As you do your best to cope, you might take some solace in the
fact that scientists believe humans have been suffering from
hangovers ever since our prehistoric ancestors discovered the
mind-altering qualities of fermented beverages. “Descriptions of
hangovers appear in the writings of ancient Egypt and Greece as
well as in the Old Testament,” according to this excellent
review article, “Alcohol Hangover: Mechanisms and Mediators.” If
you drink until you become drunk, your chances of developing a
hangover are pretty decent; the more you drink, the better your
odds. A hangover doesn’t begin until several hours after you’ve
had your last drink, and it can persist for 24 hours. “Physical
symptoms of a hangover include fatigue, headache, increased
sensitivity to light and sound, redness of the eyes, muscle
aches, and thirst,” write Dr. Robert Swift and Dena Davidson in
“Alcohol Hangover.” These ailments can be accompanied by rapid
heartbeat, high blood pressure, sweating, feelings of dizziness
and vertigo, depres