The short answer: a hangover is several things happening at once — a toxic alcohol byproduct called acetaldehyde, dehydration, inflammation, disrupted sleep, and (in darker drinks) compounds called congeners. It's not one problem, which is exactly why there's no single cure.
1. Acetaldehyde — the main villain
Your body breaks alcohol down in two steps. The enzyme ADH turns alcohol into acetaldehyde, and the enzyme ALDH turns acetaldehyde into harmless acetate. When you drink faster than ALDH can keep up, acetaldehyde builds up — and it's far more toxic than the alcohol itself. Full enzyme breakdown here.
2. Dehydration
Alcohol is a diuretic: it suppresses a hormone that helps you retain water, so you lose fluid and electrolytes faster than you replace them. That's behind the headache, dry mouth, and dizziness.
3. Congeners
Fermentation and aging produce congeners — flavor compounds that also worsen hangovers. Darker drinks have far more, which is part of why some drinks hit harder than others.
4. Disrupted sleep
Alcohol may help you fall asleep, but it suppresses REM and fragments the second half of the night — so you wake up under-recovered even after a full night in bed.
5. Inflammation
Drinking triggers a low-grade immune and inflammatory response, which contributes to the fog, aches, and general malaise.
Why some people get it worse
Genetics play a role. If you flush when you drink, you may carry an ALDH2 gene variant that slows acetaldehyde clearance — meaning more of the villain, for longer.
The takeaway
Because a hangover has multiple causes, the smartest move is to reduce the load up front: pace, hydrate, and support your enzymes before you drink with Gush. See the full prevention guide.
Always drink responsibly. This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.