New Year’s hangover? - Try these fast recovery hacks
Tips to cure a hangover after New Year’s Eve (photo: Freepik)
After New Year’s toasts and celebrations, many people wake up with headaches, nausea, and dehydration. In the morning, it is important to restore your fluid balance to help your body recover more quickly from alcohol, according to Eating Well.
Why a hangover happens
A hangover is an unpleasant consequence of consuming too much alcohol. Common symptoms include headache, fatigue, nausea, sensitivity to light and sound, and dry mouth.
It occurs because alcohol affects almost every system in the body. It dehydrates, irritates the stomach lining, and worsens sleep quality. Alcohol also disrupts the chemical balance in the brain, which can lead to mood swings, anxiety, or even brain fog the next day.
Essentially, a hangover is the body working overtime to detoxify and restore balance.
What to do in the morning
Alcohol is a diuretic because it suppresses the antidiuretic hormone, and dehydration can worsen symptoms. If you didn’t drink water while consuming alcohol, you are likely dehydrated.
According to the US National Institutes of Health, mild dehydration caused by suppressed vasopressin contributes to hangover symptoms such as thirst, fatigue, and headache.
When you wake up with a throbbing headache, start by drinking water. Although everyone’s body reacts differently, beverages with electrolytes are also helpful — coconut water, sports drinks, or even a pinch of salt mixed with water.
Proper hydration restores the body’s balance and can ease dehydration symptoms.
Other tips to ease a hangover
Eat a little food
If nausea makes you reluctant to eat, try to consume a small amount. Alcohol can negatively affect blood sugar levels.
Choose carbohydrates like toast or crackers to supply glucose without worsening nausea. Prepare eggs, which are a natural source of protein and cysteine, an amino acid that may help break down alcohol.
Rest
Alcohol interferes with restorative sleep. Allow yourself extra time to nap or at least lie down. The body needs time to recover.
Move
Light activity, such as a short walk or gentle stretches, can improve circulation and release endorphins, helping you feel better faster.
Earlier, we wrote about the amount of alcohol that causes a hangover.
This material is for informational purposes only and should not be used for medical diagnosis or self-treatment. Our goal is to provide readers with accurate information about symptoms, causes, and methods of detecting diseases. RBС-Ukraine is not responsible for any diagnoses that readers may make based on materials from the resource. We do not recommend self-treatment and advise consulting a doctor in case of any health concerns.
