CPAP and hangovers

No smirking please. I'm serious about my question. I have been away for a couple of weeks, dropping in only occasionally to this forum. Some of that time was spent in a place where drinking is a more common part of the business culture than it is here in the U.S., at least in the 21st century. (If Mad Men is to be believed things were different here once.) There were several mornings when I thought, based on my experiences making this trip in years past, that a hangover should have been expected (and maybe even welcomed, as an incentive to moderation). Instead I woke up feeling just peachy. My only possible symptoms of a hangover were puffy eyes and a dry mouth, but with CPAP I experience these every day. So I have to ask, does anyone else find that CPAP fights hangovers? Most alcohol is eliminated through the lungs, so maybe breathing pressurized air has something to do with it, or maybe just better circulation of oxygen to the brain. It's also possible that I'm imagining this, or that I just lucked out, but I feel like CPAP helped prevent a pounding headache, flu-like symptoms, and intense self-loathing. If someone can shed light on this, I promise not to abuse what I learn.

I buy concept that alcohol can be removed from the body through lungs in that most tests (on the road) are of this variety, however the real break down of alcohol is metabolic (enzymatic to be more precise). Metabolism probably has much more to do with it than loss of alcohol vapor via the lungs. Your oxygenated blood and a higher metabolism (result of sleeping well and breathing normally) would have an impact more like that of a non OSA person. Alcohol has to be broken down in the liver and eliminated through the kidneys. Highly oxygenated blood will help in the break down process. Perhaps your experiences in the past were from the perspective of an untreated OSA patient? Summarizing...oxygenated blood, good sleep (through the worst of it) and higher metabolism probably help.

Related to the lungs part...I read that Alcohol Vaporizers can deliver alcohol to the body with haste via the lungs... Don't get any ideas about filling your CPAP humidifier with single malt scotch! That may not be a good idea. there is no upside in waking up under the influence or worse not at all.

it wouldnt be pleasant to vomit in sleep from alcahol wearing a full face mask

harry33 wrote:it wouldnt be pleasant to vomit in sleep from alcahol wearing a full face mask

Agreed, not nice, but still not half as bad as if you vomited in your sleep while mouth taping

Depending on what part of the world your in makes a big difference on the hangover. In Holland after a half dozen Heinekens I wake up refreshed and at the wabash river a half dozen Natural Ice and I wish I hadn't of woken up at all.

PST asks...So I have to ask, does anyone else find that CPAP fights hangovers?

It makes sense, actually. But the reason I suspect is a bit different from .... breathing pressurized air has something to do with it, or maybe just better circulation of oxygen to the brain.

More likely, your previous "hangovers" were at least partially symptoms of OSA made much worse due to apneic events which were made much worse because of the alcohol's extra relaxation of your airway system. It's pretty widely accepted that alcohol will worsen the effects of OSA, thus your "hangovers" were (partially) alcohol-accentuated OSA symptoms.

It follows that the CPAP reduces the OSA component of the "morning after", thus the hangover "cure" was really just preventing (or lowering the frequency and magnitude of) episodic hypoxia and all of the inflammatory cytokines that accompany intermittent suffocation.

Cheers all!


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I don"t know if pressurized air lessens the effect on hangovers, however I would be a willing test subject. (if it involves free alcohol)

Weeellllll,

Gotta say that cpap is like a hangover machine (hangover removal tool).

We have discussed this here often over the years - my experience is hangovers bye-bye. Have wondered if
that is because the regular respiration ensures alcohol is dispensed quicker (through breath). Also wondered
if it was just the simple reality that cpap keeps as breathing & avoids repeated apneas that are such a certainty
when one has imbibed excessively. Excessive apneas will give us a great headache & that is one of the very
nice side effects of being on cpap. Auto users may get even more benefit.



DSM

Perhaps, it's WHAT your drinking? Are you drinking the same thing you use to drink when you experienced hangovers? I use to have horrible hangovers, but a friend who is an RN, taught me a few tricks to avoid them.
Hangovers are mainly caused from dehydration. Drink 1 bottle of water before consuming alcohol.
If you drink beer, or soft drink/liquor combinations, which is a diuretic, you will become more dehydrated than say if you drink cranberry juice and vodka, my personal favorite!
Another bottle of water before bed.

Have you started drinking more water lately? That could explain the lack of hangover.

Hi Peeps.
Ironic that my first post is to do with Hangovers. Oh well.
I certainly have experienced the phenomena of no hangovers since using my CPAP.
I have been ucing my machine for 6 months now, and I have only had a hangover after pulling my mask off in my sleep. (I only pull my mask off, ever, when drunk as well)
I am actually on the wagon at the moment and trying to burn off all the Xmas calories, so I cannot report on this for a couple of months, but yes, since the CPAP = no hangovers.

Bibs

I have a friend that contemplated how to sell used machines at college campuses for hangover prevention devices.

Thanks everyone for the information. As Linus pointed out, I was wrong to think that most alcohol is eliminated through the lungs, pretty much blowing up my theory that the hangover effect could be based on pressurized air speeding the process. I just want to state, for the record, that it took me nine months of CPAP therapy before discovering that it helps prevent hangovers. I would like that taken into account when passing judgment on my drinking habits.

spirit390 wrote:Depending on what part of the world your in makes a big difference on the hangover. In Holland after a half dozen Heinekens I wake up refreshed and at the wabash river a half dozen Natural Ice and I wish I hadn't of woken up at all.

When drinking Natural Ice on the banks of the Wabash, the smell of new-mown hay is coming from your beer, not the fields.

PST wrote:Thanks everyone for the information. As Linus pointed out, I was wrong to think that most alcohol is eliminated through the lungs, pretty much blowing up my theory that the hangover effect could be based on pressurized air speeding the process. I just want to state, for the record, that it took me nine months of CPAP therapy before discovering that it helps prevent hangovers. I would like that taken into account when passing judgment on my drinking habits.

spirit390 wrote:Depending on what part of the world your in makes a big difference on the hangover. In Holland after a half dozen Heinekens I wake up refreshed and at the wabash river a half dozen Natural Ice and I wish I hadn't of woken up at all.

When drinking Natural Ice on the banks of the Wabash, the smell of new-mown hay is coming from your beer, not the fields.

My God! Why would anyone drink Natural Ice?! If you're going to spend your money...get a decent beer...or just drink water! And PST....you seem to have come down with 'other people's opinions itis'. Who cares what other people think of your drinking habits? Salud!

SleepyT wrote:My God! Why would anyone drink Natural Ice?! If you're going to spend your money...get a decent beer...or just drink water! !

I never actually tasted the stuff, but I know that it averages a D- among readers of BeerAdvocate.

SleepyT wrote:And PST....you seem to have come down with 'other people's opinions itis'. Who cares what other people think of your drinking habits? Salud!

I'm thinking of running for Lieutenant Governor here in Illinois.

PST wrote:

SleepyT wrote:My God! Why would anyone drink Natural Ice?! If you're going to spend your money...get a decent beer...or just drink water! !

I never actually tasted the stuff, but I know that it averages a D- among readers of BeerAdvocate.

SleepyT wrote:And PST....you seem to have come down with 'other people's opinions itis'. Who cares what other people think of your drinking habits? Salud!

I'm thinking of running for Lieutenant Governor here in Illinois.

Ooohhhh. I see. Well, I would vote for you ...if I could! And if you do run...best of luck to you.