The quest to “cure” a hangover, or at least make it significantly less painful, has eluded scientists and laypeople alike for years. Today, there is an ever-increasing range of products claiming to alleviate morning-after symptoms, but many researchers remain skeptical of these claims. Here’s what contributes to that miserable feeling and some science-backed advice.
What causes a hangover?
A hangover is the by-product of acute alcohol withdrawal. As your body processes alcohol, it breaks it down into acetaldehyde, a colorless chemical compound. Acetaldehyde is basically a poison, and as your body struggles to metabolize it, your heart rate increases and you may feel nauseous. Furthermore, alcohol works as a diuretic, occasionally inducing some of the most dreaded features of a hangover: sweating, diarrhea, vomiting. These, in turn, further dehydrate the body and can cause a throbbing headache.
What it can relieve: the night
The standard advice for avoiding or lessening the severity of a hangover is still the best: drink in moderation, alternate alcoholic beverages with water, and try not to drink on an empty stomach. Your choice of drinks is also important. Choose bright, light-colored options like light beer and white wine. Darker drinks like bourbon, rum, whiskey and red wine can make hangovers worse. When you get home, taking an aspirin before bed won’t completely prevent a hangover. But a pain reliever can lessen the pain upon waking.
What It Can Soothe: The Morning After
Hydration is just as important the next day. For most people, drinking water or sparkling water is enough. But if you throw up in the morning, or if you sweat a lot during the night because you danced or were in a crowded bar, you should probably look into electrolyte replacement like Gatorade. Caffeine can help you break through the fog. A cup of coffee can be just as effective as the caffeine included in some hangover pills. It is important to replenish vitamins after drinking, but it is better to get them from natural food sources.
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