Severe hangover: causes and prevention, how to remove intoxication and its negative symptoms
Genetic variations that affect how alcohol is metabolized in the human body can cause some people to flush, sweat, or feel sick after even a small amount of alcohol. This condition occurs with the same frequency both in people who drink low-alcohol cocktails and in people who prefer to drink something stronger. Heavy drinkers can develop a tolerance to alcohol, which reduces the risk of hangovers.
Factors that increase the likelihood and severity of a hangover:
- Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach. Lack of food in the stomach accelerates the absorption of alcohol in the body.
- Smoking and alcohol. Smoking while drinking increases the likelihood of an unpleasant condition the next morning.
- Sleepless night or lack of sleep after drinking. Lack, lack of sleep or poor sleep, as is usually the case with drinking alcohol, also contribute to withdrawal symptoms.
- Mixing different alcoholic beverages such as beer and vodka.
- Hereditary predisposition to a hangover.
- The use of dark alcoholic beverages. Dark-colored alcoholic beverages often contain an increased amount of fusel oils, which give different types of alcohol their color and specific smell. Fusel oils are also risk factors for withdrawal symptoms.
Drinks with a high content of fusel oils:
- Bourbon
- Scotch
- Tequila
- Brandy
- Dark beer or beer with a high alcohol content
- Red wine
In comparison, drinks low in fusel oils, such as lager beer, gin, and vodka, are less likely to cause hangovers. However, while drinking clear drinks can help prevent a bad hangover, drinking too much alcohol of any color will inevitably lead to a bad feeling the next morning.
Causes of a hangover
A hangover usually occurs when you drink too much alcohol. While one glass of wine is enough for some people to trigger a hangover, others can get drunk as hell and be fresh as a pickle in the morning.
A variety of factors can contribute to a hangover, and below are some of the likely causes of a hangover:
When drinking alcohol, the body produces an increased amount of urine. You go to the toilet more often than usual, and this, in turn, can lead to dehydration, which is often characterized by thirst, dizziness and lightheadedness.
Alcoholic beverages trigger an inflammatory response from the immune system. In particular, the immune system can trigger certain substances that commonly cause symptoms such as loss of concentration, memory problems, decreased appetite, and loss of interest in normal activities.
Alcohol irritates the lining of the stomach. This increases the production of stomach acid and delays gastric emptying. Any of these factors can cause abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting.
Alcohol causes blood vessels to dilate, which can lead to headaches.
Alcohol can lower blood sugar. When your blood sugar is severely low, you may experience fatigue, weakness, tremors, mood swings, and even seizures.
How to get rid of a hangover at home?
The best cure for a hangover is time.
However, there are some methods that can bring some relief:
Drink water or fruit juice/brine in small sips from time to time to help prevent dehydration. Do not drink alcohol in an attempt to relieve symptoms. It will only get worse for you later. Before you get rid of a hangover, you need to restore the normal level of fluid in the body.
Have a light snack. Unleavened food in the form of toast or a cracker can raise blood sugar levels and soothe the stomach. The broth will help replace the loss of salts and potassium. Foods and drinks that contain fructose, such as honey or fruit juice, help your body get rid of alcohol more quickly.
Taking a pain reliever. A small dose of an over-the-counter pain reliever can help relieve your headache. But, here, we should not forget that aspirin can irritate the stomach, and acetaminophen can cause serious liver damage, provided that you drank too much alcohol yesterday.
Trying to fall asleep again – a long and sound sleep is one of the best hangover cures.
If nothing helps with a hangover: what to do?
In numerous studies, no reliable natural remedy has been found to help completely get rid of a hangover.
Although, certain vitamins and herbs can help your body detoxify, including:
- B vitamins;
- vitamin C;
- evening primrose oil;
- thistle;
- artichoke.
However, despite the fact that these products are natural, this does not guarantee their 100% safety for your health. Therefore, before using any of them to relieve a hangover, you should familiarize yourself with their properties and possible risks.
Complications and consequences of a hangover
Hangover syndrome is characterized by the following health problems:
- memory;
- concentration;
- the physical functioning of the body;
- visual-spatial orientation.
- Not surprisingly, temporary clouding of consciousness and lethargy can cause a number of problems at work, including:
- problems with the performance of work tasks;
- criticism from the boss;
- conflict with colleagues;
- sleep at work
- work injury.
Hangover Prevention
Although there are many different tablets and powders in the pharmacy to relieve the symptoms of a hangover, there is only one guaranteed way to avoid it – and that is not to drink too much alcohol. The less alcohol you drink, the less likely you are to have a hangover.
However, as a preventive measure, you can:
- Have a snack first. Alcohol enters the bloodstream faster if you drink on an empty stomach.
- Don't drink too fast. Drinking alcohol is not a sporting event, there is no need to rush anywhere. Try to limit yourself to one drink per hour.
- Choose your alcoholic drink with care. Alcoholic beverages with fewer impurities (like fusel oil) such as vodka and gin are less likely to cause hangovers than brandy and whiskey.
- Drink water in between drinks. A glass of water after drinking an alcoholic drink will help you stay hydrated.
You also need to be aware of the limits of your body. It is necessary, from the very beginning, to decide how much you are going to drink – try not to exceed your norm.
To prevent a hangover, some people take painkillers like aspirin or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, etc.). In any case, before taking any of these medications, you should consult your doctor to determine the safe dosage. These drugs can interact with other drugs and, if reacted with acetaminophen (Tylenol, etc.), can cause liver damage if too much alcohol is consumed.
Alcohol can make you sleepy, but it also reduces the quality of your sleep. Therefore, even after a long sleep while intoxicated, you will still feel tired and lethargic.
Alcoholic beverages contain fusel oils, substances that can also contribute to hangovers. Dark spirits such as brandy and whiskey contain more fusel oils than clear spirits such as vodka and gin.