From a stroke to meningitis – all the signs your ‘hangover’ is a medical emergency and you must call 999

YOU’VE woken up to a pounding headache, knawing stomach pains and you’re body is aching all over – sound familiar?

These are just some of the classic hangover symptoms you may experience after a boozy night out.

And on New Year’s Day, your hangover may be the worst you’ll have for all of 2024 – if you’re lucky.

Although hangovers can make you feel like death warmed over, a hangover won’t kill you – at least not on its own.

On the other hand, drinking too much booze can lead to alcohol poisoning, which can be fatal.

Hangover symptoms could also be caused by a more sinister illness that can be easily mistaken for the lingering effects of a big night out.

Here, we delve into each condition, all the symptoms associated with it and how it differs from a hangover:

Alcohol poisoning

Alcohol poisoning can happen when you drink alcohol quicker than your body can process it.

Symptoms come on when there’s a large amount of alcohol in your bloodstream.

Hangover symptoms can look a bit like alcohol poisoning, but they begin later on once your blood alcohol level drops significantly.

Unlike a hangover, alcohol poisoning can kill you.

Some 552 Brits died of alcohol poisoning in 2020.

The NHS says symptoms include:

• confusion
• vomiting
• slow or irregular breathing
• seizures
• low body temperature
• bluish or pale skin
• unconsciousness

You should call 999 if you think someone has alcohol poisoning.

Without immediate treatment, alcohol poisoning can cause your breathing and heart rate to become dangerously slow, leading to coma and death in some cases.

Meningitis

Meningitis is an infection of the protective membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord, which can be very serious if not treated quickly, killing some of its victims within 24 hours.

The condition can mimic other illnesses, such as flu, food poisoning, or a hangover.

Students are particularly at risk of the disease, which can be deadly if it is not treated quickly and triggers sepsis. 

The symptoms can feel like ‘a very bad hangover’ Meningitis Research Foundation says. 

Even those who survive can be left with life-changing after-effects, such as hearing loss, brain injury and even limb loss.

The early signs and symptoms of meningitis and sepsis can be similar to flu, a tummy bug or a hangover.

They include:

• fever
• headache
• nausea
• vomiting
• diarrhoea
• muscle pain
• stomach cramps
• fever with cold hands and feet

More specific signs and symptoms include:

• drowsiness
• confusion
• pale blotchy skin
• stiff neck
• dislike of bright lights
• a rash which doesn’t fade under pressure

You can tell it’s a meningitis rash if it doesn’t fade when you press the side of a clear glass firmly against the skin.

Bear in mind that it might be harder to see on brown or black skin, so it’s important to check the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, roof of the mouth, tummy, whites of the eyes or the inside of the eyelids, according to NHS guidance.

You should call 999 for an ambulance or go to your nearest A&E immediately if you think you or someone you look after could have meningitis or sepsis.

Stroke

A stroke is a life-threatening brain attack.

It occurs when the blood supply to part of your brain is cut off – without blood, the cells in your brain can be killed or suffer damage.

It can have different effects depending on where in the brain this damage occurs.

It can change how you think and feel and cause speech problems – which is why it can be mistaken for a hangover.

Some people also experience weakness on one side.

University student Jameel Razak experienced a stroke in 2022, which he initially put down to a bad hangover.

For some, the effects of a stroke can be relatively minor and will fade quickly, but others can be left with problems that leave them dependent on other people.

Around one in eight people who suffer a stroke die within 30 days, so it is vital to get medical assistance as soon as possible – the sooner somebody is treated, the more likely they are to survive.

The FAST method – which stands for Face, Arms, Speech, Time – is the easiest way to remember the most common symptoms of stroke:

F = Face drooping – if one side of a person’s face is dropped or numb then ask them to smile, if it’s uneven, then you should seek help.

A = Arm weakness – if one arm is weak or numb, you should ask the person to raise both arms. If one arm drifts downwards, then you might need to get help

S = Speech difficulty – if a person’s speech is slurred, then this could be a sign of a stroke

T = Time to call 999 – if a person has the signs above, then you need to call 999 in the UK or 911 in the US for emergency care.

Other symptoms include:

• sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
• difficulty finding words
• sudden blurred vision or loss of sight
• sudden confusion, dizziness or unsteadiness
• a sudden and severe headache
• difficulty understanding what others are saying
• difficulty swallowing

If any of these symptoms occur for less than a few hours, you could be suffering from a transient ischaemic attack (TIA).

This attack, which is sometimes known as a “mini-stroke”, indicates that there is a problem with the blood supply to your brain.

It’s important to contact your GP or local hospital if experiencing these symptoms, as they could increase your risk of stroke in the near future.