Do I have a hangover or covid? Experts help you find out

Discomfort upon waking with a headache, intense fatigue or sore throat could confuse dehydration after a day of drinking with the new omicron variant

When the variant of covid-19 today called omicron began to spread through southern Africa, it raised the alert of scientists. His contagiousness was faster than usual and he quickly jumped from one human being to another human being. Faced with the threat of a virus that has killed more than 5 million people, according to the World Health Organization , data was collected to analyze their behavior, scope and symptoms that they now have are re-examined.

On these dates a possible confusion has appeared that doctors have taken into account. The effects of omicron are very similar to those of a hangover ( headache, migraine or tiredness on waking) and this could complicate diagnoses. So doctors have had to point out some indications to help differentiate the result of alcohol consumption from infection with the virus .

Dr. Angelique Coetzee reveals from South Africa that this new mutation of the virus has caused different symptoms such as "intense fatigue" and an increased heart rate . She also includes a "scratchy" throat as a novelty .

How do I know if I have a hangover or covid-19?

The first key factor that experts point out to know if you have covid-19 or a hangover is obvious. Have you drunk alcohol? Without the intake of beverages it would be impossible to feel the consequences of dehydration, which is really the problem of what is called "hangover". It may be a good time to follow the methods to quit alcohol once and for all .

The second clue to find out if it was alcohol or the coronavirus that caused the bad body in the morning after a festive day is the persistence of discomfort . According to Dr. Adam Caputa, the symptoms can "mimic a hangover," especially in the early stages of contagion . However, the main difference is the duration time. Typically, the effects of alcohol wear off, so if they last longer than usual, it's probably time to get tested and see a doctor.

At this point, how to differentiate the fatigue produced during the Christmas holidays from that caused by the virus? " If your fatigue comes with a high body temperature, cough, muscle pain, or trouble breathing , you should isolate yourself and get a PCR test as soon as possible," explains Dr. Ed Patrick in The New York Post , a US newspaper, a country with considerable experience with this variant because it is already present in more than 70% of infections.

In addition, Dr. Adam Caputa has also warned that if both problems were combined with a hangover and contagion, the effects would probably be twice as annoying , since the virus would amplify the symptoms of the alcoholic day.

The usual symptoms of covid-19

The main symptoms of covid-19 , according to the British authorities, can be summarized in three:

• High temperature
• A new and persistent cough
• Loss or change with smell

In contrast, experts recall that the omicron variant has displayed a broader number of symptoms, although the loss of smell experienced with other mutations such as Delta has not been observed in most patients with the new version of the coronavirus . However, they insist on monitoring common symptoms such as constant coughing (and its associated throat problems), multiple sneezes, and a high fever.