The resulting poor sleep and mild dehydration, as well as the breakdown products of alcohol itself — and the effects these products can have on your stomach and other organs — all contribute to why hangovers make you feel so lousy," explains Amanda Beaver, wellness dietitian at Houston Methodist.
Here are three common hangover cure myths, why they don't really work and what you should do instead:. This is the old "hair of the dog" trick — probably most commonly suggested when you're gathered with a group of friends who share your hangover distress. The idea behind this myth is that more alcohol might be the cure to your current hangover. It's incredibly circular logic when you actually think about it In addition, some scientists think this myth may, over time, actually contribute to alcohol dependence," says Beaver.
When you already know you've had one too many drinks, you might be tempted to take a pain reliever or ibuprofen, wash it down with a big glass of water and hit the sheets. When you wake up, the medicine will have done its job, right? Before taking any medication, always read the label and ask your doctor for specific direction.
Splitting headaches, sickness, dizziness, dehydration: anyone who's ever drunk too much knows the consequences. Alcohol makes you pee more, which can lead to dehydration. Dehydration is what causes many of the symptoms of a hangover. Hangover cures are generally a myth. There are no cures for a hangover, but there are things you can do to avoid one and, if you do have one, ease the discomfort.
Dealing with a hangover involves rehydrating your body to help you deal with the painful symptoms. The best time to rehydrate is before going to sleep after a drinking session.
Painkillers can help with headaches and muscle cramps. Sugary foods may help you feel less trembly. Keep in mind that research is lacking and further studies are needed to evaluate the effectiveness of supplements at reducing hangover symptoms. Some supplements, including red ginseng, prickly pear, ginger, borage oil and eleuthero, have been studied for their ability to decrease hangover symptoms. Through the process of ethanol fermentation, sugars are converted into carbon dioxide and ethanol, also known as alcohol.
Congeners are toxic chemical by-products that are also formed in small amounts during this process, with different alcoholic beverages contain varying amounts Some studies have found that consuming drinks with a high amount of congeners could increase the frequency and severity of a hangover. Congeners may also slow the metabolism of alcohol and cause prolonged symptoms. Drinks that are low in congeners include vodka, gin and rum, with vodka containing almost no congeners at all.
Meanwhile, tequila, whiskey and cognac are all high in congeners, with bourbon whiskey containing the highest amount. One study had 95 young adults drink enough vodka or bourbon to reach a breath alcohol concentration of 0. It found that drinking high-congener bourbon resulted in worse hangovers than drinking low-congener vodka Drinking whiskey resulted in hangover symptoms like bad breath, dizziness, headache and nausea the following day, while drinking vodka did not Selecting drinks that are low in congeners may help reduce the incidence and severity of hangovers.
Choosing drinks that are low in congeners, such as vodka, gin and rum, could decrease the severity and frequency of hangovers. However, there are several science-backed ways to avoid the unpleasant symptoms that follow a night of drinking. Strategies include staying hydrated, getting plenty of sleep, eating a good breakfast and taking certain supplements, all of which could reduce your hangover symptoms. Also, drinking in moderation and choosing drinks that are low in congeners can help you prevent a hangover in the first place.
Read this article in Spanish. Ever wondered which hangover remedies really work? Find out. Most hangover cures are unproven, with a few exceptions. Experiments have shown that clear liquors, such as vodka and gin, tend to cause hangovers less frequently than dark ones, such as whiskey, red wine, and tequila. The main form of alcohol in alcoholic beverages is ethanol, but the darker liquors contain chemically related compounds congeners , including methanol. According to Dr.
Swift's review paper, the same enzymes process ethanol and methanol, but methanol metabolites are especially toxic, so they may cause a worse hangover. Take a pain reliever, but not Tylenol. Aspirin, ibuprofen Motrin, other brands , and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs NSAIDs may help with the headache and the overall achy feelings.
NSAIDs, though, may irritate a stomach already irritated by alcohol. Don't take acetaminophen Tylenol. If alcohol is lingering in your system, it may accentuate acetaminophen's toxic effects on the liver. Drink coffee or tea. Caffeine may not have any special anti-hangover powers, but as a stimulant, it could help with the grogginess. Coffee is a diuretic, though, so it may exacerbate dehydration. B vitamins and zinc. A study recently published in The Journal of Clinical Medicine evaluated the diets for 24 hours before and after excessive drinking occurred.
It was a small study and results were based on the participants saying what they ate. However, they did find that people whose food and beverage consumption contained greater amounts of zinc and B vitamins had less severe hangovers.
Explore the many factors to consider when deciding how much if any alcohol is safe for you. Buy the Special Health Report, Alcohol Use and Abuse to get details of the dangers of alcohol misuse, from drunk driving to chronic, life-threatening health conditions. As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content.
Please note the date of last review or update on all articles. No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician. About half of all Americans routinely take dietary supplements. The most common ones are multivitamin and multimineral supplements.
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