Can a Hangover Cause a Fever? What the Symptoms Really Mean

Woke up feeling feverish after a night of drinking? You’re not alone, and no, you’re not imagining it.

While most people expect a pounding headache or an upset stomach after a night of heavy drinking, some people wake up shivering or burning up with what feels like a fever. But can a hangover cause a fever?

In this article, we’ll dig into the science behind hangovers, why your body might be running hot after drinking, and when a hangover might actually be a warning sign of something more serious.

Can a Hangover Cause a Fever?

An alcohol hangover shouldn’t cause a fever on its own. If your body’s temperature is high during a hangover, it’s likely due to another related cause. The most common culprits are dehydration and inflammation, but other factors could cause it, too.

If the fever rises above 100.4°F, it’s likely due to an underlying infection.

3 Possible Reasons for Hangover Fever

More research is needed to find a plausible connection between a hangover and a fever. Since scientists are still not sure why hangovers occur, there isn’t a clear answer as to why some people get a fever after drinking.

However, there are some causes related to hangovers that may be behind the fever. Here are a few:

1. Your Immune System Is Reacting

Alcoholic drinks trigger a variety of responses in the human body, including raising the cytokine levels 1 or 2 hours after drinking. These cytokines have inflammatory effects, promoting inflammation of the whole body. In turn, the immune system gets triggered to fight the inflammation, possibly increasing the body’s temperature in the process.

2. Your Body Is Losing Heat Fast

In some cases, drinking alcohol has been tied to causing or increasing the risk of hypothermia, which causes the body to lose heat faster than it can produce it. This is especially true in people who are exposed to cold while intoxicated.

Alcohol causes the blood vessels to dilate, making you feel flushed or warm.

The truth is, the dilated vessels cause heat to leave your body faster, and since alcohol prevents you from feeling cold, you may not realize you’re in a state of hypothermia.

Hypothermia may trigger a fever when your body temperature starts to rise again, which may explain why you have a fever after drinking.

3. You Have Low Blood Sugar Levels

If you drink alcohol on an empty stomach or while taking insulin or diabetes medication, it may cause low blood sugar. Alcohol messes with the liver’s ability to release glucose, which may cause hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. It may not happen immediately, but it often occurs a few hours after drinking.

While low blood sugar doesn’t cause a fever, it causes similar symptoms, like shaking, sweating, and confusion, which explains why you might mistake it for a fever. The solution may be as simple as having a high-sugar snack to give your body some quick glucose.

How to Tell If It’s a Hangover or Something More Serious

Hangovers may be uncomfortable, but they shouldn’t be dangerous. If you’re running a fever or suffering from other serious symptoms, you should take a minute to track them. Since fever isn’t one of the common effects of alcohol consumption, you may be suffering from an infection or alcohol poisoning instead.

If you’re experiencing more than one or two of these symptoms, it’d be wise to seek immediate medical attention:

• A fever that doesn’t go down
• Vomiting that doesn’t stop
• Cold and clammy skin
• Seizures and shakes
• Confusion

Some of these symptoms may indicate a dangerously low blood sugar level or kidney failure, so you shouldn’t wait before going to the nearest ER.

Common Symptoms of Hangover That Aren’t Fever

To know whether your symptoms are the result of a hangover or another underlying cause, it might be a good idea to get educated on the common effects of a hangover. Here’s a roundup of the symptoms and their causes:

1. Headache: Alcohol results in dehydration and causes the blood vessels in the brain to expand, triggering a headache.
2. Fatigue: The body needs a lot of energy to metabolize alcohol, so it leaves you fatigued a few hours later. It also disrupts deep sleep, which may promote the feeling of exhaustion even more.
3. Nausea: Alcohol irritates the stomach lining and causes an increased acid production, which induces nausea and vomiting. It’s one of the most common symptoms of hangovers.
4. Lightheadedness: Since alcohol causes dehydration and low blood pressure, it makes you feel dizzy and overall lightheaded.
5. Unusual Thirst: Alcohol makes you lose fluid faster because it’s a diuretic, which, in turn, causes you to become dehydrated and feel thirstier than usual, especially after binge drinking.
6. Light Sensitivity: During a hangover, you’ll likely develop a sensitivity to light and sound because alcohol affects neurotransmitters. This increases sensory sensitivity during a hangover.

Can Alcohol Withdrawal Cause a Fever?

Yes, alcohol withdrawal can cause a fever, and no, it’s not the same as a hangover. While a hangover is the result of occasional or moderate drinking, alcohol withdrawal happens when someone suddenly stops drinking after suffering from alcohol abuse for a long time.

Common withdrawal symptoms may include sweating, nausea, and increased anxiety. In more severe cases, the symptoms may develop to include fever, seizures, and even hallucinations. A 1998 study on alcohol withdrawal lists fever as a common symptom of the alcohol withdrawal syndrome.

How Alcohol Affects the Immune System

According to a 2015 study published on NIH, alcohol consumption impairs nearly every component of the immune system, interfering with immune cell signaling and making it harder for white blood cells to fight off infections. It also messes with the gut barrier, letting toxins leak into the bloodstream.

The impaired immune system may explain why some people suffer from a fever after drinking. Your body is likely fighting off an infection, and the alcohol is making it harder to do so, so your immune system is working twice as hard.

When to See a Doctor for a Fever During a Hangover

You should immediately seek medical help if:

• You have additional symptoms like shortness of breath, rash, or chest pain.
• You suspect you may have alcohol poisoning.
• You’re running a high fever that doesn’t go down within 24–48 hours.
• You’re been drinking heavily for a long time and are witnessing alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

These are often signs of severe hangovers or other life-threatening conditions, so don’t sleep on any of them.

Can You Prevent Hangover Fever?

While you can’t fully prevent a hangover, you can take some steps to ensure you’re safe from other conditions that may cause a fever. Here are a few tips to go by:

• Avoid mixing strong alcoholic beverages because doing so may increase toxin load, increasing the chance of getting alcohol poisoning.
• Try to eat before drinking to slow down alcohol absorption.
• Drink water throughout the day, even while drinking, because consuming a large amount of alcohol can lead to severe dehydration if you don’t drink enough water.
• Stick to one drink per hour and limit alcohol to safe levels if your immune system is weak.
• If you’re already sick or suffering from any health issues, avoid alcohol altogether because it impairs your immune system and makes it harder to fight off infections or inflammation.

Can a Hangover Affect Your Mental Health?

Yes, hangers can have a mental toll on you, especially if you’re a heavy drinker. A lot of people may suffer from a mix of anxiety, guilt, and stress a few hours after drinking.

It usually happens the next day, and it increases the heart rate and cortisol levels, which is the stress hormone.

The result? You may suffer from an inflammatory response or muscle aches, and you’ll likely feel irritated and have an urge to drink again.

According to a 2008 study in Psychopharmacology, hangovers can be tied to cognitive dysfunction and increased irritability. For people struggling with alcohol use disorder, this mental crash can lead to a dangerous cycle of drinking and emotional distress. That’s when medical advice and treatment are needed to reduce reliance on alcohol.

Final Thoughts

If you’re constantly feeling sick or feverish after drinking, your body may be trying to tell you something.

Fever isn’t a standard hangover symptom, so when it happens, it’s a sign that your body is under stress or suffering from an underlying condition. It may be alcohol misuse, a weak immune system, or undiagnosed withdrawal.

The good news is, help is always available. Whether it’s detox, therapy, or other treatment options, at Long Island Interventions, we can help you get the addiction treatment you need to gain control over your life again.

We’ll start with the detox phase, which involves becoming entirely sober. After that, the treatment begins, which may be in different forms according to your condition.

If you’re ready to regain control of your life, we’re only one phone call away: (855) 701-3738.

---

Published on: 2025-06-30
Updated on: 2025-06-30