In a 1973 study, 20 volunteers got drunk once a week for 8 consecutive weeks,

1973 年一場研究中，20 名自願者連續 8 週、每週喝醉 1 次，

each time on a different alcoholic beverage and each time with precisely the same dosage.

每一次都透過不同的酒精飲品喝醉、每一次的量都精準地一模一樣。

This was science, after all.

畢竟這是科學研究。

The goal of this experiment was to find out which alcoholic drinks cause worse hangovers.

這個研究目的在於找出哪一種酒精飲料會造成更嚴重的宿醉。

Of course, it takes much more than one small study to answer such a question.

當然了，要回答這個問題，可不是單靠一場小實驗就夠了。

Since then, science has learned a lot about hangovers, though some mysteries remain.

自那場實驗後，科學家對於宿醉已經有了更多的了解，儘管仍有一些未知的謎團。

The molecule responsible for hangovers is ethanol, which we colloquially refer to as alcohol.

乙醇分子是造成宿醉的原因，我們一般稱它為酒精。

Ethanol is present in all alcoholic beverages, and generally speaking, the more ethanol, the greater the potential for a hangover.

所有的酒精飲料都含有乙醇， 而且普遍來說， 乙醇含量越高，宿醉的可能性就越大。

The symptoms and severity can vary depending on weight, age, genetics, and other factors.

至於有什麼症狀、程度輕微與否， 則根據個人的體重、年齡、遺傳和其它因素而異。

But still, hangovers generally share some common⏤and unpleasant⏤features.

但總歸來說，宿醉幾乎都伴隨著一些常見且令人不舒服的症狀。

So, how exactly does alcohol cause a hangover?

那麼酒精到底是怎麼引發宿醉的呢？

And is there any way to reliably prevent one?

有任何方法能夠預防嗎？

Alcohol slows down the communication between neural cells.

酒精會減緩神經細胞間的訊息傳遞。

After someone has had their last drink, as the concentration of alcohol in the blood drops back to zero,

在某人喝光了最後一口酒後， 隨著血液中的酒精濃度降為零時，

the brain rebounds from sedation and swings in the other direction, entering a hyperactive state.

大腦就會從鎮靜中甦醒，並快速轉換成過度活躍的狀態。

This may lead to the tremors or rapid heartbeat associated with hangovers.

這時可能會引發宿醉相關症狀， 像是發抖或是心跳加速。

It also makes sleep shorter and less restful than normal.

同時讓睡眠變得更短、精神也比平常亢奮。

But these effects are just the beginning.

但這些僅僅只是開頭。

Alcohol impacts so many of the body's processes, throwing delicate balances off-kilter.

酒精會影響身體的許多運作，讓身體機能失衡。

And even the most familiar hangover symptoms have surprising contributors.

連最常見的宿醉症狀，也都是由意想不到的因素所導致。

For example, alcohol disrupts levels of many hormones, one of those hormones is cortisol.

舉例來說，酒精會在各方面打亂激素的運作，其中有種激素叫做皮質醇。

Normally, fluctuating cortisol levels help regulate wakefulness throughout the day and night.

正常來說，皮質醇的流動使我們在白天和黑夜能夠調節我們的清醒程度。

So, the disruption in cortisol during a hangover may cause people to feel groggy or disoriented.

因此當宿醉擾亂了皮質醇的運作，就會讓人昏昏欲睡， 或迷迷糊糊的。

Another hormone alcohol interferes with is vasopressin, which normally decreases the volume of urine made by the kidneys.

另一個受到酒精影響的激素叫做抗利尿激素，平時會減少腎臟產生的尿液量。

By decreasing levels of vasopressin, alcohol causes people to pee more and become dehydrated.

若酒精降低了抗利尿激素的作用，就會讓人頻尿和脫水。

Dehydration can lead to thirst, dry mouth, weakness, lightheadedness, and headache, one of the most common hangover symptoms.

脫水會引起口渴、口乾舌燥、虛弱、 頭暈目眩以及宿醉時常見的症狀之一，頭痛。

In addition to dehydration, hangover headaches can result from alcohol's influence on chemical signaling in the brain, especially on neurotransmitters involved in pain signaling.

除了脫水之外，宿醉時的頭痛是因為酒精影響大腦內化學物質的傳遞，特別是負責痛覺感知的神經遞質。

Alcohol can also damage mitochondria, which are responsible for producing the ATP that gives us energy.

酒精也會對粒線體造成損害，而粒線體負責製造供我們能量的三磷酸腺苷。

This may contribute to the fatigue, weakness, and mood disturbances experienced during a hangover.

這會造成宿醉時的疲憊、虛弱、以及情緒失調。

Meanwhile, alcohol stimulates the immune system, leading to inflammation that can damage cells within the brain, affect mood, and impair memory.

同時，酒精會刺激免疫系統，造成發炎並損害腦細胞，甚至影響情緒和削弱記憶力。

And it can irritate the gastrointestinal tract and inflame the lining of the stomach and intestines.

酒精還會刺激腸胃道，使得胃和消化道的內壁發炎。

Alcohol may also slow down stomach emptying, which could lead to increased production of gastric acid.

此外，酒精也會讓胃的消化變慢，進一步導致胃酸增生。

This is why alcohol can cause stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting.

這就是為什麼酒精會造成胃痛、噁心和嘔吐。

Alcoholic drinks also contain other substances that are produced during the fermentation process that give the drink its specific flavor.

酒精飲料含有一些在發酵過程中產生的物質，讓其產生獨特的味道。

Some evidence suggests that one of these⏤methanol⏤is particularly bad for hangovers.

一些證據指出， 其中一個叫甲醇的物質對於宿醉特別有害。

The body doesn't start metabolizing methanol until it's done processing ethanol.

因為身體要先代謝完乙醇才能處理甲醇。

And when it does, the toxic metabolites of methanol may potentially worsen hangover symptoms.

當這個過程發生時， 甲醇的毒性代謝產物就很可能惡化宿醉的症狀。

Beverages that are closer to pure ethanol, such as gin and vodka, may cause fewer hangover effects.

所以像是琴酒和伏特加， 這類接近純乙醇的酒精飲料，可能會對宿醉造成較小的影響。

Meanwhile, the presence of flavor ingredients in beverages like whiskey, brandy, and red wine may make these kinds of alcohol cause more hangover symptoms.

同時，像是威士忌、白蘭地和紅酒，這類為了增添風味而添加相關成份的酒品，可能引發更多的宿醉症狀。

So, the choice of alcoholic beverage matters, but any of them can cause hangovers simply because they all contain alcohol.

所以說，慎選酒精飲料很重要，但任何一種酒都可能造成宿醉，因為它們都含有酒精。

So, do common hangover remedies actually work?

那麼，那些普遍緩解宿醉的方法確實有效嗎?

Drinking water and electrolyte beverages can help reduce symptoms related to dehydration.

攝取水分和含電解質的飲料，能夠有效緩解脫水症狀。

And eating, especially carbs, can help replenish the glucose levels alcohol reduces.

在進食方面，攝取碳水化合物能夠補充被酒精降低的葡萄糖水平。

But, ultimately, the only sure way to prevent a hangover is to drink alcohol in moderation or not at all.

總歸來說，避免宿醉最有效的方法就是飲酒適量或滴酒不沾。

So, how exactly does alcohol cause drunkenness?

那麼，酒精又是如何造成醉酒的呢？

And why do its effects vary depending on the person?

它的作用又是如何因人而異的呢？

Follow alcohol's journey through the body with this video.

觀看這部影片，了解酒精在身體中的旅程。

Or its journey through time, starting with the first booze imbibed circa 7,000 BCE, with this one.

又或是點擊這部影片，了解酒的發展之旅，從大約公元前 7,000 年飲用的第一杯酒開始。