumes large amounts of alcohol. Diarrhea is a common symptom of alcohol hangover. It has varying degrees, from mild to severe, depending on how much alcohol is ingested. This increases the individual’s risk of dehydration, which in turn worsens hangover symptoms. It may be so severe, that it is possible even to die from a hangover.
What Is Hangover Diarrhea?
It is one of the side effects of a hangover, and it refers to the passage of loose or watery stools at least three times per day. It may also refer to increased bowel movement per day.
But can alcohol cause diarrhea? It causes passage of loose stools as a result of its effects on the small intestines and the colon.
How Does Alcohol Cause Diarrhea?
One can experience diarrhea after alcohol intake as a result of the several changes in heavy intake causes in the body. These changes include:
Increased Gut Contractility
Gut contractility also called peristalsis or peristaltic movement, is the movement of the gut muscles, which propels food down the gastrointestinal tract. When one ingests a large amount of alcohol, it increases the rate at which these muscles contract, propelling food downward toward the rectum much quicker.
Gastric Irritation
Alcohol increases acid production in the stomach, irritating its lining. This causes gastric upset, presenting with abdominal pain, vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. If one passes loose, watery stools or throws up bile after drinking alcohol, it is because of the irritation it causes to the lining of the stomach and the small intestines.
Toxic By-Products
Congeners in alcohol, as well as by-products of its metabolism in the gut, trigger some changes in the gut such as increase peristaltic movement and secretion of water from the colon. This causes alcohol withdrawal diarrhea. These toxins may also be responsible for the headache after drinking.
For people who have always wondered, why does beer give me diarrhea? These are the reasons.
Hangover Diarrhea Risk Groups
Anyone who drinks in large amounts may have to deal with diarrhea after drinking beer. However, certain groups of people are at a higher risk and are more likely to have severe diarrhea from drinking alcohol. These include:
People With Bowel Diseases
People with intestinal diseases such as Celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome, and inflammatory bowel diseases including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis are more likely to have diarrhea from alcohol.
People With Sleep Disturbances
Sleep deprivation causes gut dysmotility, a condition where the gut contractility is abnormal. Sleep deprivation may therefore exacerbate the effects of alcohol on an already hyperactive gut.
People who have abnormal sleep-wake cycles, such as night shift workers or people with sleep disorders may be at a higher risk of experiencing diarrhea after a night of drinking.
Home Remedies For Alcohol Diarrhea
The most important thing to resolve alcohol withdrawal diarrhea is to discontinue its intake. One should not continue drinking it while passing watery stools or after hangover symptoms may have resolved. As long as its intake continues, the symptoms won’t resolve.
Although hangover diarrhea resolves after a few days of discontinuing drinking, there are a few things one must bear in mind to expedite resolution of the symptoms. These include the intake of certain foods and avoidance of others which may worsen the frequency of bowel movements.
Here’s a list of foods to eat and foods to avoid to expedite resolution of diarrhea after drinking alcohol:
What to eat and drink
These foods and drinks help to calm the stomach and bowels, reducing peristaltic movements. These also help lower the severity and symptoms of dehydration and help to cure hangover shakes.
- Bananas
- Rice
- Soda crackers
- Toast
- Eggs
- Chicken
- Drink clear fluids or broth to replace fluid lost in stools.
- Probiotics, which may be found in food, pill, or liquid forms.
Probiotics are organisms which help to restore balance in the gut and protect against disease-causing organisms, reducing passage of loose stools. Examples include yogurt, Kefir, and Kimchi.
People experiencing this symptom may also use anti-motility medications such as loperamide. However, consult the doctor before using any over-the-counter anti-diarrheal medication.
What to avoid
Avoid the following foods and drinks when sweating out a hangover.
- Caffeinated drinks. These worsen the gut contractility, aggravating passage of loose stools.
- High-fat foods such as cheese, which speed up digestion and gut movement.
- High fiber foods, such as cereals and whole-grain bread, because these increase the water content of stools and, in turn, stool frequency.
- Dairy products including milk. These foods are broken down to lactose in the gut and lactose stimulates the gut muscles and also creates an acidic environment in the gut, which further stimulates the gut muscles. Stimulation of the gut muscles increases bowel movements.
These may also help if one needs to know how to stop puking after a hangover.
Signs Hangover Diarrhea Needs Urgent Medical Care
Dehydration is the most feared complication of stool frequency, because of the resultant end-organ damage and death if uncorrected.
Although many cases of diarrhea day after drinking alcohol resolve spontaneously shortly after onset, severe cases may cause dehydration.
Symptoms of dehydration include:
- Lightheadedness
- Excessive thirst
- Reduced volume of urine or frequency of urination
- Severe fatigue
- Dry mouth and skin
- Dark-colored urine.
- Frequent stooling that does not resolve or reduce in severity within 48 hours.
- Severe abdominal pain
- Black or bloody stools
- Fever – higher than 102˚F (39˚C).
How To Prevent Hangover Diarrhea
The best way to prevent hangovers is to avoid alcohol. However, if one must drink, one must drink in moderate amounts to prevent these symptoms from occurring. If one experiences frequent bowel movements, staying well hydrated and avoiding foods and drinks that worsen stooling keeps it in check.
In case the symptoms get work, it’s better to ask for help. Alcohol rehab facilities offer many services that may help patients suffering from hangover. Some of the treatment programs available for alcoholics will also work for those with the regular binge drinking resulting in veisalgia.
Author
