Is it possible to avoid a hangover

This is the second major cause of hangovers. A diuretic substance causes the body to urinate more often. Last but not least, alcohol takes quite a toll on the central nervous system. Alcohol suppresses the central nervous system, which is in charge of your spine, skull, nerves, etc. By slowing the CNS down, you are slowing down brain function in charge of a majority of your movements. Alcohol also causes a release of epinephrine commonly known as adrenaline and cortisol from the cortex.

This can lead to higher stress being put on the brain. These changes cause all that nasty morning-after pain! Read on. This is one of the most commonly exhibited hangover symptoms. It distracts you from even the simplest of tasks and can stick around for several hours. Sluggishness: the general feeling that your body is moving more slowly than normal, as though you are moving through water. Stomach issues: can be in the form of stomach pains, vomiting, and nausea.

These pains can be so severe that Peptobismal and other stomach treatments cannot stop them. Muscle Cramping and Weakness: Has anyone ever kicked you in the calf and you collapsed in agony? Well, imagine that ALL over your body. Dehydration causes your muscles to cramp up and become extremely tense.

Brain Fog: When you finally drag yourself out of bed and to the kitchen, only to forget what you were looking for as soon as you open the fridge, that is brain fog. Anxiety: Alcohol alters the GABA receptors in your brain, leading to an increased amount of dopamine in the moment and a shortage the following morning. Depression: Alcohol impacts is a depressant, so it is no surprise that drinking increases depression the following morning.

Increased levels of dopamine at the moment decreases your levels in the morning. Guilt: Depending on the severity of your hangover, it is not uncommon for people to spend the entire day after drinking in bed or in the bathroom.

Especially with society becoming more and more addicted to social media. Everyone experiences hangovers differently. Symptoms can fluctuate based on height and weight, the amount you drank, what you drank and how much food was in your system.

Hangovers tend to get worse with age. But why is this? This is the unfortunate truth that leaves adults suffering from two-day bad hangover , the spins, nausea, and vomiting. These miserable consequences are the perfect motivation to prevent hangovers instead of treating them.

Unfortunately, none of them are true. In a market that is saturated with misinformation and very little scientific backing, it is difficult to understand what the best option to treat a hangover is.

Some of the best recommendations are as follows:. One of the easiest ways to avoid a hangover is hydrating prior to drinking. In the 48 hours before you start drinking, carry a water bottle around with you and drink as much as possible. Eat healthy fats We all know not to drink on an empty stomach, but if you eat a fatty meal prior to drinking, your alcohol absorption will be slower and you will be less likely to experience a hangover.

We recommend healthy fats like avocados, almonds, and walnuts. Take an anti-hangover supplement or vitamin Take one capsule of Over EZ before your first drink. This all-natural supplement aids your body in processing alcohol, removing acetaldehyde and replenishing crucial vitamins like zinc, magnesium and complex vitamin b. It also does all this before you start drinking, making it the perfect prevention strategy.

Be smart about your alcohol Alcohol that is light in color like vodka or white wine possesses fewer congeners hangover-causing toxins. The darker the liquor, the worse the hangover. We also recommend you stick to one type of alcohol all night, switching between various kinds increases the likelihood of a hangover. Drink water and snack Drink water between each alcoholic beverage.

On the other hand, colorless drinks — like vodka, gin and rum — have low levels of congeners. In fact, vodka contains almost no congeners at all 3. In studies that compared the effects of vodka low in congeners and whiskey high in congeners , both the frequency and intensity of hangovers were greater for whiskey 8 , 9 , Simply put, drinking more alcohol is believed to affect the metabolism of methanol, a well-known congener found in trace amounts in some drinks.

After drinking, your body converts methanol into formaldehyde, a highly toxic substance. Formaldehyde may be partly responsible for many hangover symptoms 11 , 12 , However, consuming alcohol the morning after drinking heavily can inhibit this conversion process, preventing formaldehyde from forming 14 , Instead, methanol is discharged harmlessly from your body via your breath and urine.

That said, having another drink in the morning is strongly discouraged as a hangover remedy — as it may simply delay the inevitable. Morning drinking is often associated with alcohol dependency, and mitigating a few hangovers is not worth risking your health.

Alcohol is a diuretic, making you pee often 17 , 18 , Although dehydration is not considered a main cause of hangovers, it may contribute to symptoms like thirst, headache, fatigue and dry mouth. Fortunately, dehydration is easy to avoid — just make sure to drink enough water. A good rule is to drink a glass of water — or another non-alcoholic beverage — between drinks and to have at least one big glass of water before going to sleep. Alcohol can interfere with your sleep. It can impair both sleep quality and duration while disrupting your entire sleep schedule if you stay up too late 1 , If you are unable to sleep in and take it easy the next day, getting drunk may not be such a good idea.

Hangovers are sometimes associated with low levels of blood sugar, a condition known as hypoglycemia They also tend to be more severe in people with low blood sugar 22 , Although hypoglycemia is not a major cause of hangovers, it may contribute to symptoms, such as weakness and headache After drinking, having a nutritious breakfast or a late-night meal might help maintain your blood sugar levels.

Evidence suggests that many hangover symptoms are caused by low-grade inflammation 25 , In fact, some anti-inflammatory drugs have been shown to be quite effective against hangovers Many plant-based foods and medicinal herbs may also reduce inflammation and help prevent hangovers. Supplements that impact hangovers include red ginseng, ginger and prickly pear 28 , 29 , Prickly pear is worth highlighting.

This is the fruit of the cactus Opuntia ficus-indica , which is believed to be native to Mexico. The severity of hangovers increases with the amount of alcohol you consume For this reason, the best way to prevent hangovers is to drink in moderation — or abstain completely.

The amount of alcohol needed to produce a hangover varies among individuals. Some people need only 1—2 drinks, but most need much more.

Alcoholic hangovers refer to adverse symptoms — dizziness, headache, fatigue, nausea — that appear when people sober up after excessive drinking. Several strategies may help reduce the severity of hangovers.

Medically reviewed by Stacy Sampson, D. Drinking in moderation Drinking water Sleep Avoiding congeners Supplements Pacing yourself Measuring your drinks Eating before drinking A good breakfast Outlook There is a wide variety of supposed hangover cures, but few have actually been scientifically tested or proven to work.

Drinking in moderation. Share on Pinterest Drink in moderation. Consuming an excessive amount of alcohol increases the likelihood of a severe hangover. Drinking water. Avoiding congeners. Share on Pinterest Alcoholic drinks that contains congeners, such as whisky, may contribute to hangover symptoms.

Taking supplements. Pacing yourself. Measuring your drinks. Eating before drinking. A good breakfast. Latest news Could 'cupping' technique boost vaccine delivery? Scientists identify new cause of vascular injury in type 2 diabetes. Adolescent depression: Could school screening help?

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