There are days when, after going to a party with friends and drinking a little too much, you wake up the next morning feeling miserable! Headaches, nausea, dry mouth, feeling weak... I don't need to repeat all of this. We call this a ' hangover '. What exactly is a hangover? Why do we get this? Is there no way to get over it quickly? Let's talk about this today.
Why do hangovers really happen?
Although alcohol is the main culprit for a hangover, it affects our bodies in many different ways. Simply put, alcohol is a major shock to our body's systems. These effects combine to make it difficult for us to function the next day. Let's take a look at the main causes.
| Reason | What happens to the body |
|---|---|
| Immune system response | Alcohol causes our immune system to produce proteins called cytokines, which control inflammation in the body. These increase in number can cause symptoms like headaches, fatigue, and nausea. |
| Inflammation in the body | Alcohol is a poison to the body. In response to this, the body produces general inflammation, which makes us feel uncomfortable and sick. |
| Dehydration | Alcohol disrupts the communication between your brain and kidneys. This causes you to urinate more frequently and retain water in your body. This can lead to dry mouth, headaches, and fatigue. |
| Stomach discomfort | Alcohol increases the production of stomach acid. It also delays stomach emptying. The result is stomach pain, nausea, and vomiting. |
| Low blood sugar levels | When you drink alcohol, your body produces more lactic acid and lowers blood sugar levels. This can cause you to feel shaky, sweaty, tired, and hungry. |
| Sleep disturbance | Although alcohol makes you fall asleep quickly, it is not a deep, restful sleep. It disrupts your sleep cycle, so you wake up feeling tired in the morning, as if you didn't get enough sleep. |
| Dilation of blood vessels | Alcohol causes blood vessels to widen (vasodilation). This can temporarily lower blood pressure, which can cause headaches in some people. |
| Congeners | These are by-products of the production of alcohol. They are found in higher concentrations in dark liquors (e.g., brandy, whiskey). They can make a hangover worse. |
How long will this trouble last?
Hangover symptoms usually start to appear within a few hours of stopping drinking. They can vary in severity depending on how much you drank and what you drank. The symptoms are most severe when your blood alcohol level drops back to zero. These symptoms usually last for about a day, but sometimes longer.
What can be done for a hangover?
There is no overnight "magic pill" for a hangover. The truth is, the best way to prevent a hangover is to avoid alcohol altogether or to drink in moderation. But once you do, there are a few things you can do to help reduce the symptoms and provide some relief.
Most importantly: If this hangover continues to affect your work or personal relationships, it's very important to talk to a doctor about your drinking.
1. Drink lots of water
This is the easiest and most important thing. Alcohol causes water retention in the body. So drink fluids like water, juice, fruit juice, or coconut water . This will help reduce headaches and dry mouth caused by dehydration. It is a good habit to drink a glass of water before going to bed after drinking and keep a water bottle by your bed.
2. Give your body a break.
The best medicine for a hangover is time and rest . You need to give your body time to detoxify, dehydrate, and heal any stomach upset . So, get as much rest as possible. Get a good night's sleep. It's best to avoid putting off important tasks until the next day.
3. Eat some light food.
Drinking alcohol lowers blood sugar levels. That's why you feel weak and shaky. The best thing to do for this is to eat a light meal containing carbohydrates .
- A slice of bread
- A cracker biscuit
- A banana
- Some rice
These things can help restore blood sugar levels. However, avoid eating fatty, hard-to-digest foods at this time. They can worsen stomach upset.
4. Take a painkiller (but carefully!)
If you have a headache, you can use a painkiller. But you have to be very careful here.
- Types you can take: Taking a painkiller from the NSAID (Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) group, such as Ibuprofen or Naproxen, can help relieve headaches.
- Types not to take: Do not take painkillers containing acetaminophen (e.g. paracetamol) at this time for any reason . Taking this type of medication while you have alcohol in your body can cause serious damage to your liver. Keep this in mind.
Don't make these mistakes!
There are several mistakes that some people make to try to reduce their hangover, but which actually make the situation worse.
The myth that 'drinking will make you sober'
This is a common, but dangerous, myth. Drinking a little more alcohol the next morning may temporarily relieve your symptoms, but it actually delays the body's ability to heal and starts the destructive cycle all over again. Doctors don't recommend this method at all.
Smoking and drinking together
Some people want to go with both, but studies have shown that people who smoke while drinking can have a worse hangover.
What can you do to avoid a hangover?
Prevention is always better than cure. Try these things to reduce the risk of a hangover.
- Know your limits and drink: Everyone's tolerance is different. Know your limits and don't exceed them.
- Don't drink on an empty stomach: Eat a good meal before drinking alcohol. Food slows down the absorption of alcohol into the body.
- Don't forget to drink water: After drinking a glass of alcohol, drink a glass of water. This can help prevent dehydration and control overeating.
- Control your speed: Drink slowly, no more than one glass of alcohol per hour. This gives your body time to process the alcohol.
- Avoid dark liquors: The congeners we talked about earlier are found in dark liquors like brandy, whiskey, and red wine. These can make a hangover worse.
Take-Home Message
- There is no 'magic pill' that will cure a hangover overnight. The best treatment is time and rest.
- Drink plenty of water and other fluids to prevent dehydration.
- If you are taking a painkiller for a headache, never take Acetaminophen (paracetamol). Instead, take an NSAID like Ibuprofen.
- Restore blood sugar levels by eating light carbohydrates such as bread and biscuits.
- The best thing is always to avoid it. Know your limits, don't drink on an empty stomach, and drink alcohol with water.
- If you feel that alcohol consumption is becoming a problem in your life, don't be afraid to talk to your doctor about it.
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