A hangover is the nasty feeling we experience after a night of drinking. While not everyone experiences hangover symptoms those who are are in search for a cure. The lucky 25%-30% of drinkers who don’t experience hangover symptoms do not understand what the rest of us are going through.
What is a Hangover?
A hangover is the result of drinking alcohol. It is characterized by a wide range of symptoms that include: dehydration, nausea, headache, fatigue, fever, vomiting, diarrhea, flatulence, sensitivity to light and sound, trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and poor depth perception. The severity of the hangover varies by the individual as well as the type of alcohol consumed, how much alcohol was consumed and the duration of time the alcohol was consumed. An alcohol hangover can occur a couple hours after the last drink is consumed and it can last up to two days.
What Causes a Hangover?
Alcoholic beverages contain impurities or preservatives, and congeners that can cause a hang over. Drinking large amounts of alcohol often causes a hangover in comparison to a small amount of alcohol. The ethanol increases urine production, acting as a diuretic the body become dehydrated. When your body is dehydrated you will experience headaches, fatigue, and dry mouth. Alcohol also affects the stomach lining which can cause nausea and vomiting. Alcohol is metabolized as a acetaldehyde which is more toxic than the alcohol itself and creates symptoms of acetaldehyde exposure due to its increased time breaking down.
How To Cure a Hangover
There are many natural and medical methods to curing a hangover. Eating healthy foods such as Bananas, Honey, Cards and drinking a lot of water can help the body to metabolize and cleanse itself of alcohol. Pain relievers such as Ibuprofen will help relieve headache and other aches and pains from a night of drinking. Getting a lot of rest will let you sleep off symptoms of a hangover and give your body the time it needs to recover.
See our article, about natural ways to get rid of a hangover.
