But the best way to avoid a hangover is to drink in moderation or abstain completely. Although hypoglycemia is not a major cause of hangovers, it may contribute to symptoms such as weakness and headache. Although they won’t completely prevent a hangover, some supplements might help ease your symptoms. Read on for ways to prevent or alleviate a hangover before, during, and after you drink. However, the progression and severity of symptoms over time can vary from one person to the next.
Give it time
For this reason, the best way to prevent hangovers is to drink in moderation — or abstain completely. SummaryCertain dietary supplements — including B vitamins and zinc — may reduce hangover symptoms. Other people seem to be able to get away with several drinks, or even a night of heavy drinking, without experiencing much in the way of next-day effects.
- If you do get a hangover, know that the unpleasant symptoms won’t last forever.
- Try bland foods that are easy on your stomach, like toast and crackers, and drink some juice.
- Aspirin and other anti-inflammatories, such as ibuprofen and naproxen, are effective at relieving aches and pains.
- You can also learn from the experience and take steps to try to prevent a hangover, like staying hydrated, the next time you go out for cocktails or have wine with dinner.
How are hangovers diagnosed?
Drinking a lot of alcohol and going to bed early do not necessarily go hand in hand. However, getting plenty of sleep can help reduce the effects of a hangover the following day. Pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) filter through the liver the same way alcohol does. Healthcare professionals caution using this type of medication regularly along with alcohol as it can increase the risk of liver damage. While there is no cure for a hangover other than time, it may be possible to reduce the severity of some symptoms.
- While most over-the-counter hangover remedies won’t help much, there’s one supplement that may do you some good – but you’ll have to plan ahead.
- However, it is essential to remember that excessive drinking, and even moderate drinking, can have an adverse impact on a person’s short-term or long-term health.
- But the best way to avoid a hangover is to drink in moderation or abstain completely.
- Hangover symptoms can linger for a day or sometimes longer.
Unsupported remedies
A how long do hangovers last is the feeling of illness that follows alcohol consumption. It begins as a person’s blood alcohol levels decrease after they stop drinking, and it can last for 24 hours or more. Several strategies may help reduce the severity of hangovers. These include avoiding drinks high in congeners, drinking plenty of water, getting adequate sleep, and having a nutritious breakfast.
Dizziness is exacerbated by alcohol toxicity, as well as by dehydration. The combination of these physiologic effects of alcohol can cause several of the symptoms of a hangover. Getting a good night’s sleep and allowing your body to recover may alleviate your symptoms and make a hangover more bearable.
Hangover Cures
“I like to call coconut water nature’s sports drink,” Sassos says. “It’s packed with electrolytes to help get your body back to normal and also contains potassium which can help your cells maintain good fluid balance.” Hangovers are very common in people who consume too much alcohol.
And alcohol is a diuretic, which means it makes you pee a lot and lose a lot of liquid. If you’ve ever had a few too many drinks on a night out, you know what the next morning can bring. The nausea, headache, parched mouth, and fatigue are telltale signs you’ve got a serious hangover. Drinking in moderation or not at all is the best way to avoid a hangover. However, it is essential to remember that excessive drinking, and even moderate drinking, can have an adverse impact on a person’s short-term or long-term health.
A small 2019 study found that participants whose food and drinks contained greater amounts of B vitamins and zinc had milder hangovers (4). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen may help relieve hangover symptoms, but they can also irritate the lining of your stomach. Drinking alcohol is linked to a number of serious health conditions including heart problems, high blood pressure, poor mental health, and seven types of cancer.
Measuring your drinks
Fortunately, there are several ways to relieve symptoms of a hangover, as well as steps you can take to prevent or limit it. Studies show that if you smoke cigarettes while you drink, you may get a worse hangover. Researchers don’t know why, but they think it may have to do with how nicotine works on your nervous system.