What to Do In Between the Drinking and the Sleeping

OK, so you went out drinking and now the fun is over and you know that if you don't do something quick, you are going to regret the amount of fun you just had. What can you do once you come home from a night out drinking and before you go to sleep, that will help to prevent or lessen the damage of the impending hangover?

There are a few things you can do to lessen the pain. The prevention or pre-sleep cures all center around the science of the hangover. In other words what makes up the handover. The hangover occurs because of too much alcohol in the system, so you want to speed up the absorption of the alcohol by your body. Another thing that happens during alcohol consumption is that your body becomes dehydrated. So, the prevention or cure needs to address both the alcohol absorption and the dehydration issues.

Water, your body craves it when you have not been drinking. Consuming alcohol means that your body is in desperate need of water. The headache symptom everyone hates is a major part of the hangover. The headache is actually caused by the dehydration your body is enduring as a result of your alcohol intake. The body once in a dehydrated state, actually will absorb water from the brain, which in turn shrinks it a bit. This absorption and shrinking of the brain causes the headache, dry mouth and part of the fatique you feel during the hangover. Drinking water in between alcoholic drinks, and drinking water as soon as you get home and then again first thing after waking will lessen the chance for dehydration and perhaps even keep your body from getting dehydrated. Do not drink caffeinated drinks such as tea or coffee and sodas containing caffeine as they will further dehydrate you.

The water will also flush the alcohol from your body. Other good drinks are: apple juice, Hawaiian Punch, and Gatorade. Stay away from milk as it can be difficult to digest if your stomach tends to get quesy from too much alcohol. If you do become nauseated upon return home, then take a few small sips of plain room temperature water. Also, if your stomach is upset, you will want to avoid drinks that contain acid, like orange juice and carbonated drinks.

Sugar is actually good because without sugar stores in the liver, we can feel lightheaded and weak.

Take two Ibuprofen before going to sleep. Do not take acetaminophen (Tylenol) as alcohol and acetaminophen do not mix and may cause liver damage if taken together too often. Aspirin can contribute to stomach bleeding. Your safest choice for pain relief is Ibuprofen. It is wise to take a little food with Ibuprofen though or some Pepto Bismol or Mylanta to soothe the stomach.

Some other precautions to take before you go to sleep is to put a solid sided wastebasket or a bucket near your mattress, which should be low to the floor or on the floor. If possible, unplug the phone or turn down the ringer on your cell phone.

Here is the in between drinking and sleeping steps to take (print and keep handy)

1. Swallow the Pepto Bismol or Mylanta

2. Take 2 Ibuprofen with a full 8 oz glass of water

3. Eat a big chocolate chip cookie, candy bar or brownie

4. Arrange your mattress ,wastebasket and phones, take one more full glass of water

5. Climb into bed.