What do drinking pickle juice, aromatherapy, eating a Snickers bar with a glass of cola, and taking vitamin B complex have in common? They are unconventional remedies for hangovers, an ailment many people will experience during this season of holiday parties.
For anyone who may not know what a hangover is, it is defined as a set of symptoms caused by excessive alcohol intake. The symptoms include headache, nausea, vomiting, malaise, stomach cramps, sleepiness, diarrhea, irritability, and dehydration, usually occurring 14 to 15 hours after drinking starts. Alcohol affects the body in at least four major ways, resulting in these and other symptoms. In the first place, alcohol is diuretic, so additional water is needed for the kidneys to filter impurities from the body. Anyone who has suffered from a hangover recognizes that thirst and dry mouth are two telltale symptoms. Second, as the body metabolizes alcohol, the blood becomes more acidic. Third, the normal rhythm of certain body functions can be changed by alcohol intake. Fourth, impurities called congeners are found in alcoholic beverages in varying amounts, and they can be toxic.
While the actual cause or causes of hangovers are being studied, many researchers believe that congeners are a prime suspect. Beverages with fewer congeners, such as gin and vodka, are thought to produce a less severe hangover than drinks containing more congeners, such as whiskey and red wine.
An inquiry into home remedies for hangover is apt to find the most common treatment for hangover is something like water and aspirin or ibuprofen before going to bed, and fruit juice or caffeinated coffee upon waking up. Some people recommend the “hair of the dog,” but drinking more alcohol in the morning may just postpone the inevitable. Most hangovers go away in 24 hours, and some of the symptoms (such as headache and dehydration) can be relieved. Without any treatment, a hangover may persist for 2 days.
Since there is no cure for hangover, the best solution is not to drink alcoholic beverages to excess. People vary in their tolerance level for alcohol, so for some, the best idea is to abstain altogether. However, if a party with alcohol is in your plans, following these tips can lessen the severity of a hangover:
1. Drink slowly and on a full stomach. Eat well.
2. Drink glasses of water in between alcoholic beverages.
3. Drink in moderation, do not overindulge.
4. Drink beverages that contain fewer congeners. (Remember
whiskey, champaign, red wine, cognac, and brandy are
high in impurities.
5. Do not mix alcoholic beverages.
5. Take an over-the counter pain remedy for headache.
6. Consume food and drinks that have a high quantity of
fructose, such as honey and fruit juice. Fructose may
help burn alcohol faster.
7. Eat saltine crackers and foods high in carbohydrates the
morning after.
One additional point of information is worthy of noting in reference to hangovers. While everyone knows one should not drive or operate heavy equipment when under the influence of alcohol, the same should be said about the morning after. One study by Sweden’s National Road and Traffic Research Institute found that driving ability decreases by 20% or more eight hours into a hangover. Further, even after blood alcohol concentrations have returned to 0, and even for people who drink but do not suffer from hangovers, the decrease in driving ability is still present.
So, if avoidance of alcohol is unlikely this holiday season, prudence should be the watchword. For further information about hangovers, articles on line can be found at www.madsci.org, www.personalmd.com. , and www.umm.edu. or by calling the Central Connecticut Heath District at 721-2824.