A thumping headache, sweating, thirst and a nasty stomachache is what Hangovers are all about. Before understanding how a hangover should be managed, it is more important to understand what alcohol can do to your body. Firstly, alcohol is diuretic which means it dries your body through urination and thus the obvious outcome is dehydration. Secondly, the headache is caused by the rapidly falling blood-alcohol level and dehydration. And lastly, the nasty stomachache is due to the impurities in alcohol that is usually higher in malt liquors and sweeter drinks. One of the most common advises is to drink plenty of water in between drinking and before sleeping to dilute the impurities and prevent dehydration.
First Aid for Hangover
Traditional hangover cures include:
- Drink plenty of water for rehydration
- Take some pain relief medicine such as aspirin but beware of any kind of stomach irritation
- Take sugar to fight lowering blood sugar levels in the body
- Ask your pharmacist for an indigestion remedy
- Vitamin C
- Sleep or rest for at least an hour
- Take 2-4 cups of coffee
- Burnt toast for breakfast helps
- Hot or cold shower
- Strawberries
- A glass of milk
Eat fatty foods before drinking as they form a lining around the intestines and makes alcohol absorption by the body slower. Look out for symptoms such as vomiting and passing out while drinking. While the first can be countered with water, call emergency services if someone passes out (people tend to choke on their own vomit or go into a shock) while drinking.