Hangover Causes and Cures

While the night that led up to them might be, hangovers themselves are not fun. So, in order to avoid the misery the next morning, you should be aware of some of the main causes of hangovers and their cures.

The ethanol in alcoholic beverages is what gives you the “buzzed” feeling when you drink, and is also what causes you to become dehydrated. Drinking plenty of water before and after your night out can help.

As the ethanol works its way into your system, the liver breaks it down. The chemical reaction required to do this impairs the liver’s supply of glucose to the rest of the body. A lack of glucose can cause the fatigue, weakness, and other symptoms of a hangover. The extra sugar in sweeter mixed drinks can also mess with your glucose levels.

Congeners are found in alcohol due to the fermentation process. The darker the alcohol, the more likely it will have congeners in it.

If you smoke, you might want to leave the cigarettes at home when you head to the bar. Many smokers tend to smoke more when they drink, leading to nicotine poisoning and terrible hangovers.

The more you drink in less time will have an effect on your hangover the next day. So try to space out your drinks throughout the evening.

Eating before you go out will help to absorb the alcohol and cause you to metabolize less. Eating something when you get home may also help. Eating some bar food can also help keep you from metabolizing the alcohol too quickly.

If you think that you are going to have a hangover the next morning, prepare your favorite remedy the night before and put it in the fridge. That way you can just drink it down, instead of having to deal with the blender.

Watch what you drink. Try to choose alcohols that are low in congeners, and do not mix different types of alcohols together. Try to order some non-alcoholic drinks in between your alcoholic ones to help yourself to stay hydrated. Many bars will offer “virgin” varieties of popular mix drinks that you can use to fool your friends. This will also help you stick to the one drink per hour rule.

When you get home for the evening, try to drink some water or juice and take a multivitamin. This will help to replenish some of the fluids and nutrients that you lost during the evening out, helping you to feel better in the morning. When you wake up, be sure to drink plenty of water, take a multivitamin, and use your prepared hangover remedy.

If, at any point during your evening out or the morning after, you have tremors, severe stomach pain, or see blood when you throw up, you should get to an emergency room right away (have someone else drive or call for an ambulance). These can be symptoms of severe alcohol poisoning that needs medical treatment right away before you get any sicker.

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All articles on this site are for information only and should not be treated as medical advice.
If you experience any symptoms, consult a medical professional.