How To Cure A Hangover At Home
Almost everyone over the age of 21 who recreationally drinks alcohol has struggled with a hangover at some point in their lives. If you’ve had a hangover before, you most likely understand how uncomfortable and inconvenient the symptoms can be. You’ve also probably wished that you could cure what you’re feeling without having to move from your bed.
We created this guide to help you cope from a night of partying from the comfort of your own home. Keep reading to learn about what a hangover does to your body and how you can prevent or manage certain side effects.
What It Means To Have A Hangover
A hangover is a set of symptoms that typically affects a person’s body the day after they drink alcohol. As you may know, alcohol has a negative impact on many parts of the body, from the liver to the stomach lining. In fact, the body considers alcohol to be a toxin. So when you have excessive amounts of alcohol in your body, your system will work hard to remove the toxin from your body and get you back to normal. That adjustment period is known as a hangover. How bad your hangover will be depends on what you drink, your sex, your age, your body type, biological factors, and more.
You can get a hangover from drinking heavily, mixing different types of alcohol, not eating before drinking, and more. People usually experience hangovers because of the after-effects that alcohol has on the body, including dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, low blood sugar, stomach inflammation, and alcohol withdrawal.
Hangovers: What Do They Feel Like?
As we mentioned above, hangovers are different for everyone who experiences them. Symptoms may differ from person-to-person, but there are general side effects to look out for.
Here are some of the most common side effects of a hangover:
- Fatigue
- Nausea
- Muscle aches
- Stomach pain
- Excessive thirst
- Weakness
- Vomiting
- Sensitivity to light
- Sensitivity to sound
- Shakiness
- Brain fog
- Low mood
- Headache
- Dry mouth
- Disrupted sleep
While these symptoms are extremely uncomfortable, they are usually not dangerous or life-threatening and will go away in about 24 hours. Hangovers cannot be cured, but symptoms of a hangover can be managed and alleviated at home.
Can You Manage A Hangover From Home?
Yes, you can manage a hangover at home. In most cases, all side effects of a hangover should pass after about one full day. If your hangover symptoms last longer than 24 hours or become too much to handle at home, it may be necessary to seek emergency medical attention.
6 Ways To Ease A Hangover At Home
The symptoms of a hangover can be taxing, but they can be managed if treated properly. Below are some ways to successfully ease hangover symptoms from home:
- Eat, eat, eat – Eating carbs, salty foods, eggs, and bananas can help absorb the alcohol in your body and give you some more energy.
- Stay hydrated – Drink lots of liquids including water and sports drinks to rehydrate and replace any lost electrolytes.
- Avoid the hair of the dog – Obviously, you should not drink alcohol while nursing a hangover. While the “hair of the dog” rumor is a popular one, drinking does not lessen any hangover symptoms.
- Try some supplements – Natural supplements like red ginseng, prickly pear, and Korean pear may help revitalize your body after a night of drinking.
- Take medications – Over-the-counter drugs may help with symptoms like headaches and nausea. However, you should avoid Tylenol if you have alcohol in your system.
- Take a shower – Taking a hot shower will help you sweat out any toxins and gain energy.
Of course, these methods are not guaranteed to make you feel better if you have a hangover. However, your symptoms are likely to subside if you practice all of these strategies.
Preventing Future Hangovers
If you don’t want to deal with a hangover, you can try your best to prevent it from happening. The most obvious way to prevent getting a hangover is to drink in moderation and give yourself a drink limit when you enjoy a night out. But of course, we all like to let loose every now and then. If you’re prepping for a night of partying but don’t want to suffer from the side effects of a hangover the next day, try to practice a few things before going out. First, you’ll want to make sure you get a full night’s rest before drinking heavily. You also want to be sure to eat a large meal with lots of carbs and have a glass or two of water before you drink alcohol. You should also continue drinking water while drinking alcohol to prevent dehydration.
If you are struggling with getting hangovers often from drinking too much, maybe it is time for you to look into alternatives to stop drinking. Give us a call to talk about alcohol addiction treatment options 267.719.8528.
Sources
https://www.insider.com/hangover-cure
https://www.webmd.com/balance/hangover-cure
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/best-hangover-cures
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hangovers/symptoms-causes/syc-20373012
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324178#which-factors-affect-a-hangover
https://www.verywellmind.com/the-causes-of-a-hangover-67348
https://www.grove.co/blog/natural-hangover-remedies-that-work
