Have you ever woken up feeling like your mouth had suddenly turned into the Sahara desert itself? Have you ever felt like a thousand needles were poking into your brain? Have you ever heard a siren so freaking loud you almost go deaf then you realize it’s actually just your alarm?
Have you ever felt all those things at once? Then you know what hell feels like. And it’s called a hangover.
While drinking can be extremely fun, the morning after can make it feel like alcohol isn’t worth it at all. But, unfortunately, today we are not talking about how to stop your brain from remembering all the things you did last night.
Today we are going to explore the territory of a hangover.
What is a hangover?
According to Dr. Elizabeth Alcantara, clinical pathologist, a hangover is the sickening feeling after the excessive ingestion of alcoholic beverages, plus the effects caused by the alcohol itself. It’s similar to a state of intoxication of the body added to the symptoms caused by dehydration.
Dehydration happens because alcohol stops the body from producing the hormone that controls the absorption of water, causing the all-known symptoms such as headaches, nausea and dry mouth.
Causes of a hangover
What really causes the hangover is alcoholic content, how hydrated is the body, the amount and how fast the alcohol was ingested. Distillated drinks (vodka, whiskey, rum, etc.) have the highest alcohol strength, which means they cause the strongest alcohol effects and the worst hangovers, especially if not combined with hydration and food.
Also, mixing drinks can create an overload situation on the body, especially with the stomach and liver, worsening the after-effects.
Ways to fight a hangover
The effects of those homemade remedies that are shared online have more to do with the hydration brought by them than the specific action of any of the ingredients. Unfortunately, there’s no magic trick to cure a hangover.
When stuck with a hangover, keep these tips in mind:
- DRINK TONS OF WATER. Really, a lot. Before you drink alcohol, during and after. Keep hydrated. This will avoid and treat the hangover.
- Eat before you drink. Don’t underrate this tip. It goes a long way.
- Keep your hangover meals light and healthy. Get all of those minerals and essential substances back in your body!
- Foods and drinks containing mineral salts are great, since dehydration of the body through urine lowers the level of minerals in the blood.
- Ingesting fruits and candy is also helpful because they compensate the elimination of glycose also through urine. Juice, coconut water and sodas are remarkable at this aspect.
- If you’re going to mix your alcohol: hydrate between drinks and drink slowly.
- Rest a lot. Don’t overload your body, which is intoxicated. Have patience and sleep it off.
- If you can, be monitored by someone else. They can help you if any dangerous symptoms appear: acute pain in the abdomen, difficulty to breathe, vomiting blood, etc.
It’s always important to remember people have different reactions to equal stimulations. With that in mind, the symptoms to hangover can differ between individuals. Some are more sensitive in certain systems and organs than others. A hangover can last from a few hours to over a day (depending on physical conditions of the person), but it will go away by itself.
Know your limits and respect them. But in case you don’t, you can always refer back to this article ;).