A hangover can be the body’s way of letting you know you need to rehydrate and fast. Common symptoms include a headache, fatigue, nausea, sweating, diarrhoea, extreme thirst, dizziness, sweating, and a dry mouth. But by knowing how to combat a hangover before it even begins, you can learn how to recover in record time. In this article, we’ll help to familiarise you with a number of hangover hacks before your next night out on the town.
Drink fluids
The best way to banish a hangover is to drink fluids either between each alcoholic beverage or before you go to bed. By replenishing your hydration levels ahead of time, you can ensure you are not rudely awoken by a worsening headache or the unstoppable desire to vomit. Alcohol inhibits the release of vasopressin, the hormone responsible for decreasing the volume of urine produced by the kidneys. As a result, it can trigger frequent urination. If your hangover is accompanied by recurrent bouts of diarrhoea or vomiting, you may be severely dehydrated. By failing to react, this can prolong your hangover and lengthen your recovery period. If the thought of drinking water leaves you with an unpleasant taste in your mouth, a hangover drink may be the solution for you. With this hangover hack, you can wake up and feel like yourself again.
Load up on carbohydrates
If you are dehydrated, you, and your body, may benefit from consuming more carbohydrates than you usually would on any given day. When you drink alcohol, your blood sugar levels deplete. As a result, a headache or fatigue may materialise due to your brain working overtime without its main fuel source. Additionally, food does not tend to be a top priority for most people whilst they are drinking alcohol. This can further lower blood sugar levels and worsen your hangover. As soon as you wake up, try nibbling on two slices of toast and drinking a large glass of orange juice.
Take pain relief
As well as being generally unpleasant, hangovers can also be painful. Over-the-counter pain relief should be enough to relieve any enduring headaches and get you back to your normal self in no time. Aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, or any other anti-inflammatory drug can save you from feeling achy or shivery. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, however, can irritate your stomach even further and acetaminophen can trigger a toxic reaction if there are remnants of alcohol lingering in your liver. As alcohol can induce diuresis, some water-soluble vitamins can also end up becoming depleted from the body. They may not necessarily have a dramatic impact on hangover symptoms, but the consumption of B vitamins and zinc can make a subtle difference from the inside out.
Avoid dark-coloured alcoholic beverages
Whether you are looking for ways to recover from a hangover as it is happening or are just looking out for your future self, damage limitation can go a long way to improving the overall severity of your hangover. Researchers have pointed to a link between dark-coloured alcoholic beverages, such as whiskey, rum, red wine, and tequila, and frequent hangovers. Clear liquors, on the other hand, such as gin and vodka, tend to be a little more forgiving. Ethanol is the main form of alcohol found in these drinks, but darker-coloured beverages also contain a series of chemically related compounds called congeners such as methanol. As these compounds are especially toxic, they can potentially cause worse hangovers.
Drink coffee or tea
Drinking coffee or tea may be the last thing on your mind the morning after but it can make a big difference to the severity of your hangover. Caffeine itself has not been found to relieve hangover symptoms but, as a stimulant, it may reduce grogginess and fatigue. Coffee is, however, similar to alcohol in that it is a diuretic. It may, therefore, end up causing further dehydration and prolonging your hangover. Drinking coffee may also mask the effects of alcohol so you may end up feeling more sober than you actually are. If you are looking for a quick energy boost to get you back on your feet, a cup of coffee or tea should do the trick.
Eat as soon as you can
Eating may also be the last thing on your mind, but it can limit the length of time you are forced to contend with your hangover. Eating in the morning can regulate your blood sugar levels and provide you with, at the very least, partial relief from your hangover.
A hangover is never a pleasant experience. But with the right hangover hacks, you can learn to combat them before they have a chance to ruin your day. If you wake up with an alcohol-induced headache, try drinking fluids, loading up on carbohydrates, taking pain relief, avoiding dark-coloured alcoholic beverages, drinking coffee or tea, and eating as soon as you can.
