The unpleasant physical symptoms that might arise after consuming too much alcohol are known as a hangover and or hangxiety.
The banging headache, nausea, vomiting, exhaustion, and sensitivity to light and sound are all possible manifestations of this condition.
Dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, and the accumulation of toxic metabolites from alcohol metabolism are all potential causes of hangover symptoms.
There are a few things you may do to lessen the severity of your hangover:
1) Just Take it Easy
Avoiding a hangover is as simple as limiting one's alcohol intake. To achieve this, consume no more than one or two alcoholic beverages per day (for women) and two or three alcoholic beverages (for men).
A person's drinking pace might increase or decrease the intensity of a hangover. There is a direct correlation between how fast or slow you drink and your likelihood of getting a hangover. If you want to lessen the likelihood of a hangover the next day, it's best to drink slowly and take rests in between.
2) Don't Forget The Water (It’s Free in Some Countries)
Be sure to stay hydrated by drinking lots of water alongside your drinks. The general rule of thumb is to dilute every alcoholic drink with at least one glass of water.
3) Swap Regular Drinks for Alcohol Free or Non Alcoholic
Try switching from regular beer to alcohol free beer or non alcoholic beer. Or, if you’re hitting the cocktails, ask for mocktail.
Not only is alcohol free beer lower in calories, but there are many benefits of alcohol free beer, such as not getting drunk - duh!
Alcohol free drinks are great for dodging the hangover, without giving up the "social benefits" of drinking. Having one of these alternatives can help you stay sober while able to take part in whatever activities your drinking friends are doing.
Remember. Never feel pressured to drink!
4) Be Sure to Eat Before You Hit The Bottle
Eating a meal before to drinking can reduce how quickly alcohol is absorbed into the system. Consuming high protein and high fat meals as a snack alongside alcohol can also mitigate its effects.
If you're not counting calories, then grab a burger from one of those road side burger vans.
Remember, hangovers are more common if you drink alcohol on an empty stomach. Do not start drinking without first eating anything – so be sure to have a full stomach.
You may also be interested in:
- Best Non Alcoholic Beers
- #1 Guide: Alcohol Free Beer
- How to Break a Habit
- Best Alcohol Free Bars in UK
5) Think About Your Drink
There is a correlation between the type of alcohol consumed and the severity of the hangover. For instance, compared to darker drinks like whisky and brandy, clear liquors like vodka and gin often create less hangovers.
6) Mixing Drinks is A No-No
The risk of getting a hangover increases when many types of alcohol are consumed together. You should drink only one kind of alcohol, or at most two.
Avoid the lethal WBS (wine, beer and spirits) combo.
7) Be Sure to Get Plenty of Rest After Drinking
Make sure you get adequate sleep after consuming alcohol. The symptoms of a hangover may be made worse by a lack of sleep.
8) Take Headache Tablets Before Hitting the Sack
Take an over the-counter pain killer like paracetamol or ibuprofen before bed if you plan on drinking, and are concerned about waking up with a hangover.
If you do this, you may experience a milder hangover the next day.
9) More Water... the Day After Drinking
Drinking enough of water will help you rehydrate and get over a hangover. You may restore the fluids and electrolytes you lost while drinking by consuming water, sports drinks, or electrolyte-rich beverages like coconut water.
You may reduce the chances of getting a hangover and have a more pleasant and productive day after drinking if you follow these steps.
10) Ingredients (In Booze) to Avoid
The fermentation of sugars into alcohol results in the formation of congeners, which are chemical by-products. Drinks with a greater concentration of congeners, such as red wine and whisky, have been linked to increased hangovers compared to those with a lower concentration, like vodka and gin, according to some research.
12) The Hangover “Cure”
Several supplements on the market have been developed with the intention of preventing or lessening the effects of a hangover.
Milk thistle, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), and prickly pear extract are among the substances alleged to alleviate hangover symptoms, however there is conflicting evidence regarding their efficacy - so do your own research first!
13) Take Care of Yourself (Post-drinking)
Try to rest and let your body heal if you wake up with a hangover. In addition to getting enough of rest and drinking lots of water, you may want to consider taking a pain medicine to help with the symptoms.
Avoid activities that demand physical or mental effort, such as meditating, having a long bath, or reading, as they might increase the symptoms of a hangover.
If you follow these tips, you can have a better day after drinking and lessen the chances of getting a hangover.
Bear in mind that drinking moderately and taking care of yourself are your best defences against waking up with a hangover.