The feeling of a fever, known as hangover fever, is a potential risk on your morning after alcohol consumption. With over a decade of research, we’ll explore everything you need to know about a hangover fever, can a hangover cause a fever, dispelling myths, and the science behind it.
The medical definition of a fever is the state of elevated core body temperature, above the regular range of 98.6 to 99.9 F).¹ While alcohol rarely causes a literal fever, rather a “hangover fever” refers to the feeling of a fever after drinking alcohol.²
With a hangover fever, you might feel the chills, headache, dehydration, and muscle aches.²
Symptoms of a hangover can overlap with the feelings of a hangover. After a heavy night of drinking, these symptoms may appear the night of or even more commonly the morning after.
Symptoms Of A Hangover Fever:³
Most notably, the chills, headaches, and body aches from a hangover can be most commonly correlated with the likes of a fever.
Generally speaking, a hangover does not commonly cause a medically defined fever, but can cause the feelings of a hangover fever.
That being said though, drinking alcohol can have a negative impact on your immune system, and even the gut which is directly tied to body’s immunity. It therefore could trigger a fever or make you more susceptible to viruses.⁴
In addition, according to Chinese Traditional Medicine alcohol can heat us up, including opening blood vessels that increases blood flow.⁵ This factor may lead to some hangover fever feelings such as the chills, headache, and feeling hot in the face.⁶
Yes, a hangover can cause flu-like symptoms.
While a hangover does not cause the flu, it can lead to symptoms similar to the flu also referred to as “bottle flu.” The after-effects of the toxins in alcohol can increase cytokines and inflammation in the body, which has similarities to the flu.
Those flu-like symptoms may include:
Some research shown by WIRED magazine has shown that a hangover may actually be caused by the inflammatory response from alcohol, or elevated cytokines levels which are immune system related.⁹
Some might feel hot in the face, or even around the body the day after drinking.
You can feel hot with a hangover commonly for two different reasons, either from the heating properties of alcohol or from Asian Glow (Asian Flush).
2 Possible Reasons For Feeling Hot With A Hangover:
TIP: Hovenia Dulcis, also known as Japanese Raisin, has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries to help relieve damp heat and thirst.¹²
Can a hangover cause chills? Yes.
Just like the symptoms of a hangover fever, the chills after drinking is a common one.
The main cause is likely that drinking too much has been found to trigger the immune system. It releases cytokines, which when in higher levels are found to cause the chills, nausea, and headaches.¹³
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