A thumping headache, raging thirst, nausea, fatigue,
irritability and muscle aches. There is little to love about a hangover, and
when you are in the middle of one, all you want is a cure, and fast.
Do not be deceived by miracle cures online. The only
guaranteed way of avoiding a hangover is not to drink alcohol. But if you would
like a few drinks without the hangover the next day, then there are some things
you can do before, during and after drinking that will help.
Do not drink on empty stomach. Eat a meal or large
snack before drinking, as this will slow the rate at which alcohol enters your
bloodstream. One study in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
found that when compared to men who drank on an empty stomach, those who ate
beforehand had a ‘pronounced’ lowering of blood alcohol levels. Eating also
increased the speed at which the alcohol was cleared from their bloodstreams.
Stay hydrated. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it
makes you need to urinate more. Dehydration is not the only cause of a hangover
but it contributes to many of the familiar symptoms – thirst, fatigue, headache
and dizziness.
Increasing your water intake while you are drinking alcohol
(try alternating between water and alcoholic drinks) will help keep your blood
alcohol level from rising too fast and may reduce some of your hangover
symptoms.
Make sure you keep up your water intake the following day
too, to help counteract dehydration.
Eat a good breakfast. The first thing when you wake
you with a hangover, get some food to help you maintain your blood sugar
levels.
Low blood sugar does not necessarily cause a hangover, but
it can worsen symptoms such as nausea and fatigue.
Eating a healthy breakfast – eggs on wholegrain toast with
spinach, for example, or muesli with fresh fruit and yoghurt – can also give
you vitamins and minerals that may be depleted after excessive alcohol intake.
Studies have found that zinc-rich foods – such as nuts, seeds, eggs and
wholegrains – may help.
Try painkillers. If you need some pain relief, try an
anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen. It is best to avoid paracetamol. Your
liver breaks down both alcohol and paracetamol, and your body is more
susceptible to the toxic effects of paracetamol when you drink alcohol.