Hangover Cures
The reason many hangover cures do not work 100% is that no scientifically proven cause for a hangover is found yet.
Although there are correlations with the various symptoms of the “Irish flu”, you will find tips for avoiding hangovers and for easing the symptoms if you have one, but not a cure. Hangovers are a mild version of what drug addicts suffer when they experience withdrawals. It is nature’s way of saying you are harming your health.
• Men should not regularly drink more than three units of alcohol a day- one large glass of wine is three units.
• Women should not regularly drink more than two to three units a day.
Why is Alcohol Bad For You?
• Drinking leads to dehydration because alcohol increases urine output by inhibiting the release of an antidiuretic hormone, meaning the kidneys don’t conserve water as well, and you urinate more.
• When large amounts of alcohol are consumed in a short period of time, alcohol poisoning can result.
• Chronic alcohol abuse disrupts the proteins that keep fluids out of the lung, lowers the protective antioxidants, disrupts immune defenses and can lead to a condition known as ‘alcoholic lung’.
• Alcohol is a depressant and it slows the function of the central nervous system. It actually blocks some of the messages trying to get to the brain. This alters a person’s perceptions, emotions, movement, vision, and hearing.
• Research suggests that hangover symptoms are related to abnormalities in the brain, which may occur in binge drinkers. A lot of withdrawal from substances is related to poor cognitive and brain outcomes.
Symptoms of a Hangover:
Hangover is the sum of unpleasant physiological effects following heavy consumption of alcoholic beverages. Unfortunately, we are all aware of some of the unpleasant after effects of a hangover:
• Dehydration.
• Nausea.
• Vomiting.
• Headache.
• Fatigue.
• Sensitivity to light and noise.
• Diarrhea and thirst.
• Depression, anxiety, and irritability.
• Decreased attention and concentration.
• Muscle aches.
Hangover Cures – Tips:
• Consume less than one drink per hour. Your liver breaks down alcohol at the rate of about a beer an hour, so spreading out the drinking over the course of an evening will lessen the likelihood of a hangover.
• Before you drink, make sure you have eaten. Carbohydrates such as pasta or bread help absorb the alcohol in your stomach to slow the rate at which it enters your bloodstream.
• Drinking water the next morning helps, but it’s best to interrupt your alcohol drinking with a few glasses along the way.
• A multivitamin might help by replenishing some of the B vitamins you’ve pissed away during the course of the evening.
• Over-the-counter painkillers can help with headaches and muscle cramps. Paracetamol-based remedies are usually preferable. Aspirin may upset the stomach and aggravates the symptoms of a hangover. Acetaminophen- Tylenol, when mixed with the alcohol still in your bloodstream, might cause your liver to explode.
• Avoid energy drinks, coffee or anything else with caffeine in it. Caffeine will dehydrate you, contributing to a potential hangover.
• Eating some fruit is also a good idea. It’ll be refreshing and give you the vitamins and energy you’ll need to replenish your body.
• Have some tablespoons of plain honey, or add some honey to your water or cup of tea. It’ll help soothe the dryness in your throat.
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Hangover Cures- References:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/stoke/features/christmas/ hangover cures .shtml.
http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/alcohol/Pages/ Hangovers.aspx.
Perry, Lacy. “HowStuffWorks “How Hangovers Work””. Health.howstuffworks.com. http://health.howstuffworks.com/hangover.htm.
Wiese JG, Shlipak MG, Browner WS (6 June 2000). “The alcohol hangover”. Ann. Intern. Med. 132 (11): 897–902.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Hangover.
