Do hangovers worsen with age?

London [U.K.]: Turns out, hangovers get worse as you age.

People have believed it for a long time but there have been very little concrete scientific reasons as to why.

While it is usual that nauseous stomach and pounding headaches mark the next day after a drinking binge but it seems to get worse with a higher magnitude as you grow older.

According to The Independent, there are many factors that come into play with the changing scenarios.

-Change in body composition

One of the possible explanations is the change in body composition. People tend to lose muscle and gain fat as they age. In a regular human being, fat contributes to 10 percent of muscle tissue while water forms 75 percent.

So when people gain fat, they become prone to hangovers. Fatty people tend to have a worse hangover as alcohol remains concentrated in fat.

-Fewer liver enzymes

Liver enzymes help metabolise alcohol and flush it out of your system. However, according to George Koob, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, as quoted by The Independent, liver enzymes lessen with age and their functions degrade with time.

-Less efficient body recovery process

Towards the late 30s, people struggle to cope with illness and infections. Hence, their body recovery's efficiency decreases with time.

-People fall out of habit

Alcohol consumption habits change as people get older. While younger adults indulge in alcohol on occasional nights, mature adults tend to drink oftener.

Hence, people's liver struggles to cope up with the suddenly increased intake.