A hangover is the miserable aftermath of drinking too much alcohol — the headache, nausea, thirst, fatigue, trembling hands, and general wretchedness that arrive as the alcohol wears off. Dehydration is central: alcohol suppresses antidiuretic hormone, so the kidneys flush water, leaving the body parched; congeners in dark drinks, acetaldehyde buildup, blood-sugar dips, and disrupted sleep compound the suffering. Folk cures abound — greasy breakfasts, “hair of the dog,” raw eggs — but only time, fluids, rest, and perhaps an anti-inflammatory genuinely help. The only reliable prevention is drinking less. Recurrent hangovers are worth noting: they signal a drinking pattern that deserves honest attention.