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What is a hangover?
A hangover is a symptom that breaks your mood, it does not let you get up straight from the bed, it causes pain in muscles that you didn’t even know existed and… “Gods, I will never drink again”! At least that’s how we usually think when we have a hangover.
Generally, the headache pulsing with every move made – and with some moves not made as well – is a result of the previous night, which was fun, but maybe a little overblown. Okay, who am I kidding? If you have a hangover, maybe it’s not. There was exaggeration .
A hangover, scientifically called veisalgia, is nothing more than signals from our body that we have drunk too much alcohol.
When we drink alcohol, the stomach and intestine send the alcohol to the blood and then to the liver, which metabolizes it. He is able to process around one dose of alcohol per hour.
If we get past that, the hangover can appear, and the more we overdo it, the stronger it gets. Shall we learn a little bit about this effect of post-drinking mornings?
Metabolism of alcohol in the body
When we drink, the alcohol goes to the stomach and then to the intestine, which does most of the absorption of the substance, and it does it quickly, taking the alcohol into the blood and from there to the liver.
Unlike the intestine, the liver cannot process alcohol that fast. Its average capacity is around 10 grams of alcohol per hour, the equivalent of just under a can of beer or a glass of wine.
Any excess remains in the blood until the liver is released. That is, if you drink two glasses of wine in an hour, which is equivalent to approximately 24 grams of alcohol, it will take the liver about two and a half hours to process all of this.
During the first hour, at least 14 grams of alcohol will be circulating through your blood, brain and throughout your body.
Your neurons end up being affected by this alcohol and the result is drunkenness. The more alcohol you drink, the longer it lasts and the stronger the intoxication.
What causes a hangover?
There is no consensus on the mechanisms of the hangover, but we know a few things:
- If the liver receives more alcohol than it can process, we will have a hangover.
- If we get too dehydrated (and alcohol is diuretic, it helps to dehydrate), we will have a hangover.
- If we run out of electrolytes in the blood, we will have a hangover.
Basically, what brings all that suffering the next day is a combination of alcoholic intoxication and dehydration, which is a consequence of the intoxication, in addition to the lack of glucose.
After all, our body was not made to drink as much alcohol as we do, and a hangover is his way of telling us that we overdose the dose (or, let’s face it, the doses , plural).
What are the symptoms?
You probably know the symptoms of a hangover. They usually show up the next morning, when you wake up – that’s when they aren’t the ones who wake you up.
However, it is possible to feel them four to six hours after you stop drinking, even without sleeping. Are they:
Headache
Headaches are the most classic symptom. Strong, they make you want to lie in bed doing nothing, but it’s not like it helps a lot. A standing head hurts, moving the head causes stinging pain. Loud sounds can also make the pain worse.
Body ache
The muscles can be sore and moving can be uncomfortable. Pains in the arms and legs are common.
Pain in the eyes
The eyes can be sore and very sensitive to light, making the headache worse. Any strong lighting bothers you.
Sickness
Nausea and vomiting may be severe and an empty stomach worsens the sensation, although the desire to eat is not great just because of nausea.
Lack of appetite
During a hangover, we don’t feel like eating. This is mainly due to nausea, but remember that eating is important to cure the symptoms.
Dehydration
Alcohol is a diuretic. Much of the symptoms listed here are due to a lack of water in the body, which is used by the liver to metabolize alcohol and is eliminated through the urine. Remember that the night before, while drinking, you went to the bathroom every 20 minutes? The result is dehydration.
Headquarters
When water is lacking, the body asks for more. Waking up with a dry mouth and thirst is one of the symptoms of a hangover. Drinking plenty of water can help to relieve them.
Diarrhea
Through diarrhea , the body also loses a lot of water. This symptom is the effect of alcohol intoxication, which happens when you drink more than the liver is able to metabolize in a short period of time.
Tiredness
After waking up from a hangover, you won’t feel like doing anything. The tiredness is strong and the body really needs the rest to be able to recover from the drinking.
How to cure hangover?
Treating a hangover is simple, but not especially quick. It may take a few hours or even the whole day for the symptoms to go away, depending on how efficient you are at it.
Hydration
This is the main step. If you have to choose between a single of these tips, choose this one. It won’t save you from the hangover, but it will help.
Hydrating yourself is extremely important to relieve your hangover, since most of the symptoms are due to a lack of water in the body.
Water, if possible with a spoonful of sugar and a pinch of salt, can work wonders. This will also help to clean your body a little, making you urinate more. Remember to replace the water after urinating.
food
Drinking can cause you to lose a lot of glucose during the metabolization of alcohol. Eating is essential. Put glucose back! Breads and rice are good for this.
In addition to glucose, filling the stomach can relieve nausea. Eggs are also recommended and can relieve symptoms.
However, it is recommended to avoid fatty foods. They can irritate the stomach more. Prefer pasta and sweets. Boiled eggs are more suitable than fried eggs for their fat.
Café
Caffeine is stimulating, so headaches and tiredness can be relieved by drinking strong coffee, especially if you have sugar, which replenishes glucose and gives you energy.
However, it is important to remember that the hangover will only go away when the liver has finished metabolizing the alcohol that is still in your system and your brain has rested.
Caffeine is also not the best stomach companion and can make nausea worse, so be careful with the amount.
Coffee can make headaches worse or better. If they are strong, the substance can make them worse by constricting blood vessels, but if you are used to drinking coffee, a lack of it can cause withdrawal symptoms. The ideal is to take just a little coffee for a hangover.
Coffee does not speed up the metabolism of alcohol, but it can improve the feeling. But be careful, coffee is a diuretic, you will pee a little more. This means two things:
- You will clean your body a little;
- You will lose water.
That is, coffee helps, but it must be accompanied by water to maintain its hydration. You have a hangover, remember to hydrate yourself. But be careful not to overdo it, as everything in excess is bad.
I’m
Sleeping does not help much with the symptoms of a hangover and it can be difficult to fall asleep during one, but it is important. Your body is tired and sleeping helps you to recover.
Don’t drink anymore
Someone may have told you that continuing to drink will cure your hangover. Unfortunately that someone does not know what he is talking about.
The reason for the hangover is the toxicity of alcohol in your body, adding more alcohol will only make you worse!
The effects of alcohol can distract you from the hangover, but it will come back stronger when it passes. You will only get more intoxicated and eventually you will have to face the hangover improved by the amount ingested.
Also, be careful! Alcohol may be a legal drug, but it is still addictive, and alcoholism is one of the strongest and most dangerous addictions.
Medicines
Some medications can help with a hangover. Pain relievers can relieve headaches and body pain, while some can speed up the metabolism of the liver. There are some medications that should be avoided, for example tylenol, as its active ingredient fights with alcohol.
Medicines
Hangover medications are varied and can be used to relieve pain, nausea and diarrhea.
To combat headaches and body aches, you can use:
- Ibuprofen ;
- Aspirin .
Remember that paracetamol does not react well with alcohol, as they both affect the liver, which is why it should be avoided for hangovers.
Other medications serve to protect the liver from the harmful effects of the drink. Some of them are made exclusively to deal with the hangover:
- Engov ;
- Epocler;
- Post drink.
Attention!
NEVER self-medicate or stop using a medication without first consulting a doctor. Only he will be able to tell which medication, dosage and duration of treatment is the most suitable for his specific case. The information contained in this website is only intended to inform, not in any way intended to replace the guidance of a specialist or serve as a recommendation for any type of treatment. Always follow the instructions on the package insert and, if symptoms persist, seek medical or pharmaceutical advice.
Hangover kit
There are some things that not everyone has at home, but that no one regrets if they need it. Fire extinguishers, first aid kits, toolbox… and why not a hangover kit?
A hangover kit consists of a few items that serve to alleviate the problem. You can buy some ready-made ones, but you can also assemble your own. Is not difficult!
The items listed below can be kept close together so that, when necessary, you have an easy hangover cure near you.
In case of a hangover, break the glass (Do not literally break the glass. Noise can increase the headache).
Mineral water
A bottle of mineral water is very important. Recovers your hydration. In addition, it makes a perfect match with the next item on the list.
Rehydration Solutions
The solutions for rehydration are usually flaconettes of concentrated electrolytes that, mixed with water, rehydrate the body efficiently. You can mix it in the water bottle and drink it to make sure your body will stay well hydrated.
There are several brands, flavors and even mixes already ready, in which it is not necessary to add water. Some of them are:
- Hidrafix ;
- Aquaben ;
- Rehidrat ;
- Sindrat ;
- Pedialyte.
Isotonic
Sports isotonic drinks are a good addition to the hangover kit. They play the same role as rehydration solutions, so they can be another alternative and a great ally to make that horrible feeling go away a little faster.
- Gatorade;
- Ironage.
Food
Some sweets, preferably, are recommended. A small chocolate bar is a sensational idea, but you can also add a small packet of crackers or toast. Anything that replenishes the glucose in your blood is welcome.
How to prevent a hangover?
It can be said that the best way to prevent a hangover is to not drink. But, if you are reading this text, you will either ignore this warning or it is too late for that and you are already thinking about the next time.
In addition, certain dates bring the hangover with you. Christmas, New Year and World Cup, are some examples of events that are usually accompanied by a beer or caipirinha.
Here are some tips for you to enjoy parties without a hangover – or, at least, with a slightly weaker hangover.
Don’t drink on an empty stomach
Before you start drinking, eat bread, pasta or cereal. This will give you two advantages. The first is that your stomach will be protected from alcohol, making nausea more difficult or reducing its effects.
The second advantage of eating before drinking is that alcohol is absorbed through the stomach very quickly. However, if you eat bread before, for example, alcohol will be absorbed by the bread and less of it will go directly into the blood.
As the bread, pizza, cereal (or whatever) soaked in alcohol is digested, the alcohol is absorbed, but now at a slower pace. This will give your liver more time to metabolize the toxin, reducing the chances of you having a hangover.
Drink water between drinks
Dehydration is a big problem and it makes the hangover worse the next day. To avoid this, drink a glass of water for each dose of the chosen drink, plus an extra for each visit to the bathroom, and you will be hydrated. If the hangover comes, it will be a little weaker.
Remember to drink plenty of water when you get home.
Sleep before drinking
Drunk sleep is not ideal if you plan on waking up rested, so resting before drinking can be a good idea. The hangover may still come, but at least you won’t be so exhausted and your body will have more energy to recover.
Does mixing drinks make your hangover worse?
This is a myth. What causes a hangover is to have more alcohol in the body than the liver is able to process. Where this alcohol came from or what form it was used to produce it in is irrelevant. Alcohol is alcohol in any drink and in any percentage.
The hangover is a problem the next morning, but with a little care it is possible to enjoy the drink without suffering too much from it. And if it does reach you, there is a way to relieve the symptoms.
Share this text with your friends so you can escape the hangover!
