Dealing with a hangover
Everyone who drinks too much knows the unpleasant flip side of a night on the tiles – the dreaded hangover.
That horrible morning-after feeling can range in strength and intensity and vary from person to person, but it usually involves a banging headache, sickness, dizziness, dehydration, mild diarrhoea, tiredness and weakness.
A hangover can also leave you struggling to concentrate, irritable and sensitive to light for a prolonged period after your last drink – not a good combination if you want to enjoy the next day and not spend it suffering in bed.
So, what causes a hangover and how can it be treated?
The principal cause is ethanol – the alcohol in your drinks. It is a toxic chemical that works in the body as a diuretic, causing the headache, dry mouth, dizziness and constant nausea. Your hangover eases as the body turns the ethanol into a less toxic chemical. The other factor that affects a hangover is the type of drink you have been downing. Dark drinks tend to make hangovers worse. So does mixing drinks.
What precautions can you take to prevent a hangover?
The Government recommends that men should not regularly drink more than three to four units a day, and women not more than two to three. Units can be complicated to understand, so arm yourself with knowledge before you go out and find out how many units are in your chosen tipple. It may be more than you realise – a large glass of wine, for instance, contains around three units. Follow these guidelines to kick hangovers into touch:
- Keep well within the Government’s recommended limits. That’s the best way to avoid a hangover altogether.
- Try not to drink on an empty stomach; eat something – preferably carbohydrates - before you start drinking. The food will help slow the body’s absorbtion of the alcohol.
- Avoid dark coloured drinks if possible. They contain natural chemicals (congeners) that can worsen the hangover.
- Drink plenty of water or soft drinks in between alcoholic drinks.
What can you do to treat the symptoms?
- Drink as much water as you can before hitting the sack and keep more by the bed to slurp if you wake in the night.
- Take a painkiller – a soluble one in water is best.
- Take an antacid to settle your stomach.
- Remember alcohol is a depressant. A tea or coffee may give you a slight temporary lift, but they may also dehydrate you further, so keep up with the water to counteract this.
- Go for a gentle stroll if you feel able and get some fresh air and light on the face.
- Avoid hair of the dog – you might think it helps but all you’re doing is easing the alcohol withdrawal and delaying the problem.
- Get plenty of rest and relaxation and stay away from booze for at least 24 hours after a heavy session.
- Page last updated by
- Root User, 04 Sep 2009.
- Page checked on
- 10 Oct 2008
