If you choose to drink alcohol, doing so responsibly can help you stay away from hangovers. In fact, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen and aspirin are often used to reduce pain and treat issues that frequently accompany hangovers, such as headaches and muscle aches (22). As such, increasing your water intake may alleviate some symptoms of hangovers — or potentially even prevent them altogether. Choosing drinks that are low in congeners, such as vodka, gin, and rum, could decrease the severity and frequency of hangovers, but more research is needed. Alcohol impacts the brain’s pathways, which can affect how the brain works.
What are some of the main medical treatments for hangover?
Often, intravenous (IV) fluids can help alleviate the symptoms. But sometimes severe issues, such as vomiting or coughing blood need to be addressed with more intensive medical attention. In some instances, symptoms of a hangover can begin before the effects of alcohol have worn off. This is usually the result of very how long do hangovers last heavy alcohol intake or metabolic issues (such as liver or kidney failure). Additionally, keep in mind that pain relievers containing acetaminophen, such as Tylenol, could increase the risk of liver damage when combined with alcohol. If you do get a hangover, know that the unpleasant symptoms won’t last forever.
Stay hydrated
Drinking too much alcohol can lead to dangerous impairment, sometimes called acute alcohol exposure. “There is a blood brain barrier, which acts as a gateway for substances like proteins and nutrients to get into the brain. Alcohol crosses this barrier very quickly, which is why acute alcohol exposure happens,” says Northwestern Medicine Neurologist Kapil Sachdeva, MD. When you consume alcohol, it becomes absorbed into your bloodstream until the liver can break it down. Once in the bloodstream, it only takes roughly five minutes to reach your brain, and effects peak after 30 to 90 minutes.
Hangover Cures
Some people think you should take painkillers before bed when you’ve been drinking, but it’s important to avoid acetaminophen. But if inflammation is part of the reason hangovers happen, aspirin and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) might help. Just keep in mind that NSAIDS, such as ibuprofen, can bother your stomach. If you drink alcohol, drink water before you go to bed. It’s also smart to keep a bottle of water by your bedside.
There are several factors that are known to contribute to alcohol hangover, though they’re probably not a direct cause. It’s a popular yet unproven belief that dehydration is one of the main causes of hangover. While dehydration can contribute to symptoms of a hangover, it may not be the cause of hangovers per se — see below.
These give many types of alcoholic beverages their taste and smell. Congeners are found in larger amounts in dark liquors, such as brandy and bourbon, than in clear liquors, such as vodka and gin. However unpleasant, most hangovers go away on their own, though they can last up to 24 hours.
Things to avoid
Red ginseng temporarily speeds up the body’s metabolizing of ethanol, the intoxicating ingredient in alcoholic drinks. One study examined blood alcohol levels across a night of drinking, comparing people who had taken red ginseng to those given a placebo. Blood alcohol levels were lower in the ginseng group, and hangover symptoms were less severe. Research has not found a correlation between the extent of electrolyte disruptions and the severity of hangovers, or the impact of added electrolytes on hangover severity. In most people, the body will quickly restore electrolyte balance once the effects of alcohol subside. Despite the high demand and potential productivity-saving applications of hangover treatments, there is currently a lack of evidence to support any such remedies.
- Studies show that if you smoke cigarettes while you drink, you may get a worse hangover.
- You can also learn from the experience and take steps to try to prevent a hangover, like staying hydrated, the next time you go out for cocktails or have wine with dinner.
- A lack of sleep could then contribute to hangover symptoms such as fatigue, irritability, and headaches.
- If you don’t already drink coffee regularly, don’t down a cup in hopes of relieving your hangover.
- At the same time, the consumption of beer and booze slows the release of an antidiuretic hormone (ADH) called vasopressin.
- If coffee is part of your morning routine, go ahead and have a small cup.
- So, the faster the body converts ethanol to acetaldehyde, the less severe a person’s hangover symptoms will be.
- You’ll feel the worst as your blood alcohol level goes back to normal.
- These include clove extract, pyritinol (a chemically-altered vitamin B6), Hovenia dulcis fruit extract, L-cysteine, red ginseng, and Korean pear juice.