How do I get over a hangover? This is the burning question in everyone’s mind. No matter how much money you have or how high-class your lifestyle may be, some questions cannot be avoided. If you’ve ever had a night out drinking with friends or family, then this might happen to you at some point.
What do I do? What are the best ways to ease the symptoms of a hangover? The answer is; prevention. By taking certain precautions, it can be possible to avoid suffering from the most common side effects of alcohol consumption (or at least reduce them) which could eventually lead to alcohol poisoning if you really had too much alcohol.
A night of drinking might produce horrible morning after-effects for many people, as well as unpleasant alcohol hangover symptoms. What does scientific research have to say about this? What causes the typical symptoms of a hangover? And, perhaps as old as hangovers themselves, are there any real cures for consuming alcohol?
What Is a Hangover and How Much Alcohol is Needed to Feel Alcohol Poisoning Symptoms?
A hangover is a collection of symptoms that occur after an episode of heavy drinking. The more alcohol consumed, the worse the symptoms are likely to be because of how the body processes alcohol.
Adverse effects include headache, dizziness, and fatigue. The following may also occur: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain, low blood sugar, sensitivity to light and noise, decreased motor skills and concentration; increased anxiety; depression; irritability; sweating; fever; shakiness; muscle aches, pain in the stomach, appetite loss, increased heart rate, and blood pressure. Some people experience mental symptoms like hallucinations or extreme swings in mood. Severe hangovers can result in confusion or fainting because of impaired cognitive and physical functioning.
The long-term effects of alcohol on the brain is a controversial topic. Alcohol influences the central nervous system and can affect nerve responses, neurotransmitters, and regions of the brain responsible for memory. While some research studies have shown that long term exposure to alcohol may lead to physical changes in areas such as the hippocampus, there are also a plethora of studies which have shown that moderate drinking has a protective effect against dementia.
What Are the Causes of Hangover Symptoms?
Symptoms of a hangover are caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Because alcohol inhibits the release of vasopressin, a brain hormone that stimulates the kidneys to retain fluid, it decreases this process. As a result, alcohol increases urination and excessive loss of fluids. The mild dehydration that ensues is likely one cause of hangover symptoms such as thirst, tiredness, and a headache.
- People may sleep more quickly after drinking too much alcohol, but their sleep is fragmented, and wake up earlier. This leads to tiredness as well as reduced productivity.
- Alcohol has been linked to gastrointestinal irritation in humans and animals, leading to nausea and stomach discomfort.
- Alcohol causes inflammation in the body. Inflammation is involved with the malaise that people experience when they are sick. Therefore, it may contribute to hangover symptoms as well.
- Acetaldehyde is a toxic, short-lived byproduct of alcohol metabolism that causes inflammation in the liver, pancreas, brain, gastrointestinal tract, and other organs.
- Because the brain tries to maintain balance after drinking, people may feel calmer, more at ease, and even euphoric for some time. When the high wears off, individuals can become more restless and nervous than before they drank.
- Because people are so varied, predicting how many drinks will cause an alcohol hangover is brutal. There’s always the chance of a hangover after someone gets drunk.
When Does a Hangover Peak and How Long Does It Last?
When the blood alcohol in the body drops to about zero, hangover symptoms peak, the symptoms of alcohol hangover can linger for up to 24 hours.
A hangover that lasts longer than 24 hours is considered a long-term hangover—the body has yet to rid itself of all toxins, and draining off these toxins can lead to severe dehydration. If you think you may be experiencing a long-term hangover, ask your doctor for advice, as symptoms can become more powerful.
Is a Hangover from Alcohol Consumption Dangerous or Just Painful?
Hangovers are unpleasant and potentially hazardous, regardless of the alcohol hangover severity. A hangover can cause a person’s attention, decision-making, and muscular coordination to be disrupted. Also, critical activities such as driving, operating machinery, or caring for others may be hampered.
What are the Best Hangover Cures?
Although several hangover cures are offered on the internet and social media, none have been scientifically verified to be beneficial. There is no silver bullet for overcoming hangovers—and only time will cure it. To recover from alcohol poisoning, a person must first wait for the body to finish removing the harmful byproducts of alcohol metabolism, re-hydrate, heal inflamed tissue, and restore immune and brain activity to normal. There is no known way to speed up the brain’s recovery from alcohol use, and drinking coffee, taking a shower, or having an alcoholic drink the following day will not cure a hangover.
To prevent hangovers, some people take over-the-counter pain pills (usually acetaminophen) before going to bed. It’s vital to note that the combination of alcohol and acetaminophen can be harmful to the liver. Aspirin and ibuprofen, for example, can induce acid secretion and irritate the stomach mucosa before or after drinking alcohol, use these medicines with caution.
Some individuals resort to electrolyte-rich sports drinks or other goods and intravenous treatments to treat electrolyte imbalance brought on by increased urination and fluid loss as a result of drinking. The severity of hangovers has not been linked to the degree of electrolyte abnormalities or the impact of extra electrolytes on hangover severity. Once alcohol’s effects have subsided, the body’s normal balance will be restored in most individuals.
Finally, the only surefire cure for a hangover is to avoid drinking in excess or choosing not to drink.
Hangover Symptoms Can Be Affected by a Variety of Substances, Not Just Drinking Alcohol
Alcohol is the primary cause of a hangover, but other elements in alcoholic beverages might aggravate hangover symptoms or make matters worse.
- Fermentation produces congeners, substances other than ethyl alcohol, in addition to ethanol. These materials contribute to the flavor and odor of alcoholic beverages. For some individuals, darker spirits, such as bourbon, which have higher amounts of congeners than clear spirits, may exacerbate hangover symptoms.
- Sulfites are chemicals that are added to wine as preservatives. Sulfite-sensitive wine consumers might get a headache after drinking it.
Common Hangover Myths
Myth: Hangovers can be prevented or alleviated by performing various activities, such as drinking coffee or taking a shower.
Fact: The only way to avoid a hangover is not to consume alcohol at all or to drink moderately. There is no cure for a hangover other than time.
Myth: The sequence of beverages will have an impact on a hangover—as evidenced in the saying, “never sicker than when I drank beer before liquor.”
Fact: The more alcoholic a person drinks, the more severe their hangover will be. This is true whether a person consumes beer, wine, distilled spirits, or a combination of these beverages.
Myth: A hangover is a condition that results from a night of heavy drinking, in which you wake up feeling terrible. Drinking an alcoholic drink in the morning after a night of drinking can help avoid a hangover—a common term for “the hair of the dog that bit you.”
Fact: While this may temporarily relieve some hangover symptoms, it can contribute to and exacerbate the malaise and other hangover symptoms.
Tips for preventing a hangover
- Follow a drinking schedule. Alcohol’s effects accumulate and can cause blackouts and vomiting while driving, rendering you unable to prevent harm to yourself and others.
- Avoid dark or unfamiliar drinks: some people may be allergic or sensitive to specific ingredients, such as additives in darker spirits, preservatives in wine, or sulfites in some wines.
- Prevent a hangover by drinking water or other nonalcoholic fluids before going to sleep.
- Avoid taking painkillers that include acetaminophen, as these can be toxic to the liver when taken with alcohol.
- Choose a designated driver who will not drink or encourage others to drink.
- Avoid drinking games and other contests that involve alcohol consumption.
- Eat before you drink, such as bread at a restaurant before your first cocktail.
- Alternate alcoholic drinks with nonalcoholic ones; this can help slow the absorption of alcohol into the blood.
- If you drink beer, choose light beer instead of heavy beer.
- Avoid dark or unfamiliar drinks: some people may be allergic or sensitive to specific ingredients, such as additives in darker spirits, preservatives in wine, or sulfites in some wines.
How to avoid getting hungover in the first place!
- Drink responsibly, don’t drink past your limit!
- Alternate between alcoholic drinks and water, so you stay hydrated.
- Eat before drinking to slow the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream!
- Alternate between alcoholic drinks with nonalcoholic ones; it slows the rate of alcohol absorption.
- If you drink beer, choose light beer instead of heavy beer!
- Avoid dark or unfamiliar drinks: some people may be allergic or sensitive to specific ingredients, such as additives in darker spirits, preservatives in wine, or sulfites in some wines.
How to get rid of a hangover?
Trying to cure a hangover with another drink! There is no cure for a hangover, and the best way to avoid one is by drinking in moderation. Some people find that eating before they go out can help prevent a hangover, as their body has to work harder when there are toxins in the bloodstream from alcohol, and it is processing the food. As the alcohol is absorbed more slowly, this prevents a hangover and can help prevent dehydration, and can give you more energy.
Drinking water or sports drinks before going to sleep can help you hydrate. Some people believe that eating greasy meals aids in the alleviation of hangover symptoms since their bodies must work hard to digest the food and delay the absorption of the alcohol into their bloodstream.
What are the drinking limits in America?
Adults of legal drinking age may choose not to drink or to drink in moderation by restricting intake to 2 drinks or less per day for men and one drink or less per day for women when alcohol is consumed, according to the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. One’s health should drink less than more.
Some adults should not drink alcohol, such as women who are pregnant. Adults who choose to drink, and are not among the individuals listed below who should not drink, are encouraged to limit daily intakes to align with the Dietary Guidelines. People who do not drink should not start drinking for any reason.
When is it still too much to consume in moderation?
Certain people should not drink alcohol, according to the 2020–2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
• Taking medicines that are affected by alcohol
• Managing a medical condition that may be exacerbated by drinking
• In the United States, the minimum legal drinking age is 21.
• Being unable to control how much you drink or recovering from alcoholism (Alcohol use disorder or AUD)
• If you are pregnant, certain features will be easy to notice.
In addition, individuals who want to drive a car or use machinery—or participate in sports that require skill, coordination, and attention—should avoid alcohol altogether.
Why are women more vulnerable to alcohol-related problems than men?
Women who drink are more susceptible to short- and long-term alcohol-related problems, including liver damage, heart disease, neurotoxicity, and alcohol-related memory blackouts.
Another cause is that alcohol is primarily found in the body water of women, who have less water in their bodies than men. This implies that after a woman and a man of the same weight drink the same amount of alcohol, her blood alcohol concentration (BAC) will be higher, putting her at greater risk for damage.
There are numerous other biological factors to consider. While alcohol misuse by anybody is a serious public health issue, women develop alcohol-related problems sooner and lower drinking quantities than males. Women who drink are also more likely to get breast cancer than those who don’t consume alcohol.
What is the definition of alcohol misuse?
Binge drinking and heavy drinking are two types of alcohol misuse. AUD can occur as a result of alcohol abuse. The risk is higher the more drinks you have on any given day, and the longer you engage in alcohol misuse.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), binge drinking is a pattern of taking alcohol with a BAC of 0.08 percent or higher, which is known as blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of 0.08 percent or higher.
This pattern refers to downing five or more alcoholic beverages (male) or four alcoholic beverages (female) in approximately 2 hours for an average adult.
