Alcohol hangover and cancer risk: The impact of oxidative stress and systemic inflammation

The 2025 US Surgeon General’s Advisory on alcohol and cancer risk addresses the important health issue that alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing at least 7 types of cancer. Literature shows that the negative effects of alcohol are not limited to an increased cancer risk but comprise the development of a variety of immune-related chronic diseases. The major proposed mechanisms of action by the Surgeon General’s Advisory are increased level of acetaldehyde, oxidative stress, and inflammation. The effects are more pronounced if larger amounts of alcohol are consumed, on more frequent occasions. Most likely these are drinking occasions that may result in the next-day hangovers. Research on the pathology of hangovers shows a clear role of inflammation, and it is hypothesized that experiencing hangovers frequently will result in developing chronic systemic inflammation. Chronic systemic inflammation is at the root of many chronic diseases. It is therefore important to develop interventions and campaigns to reduce alcohol consumption, and to develop effective treatments to prevent hangovers and associated systemic inflammation.