Why You Might Feel Feverish After Drinking

Imagine this: after an evening of drinks with friends, you wake up feeling terrible—but this isn't your typical hangover. Beyond the usual headache and nausea, you notice an unusual warmth spreading through your body. You check your temperature and confirm it: you have a fever. How did a night of drinking lead to feeling feverish the next day?

Is there a direct connection between alcohol and fever? Are these symptoms just part of a bad hangover, or can alcohol actually cause a fever? In this article, we'll explore how alcohol affects your body, examine the link between hangovers and fever-like symptoms, and determine whether "alcohol-induced fever" is real. We'll also discuss the risks of drinking when you're already sick and provide guidance on when to seek medical help.

If you've ever felt unusually warm after a night out, keep reading to understand what's happening inside your body.

Reasons for Fever and Chills After Drinking

Experiencing fever-like symptoms after drinking alcohol might feel like being sick, but the explanation is more complex. Alcohol interacts with multiple body systems that can produce these sensations.

• Vasodilation: Alcohol causes blood vessels to widen, leading to heat loss from your body. This creates an initial feeling of warmth (like flushed skin after drinking).
• Hypothalamus disruption: Alcohol interferes with your hypothalamus, the brain region that regulates body temperature. This disruption can make you feel hot one moment and cold the next, mimicking fever and chills.
• Dehydration: Alcohol acts as a diuretic, increasing urine production and causing dehydration if you don't drink enough water. Dehydration disrupts your body's fluid balance, making it harder to regulate temperature effectively.
• Immune system disruption: Alcohol suppresses your immune system by interfering with immune cell communication. If you're already fighting an unnoticed infection, this temporary weakness can allow pathogens to flare up, potentially causing a low-grade fever.

If you've felt feverish after drinking, you're not imagining it! However, "alcohol fever" is somewhat misleading—these symptoms usually result from a combination of the factors above. The good news is that these fever-like sensations are typically mild and resolve within a day.

But what if you drink when you already have a fever? Can alcohol worsen your condition? Unfortunately, yes.

Drinking with a Fever: Risks and Considerations

Drinking alcohol while you have a fever adds extra strain on a body already fighting invaders. This combination can prolong illness and introduce new health complications. Here's why alcohol and fevers don't mix well:

• Dehydration: Fever raises body temperature, increasing sweating as your body tries to cool down. Alcohol's diuretic effect compounds this, raising the risk of serious dehydration and slowing recovery.
• Interference with medication: Many people use over-the-counter or prescription drugs to manage fever. Alcohol can alter how these medications are metabolized, reducing their effectiveness or increasing side effects. For example, mixing alcohol with acetaminophen (Tylenol) stresses the liver and raises toxicity risks.
• Impaired immune response: Your immune system is already working hard during a fever. Alcohol weakens its ability to fight infections, potentially prolonging illness and making you vulnerable to secondary infections.

Advice for Drinking With a Fever

Drinking alcohol with a fever is not recommended. It can extend illness and cause dangerous side effects. If you're unwell or have fever symptoms, avoid alcohol entirely. Instead:

• Hydrate to heal: Drink water, herbal teas, or electrolyte beverages to support your immune system and ease fever symptoms.
• Prioritize rest: Your body needs energy to fight illness, and alcohol disrupts sleep quality. Choose restful sleep without alcohol for a quicker recovery.
• Choose helpful alternatives: For relaxation or discomfort relief, try non-alcoholic options like warm broths or herbal teas. A warm bath can also provide comfort without alcohol's risks.

While a drink might seem tempting when you're feverish, it's safer to focus on hydration, rest, and proper medical care if needed.

When to Seek Medical Attention

It's important to tell the difference between typical hangover symptoms and signs of something more serious. Most hangover symptoms—headache, nausea, sensitivity to light/sound, dizziness, thirst, and fatigue—are uncomfortable but not dangerous and usually resolve within 24 hours.

Seek medical help if you experience severe, unusual, or persistent symptoms, such as:

• High fever: A temperature over 101°F (38.3°C) isn't typical for a hangover and may indicate a serious issue.
• Severe dehydration: Signs include extreme thirst, dizziness, confusion, or inability to keep fluids down.
• Uncontrollable vomiting: Persistent vomiting can cause dehydration and nutrient loss, requiring medical intervention.
• Chest pain or breathing difficulties: These are never hangover-related and need immediate attention.
• Seizures: Alcohol withdrawal in dependent individuals can cause seizures, a medical emergency.

If you have these symptoms, seek immediate care. Call emergency services or have someone take you to a hospital. Don't wait—these are emergency signs. When in doubt, err on the side of caution and get medical advice.

Understanding Alcohol's Impact on the Body

To grasp why alcohol can cause such havoc, let's look deeper at its effects. Beyond fever-like symptoms, alcohol brings several unpleasant surprises, especially if overconsumed.

Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, slowing nerve signals. Once absorbed into your bloodstream from the stomach and intestines, it travels throughout your body and brain, altering neurotransmitter function:

• Dopamine: Alcohol triggers dopamine release, creating feelings of euphoria.
• GABA and glutamate: Alcohol enhances GABA (a calming neurotransmitter) and reduces glutamate (a stimulating one), producing sedative effects.

Meanwhile, your liver works to metabolize alcohol, converting it into acetaldehyde—a toxic compound responsible for many hangover symptoms.

Your Brain on Hangovers

Your brain strives for balance. To counter alcohol's effects, it adjusts neurotransmitter levels. Once alcohol leaves your system, you may experience a rebound effect—feeling overstimulated or low instead of calm and happy.

Beyond neurotransmitter shifts, your liver continues clearing alcohol byproducts, including acetaldehyde.

Acetaldehyde: The Morning-After Villain

The day after drinking, acetaldehyde remains in your system, causing achiness, nausea, and general discomfort. Your liver works to convert it into acetate, which is expelled through urine.

But can a hangover cause a fever? Acetaldehyde can trigger an inflammatory response as your immune system tries to fight the toxin, producing fever-like symptoms and chills that might make you think you're getting sick.

Conclusion

While a hangover can make you feel awful, it shouldn't make you feel endangered. Listening to your body and recognizing abnormal symptoms ensures you get proper care when needed.

Prioritizing your health after drinking helps prevent complications. The best prevention is mindful drinking and moderation.

If you feel your drinking is out of control, consider seeking professional help and using an app like Quitemate to assess your relationship with alcohol and create a plan to cut back or quit. You have the power to make positive changes!