Poll finds people who drink spend two years of their lives hungover

With New Year’s Eve just around the corner, after a late night, and a few cocktails, many of us may be bracing for a serious hangover.

And while that horrible feeling seems to last forever the next day, have you ever wondered how long you've actually spent in that sedated state?

Healthspan, a British-based online nutritional health site, surveyed 2,000 people over the age of 18 (the drinking age in the U.K.), who said they wake up at least once a month feeling hungover. That equals 724 days over the average adult lifespan-- just under two years-- of hangovers.

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Additionally, the research revealed that one in 20 people may feel the aftermath of alcoholic excess up to six times a month – particularly during the holidays.

So, how much is too much?

According to Dr. Sarah Brewer, as reported by the Morning Advertiser, 30 glasses of wine and 22 pints of beer are consumed by adults in the U.K. leading up to Christmas.

Across the pond, the American College of Physicians (ACP) states that for men, a dose of "five to seven standard cocktails" consumed over a four-to-six-hour period, is "almost always followed by hangover symptoms." For women, the ACP says just three to five drinks will likely lead to an unpleasant morning after.

Women may feel the effects of alcohol on a smaller dose because they metabolize alcohol differently than men, not because of their weight of size, according to the ACP.

According to Blowfish, a company that produces pills for treating hangovers, about 50 percent of people have admitted going to work with a hangover. And all of that sluggish time is costing employers big money.

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In a report from the Centers for Disease Control, excessive drinking cost the U.S. economy nearly $250 billion in 2010.