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The Hangover. A fivefold path to feeling terrible

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It all seemed to be going so well the night before. The music was pumping, your heart was light, and you were making new friends as you partied the night away with old ones. However, as the festivities wore on and the dead soldiers piled up, you and your friends got buzzed, then sailed right past tipsy, and before the night was out, you had consumed enough alcohol to have you on your knees, praying to the porcelain goddess for relief and wondering, “How did I get myself into this?” The sad thing is, your troubles were just beginning. When you woke up the next morning you would be wallowing in the agony of that timeless enemy of all drinkers: the hangover.

Does this sound familiar? Almost anyone who has had a bit too much to drink before knows how the ecstasy of night of carousing becomes the debilitating malaise of the next morning’s hangover. The suite of symptoms that may accompany this common affliction include:

  • Headache
  • Body Ache
  • Dry mouth
  • Fatigue
  • Brain fog
  • Nausea
  • Diarrhea or Acid Reflux
  • Depression, anxiety, irritability
  • Increased heart rate

If you are wondering how something that makes you feel so good can suddenly turn on you and make you feel so bad, you are not alone. It turns out a hangover is a complex set of physiological processes that science has yet to fully understand. In this article we will look at some of the more prominent ways alcohol can screw with your body and make you wish you were never born. These include effects on your:

  • Fluid Homeostasis
  • Endocrine system
  • Liver
  • Immune system 
  • Digestive system

Alcohol Dehydrates You

The first and most well known cause of a hangover is dehydration. Alcohol dehydrates you because it functions as a diuretic (makes you urinate). It does this because it interferes with the release of vasopressin, a hormone that regulates your fluid homeostasis. Basically, vasopressin stops you from peeing all the time and when alcohol knocks out your vasopressin production, you do just that. Alcohol will stimulate you to lose fluid at a ratio of about 4:1. If you drink a cup of alcohol, you will pee out four cups of water. 

All this fluid release dehydrates you, draining you of electrolytes and bringing on all the classic symptoms of dehydration like:

  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Dry mouth/ Strong thirst 
  • Confusion

As an interesting added benefit, this dehydration actually causes the brain to shrink. This shrinkage pulls on the meninges, which are the membranes that line the inner surface of the skull and causes the splitting headache hard drinkers know so well.

Alcohol Messes with your Endocrine System

Besides the hormone vasopressin, mentioned above, alcohol affects several other hormones as well.

The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System

The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS) is a complex system of hormones that regulates the fluid and electrolyte balance in the body as well as controlling blood pressure. Alcohol stimulates the production of renin and aldosterone. This further exacerbates the dehydration issue mentioned above and may be responsible for some of the increased heart rate some people get with a hangover. 

There is even some interesting evidence that heightened aldosterone levels in people who drink often may contribute to the development of alcoholism. 

Glutamine Rebound

Glutamine is an amino acid that the body uses in a myriad of ways, including as a natural stimulant. Alcohol suppresses glutamine levels as long as you are drinking. When you finally get some sleep and your body processes the alcohol, the muscles go into overdrive, pumping out glutamine and creating a “rebound” effect. This interferes with the quality of your sleep and makes you feel like you haven’t slept at all. Glutamine rebound can also cause restlessness, sadness, and anxiety. 

Alcohol Overwhelms Your Liver

Acetaldehyde

90% of the work of breaking down alcohol is done by the liver. The liver metabolizes ethanol (they type of alcohol you drink) in a two-step process. First, an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase breaks the ethanol down into a substance called acetaldehyde. This is only meant to be an intermediary step, referred to as a secondary metabolite. 

Acetaldehyde is really nasty stuff. It is said to be 20-30 times more toxic than ethanol itself. Ideally, though, it doesn’t stick around for long. Your liver immediately releases the enzyme acetaldehyde dehydrogenase and an antioxidant called glutathione. Together, the two substances bind up this poison, whisk it away through your urine, and high-five each other on a job well done. 

Unfortunately, your liver only keeps a finite supply of glutathione on hand. When available stores of glutathione are used up,the liver has to rush to make more. In the meantime, the acetaldehyde builds up and roams free in the body, causing all kinds of mischief and making you feel really sick. That’s why this phenomenon only shows up when you drink a lot of alcohol. 

 An interesting side note is that Antabuse, a drug used to treat alcoholism, amplifies the consequences of drinking by interfering with your body’s breakdown of acetaldehyde. If you take antabuse and stay away from alcohol, you don’t feel a thing. However, if you drink alcohol at any time you are on Antabuse, you can’t break down acetaldehyde at all. Then the acetaldehyde runs rampant through your system and you probably feel sicker than you have ever felt in your life.

Methanol

Methanol is a close relative of ethanol. Also known as “methylated spirit” and “wood alcohol” methanol is very toxic beyond the trace amounts that occur naturally in fruits. 10 ml of methanol is enough to make you go blind and 30ml will kill you. Some of the darker colored alcoholic beverages like red wine and bourbon contain small amounts of methanol as an incidental byproduct. 

When you drink beverages that contain methanol, you don’t feel any ill effect right away. That’s because, just like ethanol, methanol gets broken down in a two step process. First, alcohol dehydrogenase (the same enzyme mentioned before), breaks the methanol down into its own secondary metabolite; formaldehyde.

That’s right folks. Embalming fluid. The stuff they use to pickle animal specimens or preserve a body for a funeral. Is it any wonder a hangover makes you feel so crummy when you have a few drops of embalming fluid coursing through your veins? 

Of course, your body doesn’t process the methanol right away. That’s the beauty of the hangover. Alcohol dehydrogenase has a stronger affinity for ethanol, so it processes that first. Only after all the ethanol has worked its way out of your bloodstream does your body begin to break down methanol. The methanol you drink in your Cabernet Sauvignon just floats around harmlessly in your system until a few hours after you go to sleep. Then your liver attacks the methanol and starts churning out formaldehyde. No wonder you feel like you’re being pickled from the inside out. 

Blood Sugar

While your liver is busy breaking down alcohol, it isn’t doing another essential job, which is producing glucose. As a result, your blood glucose levels drop and you are forced to break down glycogen stored in other parts of the body. This leads you to feel weak, lethargic,and depressed. 

Alcohol Causes an Immune Response

New research points to a previously unknown pathway by which alcohol makes you feel like crap: your immune system. Consumption of alcohol has been linked with the release of cytokines that can trigger a systemic inflammatory response. 

Alcohol Irritates Your Digestive System

Last but not least, alcohol damages the lining of your stomach. That stimulates the release of more stomach acid and can cause vomiting. Alcohol also seems to make the lining of the intestines more permeable, which causes it to leak undigested molecules into the bloodstream. This is a probable cause of the immune response mentioned above. 

After taking in all the diverse ways that we end up paying for a night of hard drinking, it’s amazing we survive it at all. The internet is full of supposed cures for hangovers, but the mechanisms of action in a hangover are so diverse, so strong, and so complex, that none of them are going to be a silver bullet. The best way of avoiding a hangover is common sense: take it easy on the booze in the first place!   

Do Hangover Cures Actually Work

Every drinker knows of a few hangover cures, ranging from Ibuprofen to certain vitamins (such as B and Zinc), and even “hair of the dog” (drinking more alcohol). While a good meal may help, the one solution you can rely on to help you feel better is lots of fresh, clean water. Even though some studies have shown that dehydration isn’t the biggest contributing factor to hangovers, health experts recommend drinking plenty of water anyway. Water is life. It helps our liver and kidneys function properly, which is how our bodies filter out contaminants. Even if you aren’t recovering from a bender, it’s always a good idea to stay hydrated.

The only sure-fire way to avoid a hangover is to drink less alcohol. While sobriety isn’t for everyone, even just commiting to a glass of water between drinks can make a big difference in how you feel the next morning. That may be partially due to the healthy effects of water, but mostly its because this strategy results in less alcohol consumption in the first place.

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Growth and Adaptability will Lead You to Success

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Growth and Adaptability will Lead You to Success

How working on yourself can improve your chances of success. Research shows us that highly successful people are not necessarily smarter or more talented than less successful people; it is often their mindset and how they adapt and grow. Investing in yourself and improving your own skills can help you achieve greatness. This journey of self-improvement is not just a personal endeavor but a critical component of professional success as well. By focusing on your own development, you create a strong foundation that can support your aspirations and ambitions.

Growth mindset predicts achievement across socioeconomic levels. What you develop inside yourself often has a greater impact than your background, IQ, wealth, and environment. We all have the potential for success, but it is our willingness to embrace growth that truly sets us apart. This means being open to learning new skills, seeking feedback, and continuously striving to enhance your capabilities. Each step you take in this direction can lead to significant improvements in both your personal and professional life.

Along with growth, adaptability is another trait highly successful people share. The capacity to adjust your thinking, behavior, or approach in response to change is important. Allow yourself to be flexible and think outside the box. In an ever-evolving world, the ability to pivot and adapt to new circumstances can be the difference between success and stagnation. Embracing change rather than resisting it opens up new opportunities for innovation and creativity, which are essential for thriving in any field.

Avoiding the inner work at work could cost you. Poor leadership costs US companies $550 billion a year in lost productivity and high turnover rates. 47% of employees said they had to leave their job because they didn’t like their manager. Surprisingly, 58% of managers have never received formal leadership training. This lack of preparation can lead to a toxic work environment where employees feel undervalued and disengaged. Investing in leadership development is not just beneficial for the leaders themselves but also for the entire organization.

When a leader is trained and practices self-growth, employees see higher numbers of satisfaction and often put more time and effort into their work. Leaders will also see less turnover and higher productivity within their staff. This creates a positive feedback loop where success breeds more success. By fostering an environment that encourages personal and professional development, organizations can cultivate a culture of excellence. See what the inner work can do for you, learn more at Sounds True.

Ultimately, the journey of growth and adaptability is ongoing. It requires commitment, resilience, and a willingness to step outside of your comfort zone. As you embark on this path, remember that every small step contributes to your overall success. Embrace the challenges that come your way, and view them as opportunities for growth. By doing so, you will not only enhance your own capabilities but also inspire those around you to pursue their own paths of development. In this way, the ripple effect of your personal growth can lead to a more successful and fulfilling life for everyone involved.

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Heather Spadaro’s Refreshing Approach to Makeup Education: Breaking Beauty Rules and Keeping It Real

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Heather Spadaro’s Refreshing Approach to Makeup Education: Breaking Beauty Rules and Keeping It Real

Heather Spadaro, founder of The Beauty Circle, is building a different kind of makeup education around the idea that beauty advice should make life easier, not create another list of things to buy. Her virtual sessions focus on skincare, makeup, product choices, and the reasoning behind them.

The bigger question is not how many products someone owns, it is whether they understand how those products are actually benefiting their skin. That understanding can save money, time, and the frustration of constantly starting over with a new routine for their own skin.

The Problem With Beauty Advice That Never Ends

Hundreds of instructions surround beauty consumers. Use this active, or add that serum. Try a new foundation, or change your routine when a trend changes. Spadaro pushes back against that constant accumulation by asking consumers to focus on what their skin actually needs.

That shift from collecting advice to understanding choices is central to The Beauty Circle. Her virtual education helps people assess their skin, review what they already own, and build routines that fit their lives.

Heather Spadaro Puts Skin Before the Makeup

One of Heather’s most consistent ideas is that makeup actually starts before the makeup. In an April 2026 Skin Leaf Talks episode, she discussed skin preparation, common prep mistakes, the difference between hydrated and moisturized skin, facial oils, SPF layering, and what “ready” skin should actually feel like.

The lesson doesn’t focus solely on product recommendations. Makeup sits on the skin, so the condition of that surface affects how the finished look wears and feels. Instead of immediately reaching for heavier coverage when makeup looks uneven, it can be more useful to look at what happened beforehand: cleansing, moisturizing, hydration, product layering, and whether the routine suits the person’s skin.

Breaking Beauty Rules Means Knowing Why They Exist

“Break the beauty rules” can sound like another cliché slogan, but Spadaro’s version is more useful. You must question the rule before following it.

Her philosophy does not say every traditional technique is wrong. It means if you’re following a beauty rule, it should have a reason behind it. If a step doesn’t solve a problem, it deserves reconsideration.

Heather Spadaro has argued that trends change constantly while skin-health basics remain the same. Her current Skin First podcast – which launched September 30th on all podcast platforms – follows the same premise. It focuses on skincare, skin health, and makeup while questioning trends and routines that make beauty more complicated than it needs to be. Expertise actually means knowing what you can remove without losing the desired result.

The Most Useful Makeup Lesson May Be Product Literacy

A major weakness in beauty education is that people are often taught what to buy rather than how to evaluate what they already have.

The Beauty Circle’s perspective on education is different. Product review and shopping guidance are part of the virtual process, but the larger goal is to understand. Product literacy helps people make decisions after the lesson is over.

Heather’s insight is invaluable to anyone with a crowded makeup bag who still feels unsure. Instead of replacing everything, ask yourself. What do I use regularly? What problem is each product solving? Does it work with my skin? Can two steps be simplified into one?

Virtual Education Changes What “Good Makeup” Means

The shift from in-person artistry to virtual education changes the professional makeup artist’s purpose. They are no longer working toward creating a finished look for someone. Rather, the process now includes teaching that person how to recreate the useful parts for their skin on their own.

Spadaro has worked across television, celebrity, bridal, and everyday beauty, but her educational work centers on translating professional knowledge into routines ordinary people can actually use. Her work has appeared on NBC’s The Today Show, Bravo, E! News, and Dr. Oz.

Heather Spadaro’s Real Beauty Lesson: Less Guessing, More Knowing

The strongest idea behind her approach is not minimalism for its own sake. It is confidence through understanding.

A simpler routine is useful when it is built around the individual, not imposed as another universal formula. Healthy skin can matter more than adding another layer of coverage. Knowing why a product belongs in a routine can matter more than owning the newest launch. Learning a technique can be more valuable than copying a finished look from a screen.

The Beauty Circle translates these insights into action virtually, giving people access to personalized skincare and makeup education without requiring them to become beauty experts themselves. Spadaro’s strategy offers a straightforward alternative: understand your skin, question the rules, use what serves you, and leave the rest behind.

Connect with Heather Spadaro on LinkedIn and Instagram for practical skincare and makeup guidance if you’re tired of complicated routines and want to make more confident beauty choices. 

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What to Compare When Choosing a Prescription Approach for Rosacea

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Choosing a prescription approach for rosacea is a comparison of fit, not a search for a miracle calm. People often bounce between “anti-redness” serums and leftover acne medicines. Those leftovers can worsen flushing. A dedicated rosacea treatment prescription conversation should start with what you want less of — bumps, burning, visible vessels, or eye irritation — because the first prescription changes with that answer.

Compare the diagnosis, not the brand

Ask the clinician to say the subtype in a sentence you can repeat. If they cannot, photos may be insufficient or the visit was too short. Telehealth can still work when images include hairline, cheeks, nose, chin, and eyelids in daylight.

Ask whether they think you also have barrier damage from over-treatment. That diagnosis changes the first thirty days more than the brand name on the tube.

Compare daily burden

Once-daily products beat complicated stacks for real households. If the plan has a morning anti-inflammatory, a noon SPF, and an evening barrier cream, write the order. If a second active is “optional,” treat it as optional until the first review.

SPF is not optional for most rosacea plans. Compare mineral versus hybrid formulas you will actually wear, including under a mask or helmet if that is your day.

Compare monitoring and escalation

Ask what would trigger a switch to an oral option, a different topical family, or a referral for procedures. Escalation should have criteria. “If you are still unhappy” is too vague and invites monthly product cycling.

Ask how they handle a sudden pustular flare that looks like acne. Wrong-lane treatment is a common reason rosacea gets worse after a promising start.

Compare safety questions they ask you

Pregnancy status, eye symptoms, and a full list of current topicals should be standard. If a service never asks whether your eyes burn, they may be treating only the selfie zone. If they never ask about blood pressure medicines or flushing triggers, the history is thin.

People with darker skin tones should ask how redness will be judged, because visual scoring can miss violaceous or brown residual change. Photos plus symptoms together are more honest than a redness scale alone.

Pick the plan you can explain

If you cannot tell a friend what you apply, when you follow up, and what would make you call sooner, the plan is not yours yet. Ask for that summary. Prescription rosacea care is usually won by consistency and by stopping the extra irritants, not by finding a secret molecule in a late-night ad.

Keep one moisturizer and one sunscreen stable while the prescription is judged. Changing those at the same time as the medicine makes every review guesswork. That single rule prevents a lot of false failures.

Bring your worst week, not your best selfie

Clinicians need the flare you hide. Photograph the bad lighting day and the windy commute day. A prescription chosen from your calmest Tuesday will be judged against a life that includes the other six.

Ask how to handle a wedding or a work trip that lands during the first month. Temporary camouflage is fine. Adding three new actives the week of the event is how people show up more inflamed than when they started.

When two approaches look equal, pick the one with a named follow-up and a shorter ingredient list. Rosacea rewards boredom. The comparison is which plan you can repeat without inventing extras.

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