Everyone likes to splurge from time to time. Some prefer a night out dancing in the club, others going out for a beer with friends. Unfortunately, a common side effect of such pleasures is suffering the next day. This state of affairs is caused by making basic “alcohol” mistakes. How to drink so as not to have a hangover, and if we already have one, how to deal with it?
The problem with alcohol is that it is absorbed into the body very quickly. Of course, the fastest absorption is characterized by high-proof alcohols and consumed on an empty stomach. Ethanol easily goes not only into the human bloodstream, but also into the brain. The most visible mental disorders and behavioral changes therefore occur during the first hour after drinking alcohol.
Alcohol also causes disorders in the body such as lowering the level of calcium, phosphate, potassium and magnesium, and blood glucose. The symptom that most often appears after excessive consumption of alcohol, usually the next day, is the famous hangover, otherwise known as the cat’s eye. This is because after a few hours the narcotic effect of alcohol on the central nervous system stops.
Hangover symptoms include somatic, motor and mental disorders. They can make normal functioning very difficult. The most common of them include:
- Vomiting and nausea
- Headaches,
- Feeling of sadness, breakdown, bad mood,
- hands shaking,
- Sweating,
- Tiredness,
- Hypersensitivity to sounds, smells, light,
- poor appetite,
- Difficulty concentrating.
Most often, a hangover goes away on its own after a while. How long a hangover lasts depends on the individual conditions of the body. However, there are ways to speed up the process:
- On the day you intend to drink alcohol, do not mix different types of liquors. In addition, try to drink plenty of water in between, do not smoke, and always remember to eat something before and during drinking. Consuming alcohol on an empty stomach can be harmful.
- Bet on the alcohol that causes the least hangover – it is good quality, pure vodka.
- Drinks that increase the risk of unpleasant symptoms the next day are whiskey, sweet wine and cognac.
- You can also use preparations available in pharmacies. They contain micronutrients and the right dose of sugar.
- If you already have a hangover, drink plenty of fluids the next day. Ethanol disrupts electrolytes and leads to dehydration, which is why it is so important to replenish these deficiencies on the second day.
- Provide your body with glucose – you can, for example, add honey to a glass of water or drink sweet drinks, but not carbonated.
- Take a walk or ventilate the apartment properly. Fresh air puts you on your feet.
- Take a cold shower in the morning.