You can’t ignore the discomfort of a hangover, how can you relieve it?

Author: Zhang Xiaohong, Chief Physician of Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital

Reviewer: Guo Shubin, Chief Physician, Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, Capital Medical University

When friends and family get together, they always drink and get drunk. Most drunk people will feel dizzy, have a headache or feel uncomfortable in the stomach the next day. Some elderly people may also experience blood pressure fluctuations, which may lead to cardiovascular and cerebrovascular accidents.

These problems are all caused by hangovers.

Figure 1 Copyright image, no permission to reprint

What is a hangover? What are the symptoms of a hangover?

A hangover refers to drinking too much the night before. After waking up the next morning, although the alcohol in the body has been metabolized, symptoms such as headache, dizziness, weakness, vomiting, stomach discomfort, sweating and dry mouth may still occur.

This is because after drinking too much, liver cells are unable to excrete all the harmful substances left after alcohol metabolism, resulting in acute poisoning symptoms.

Although everyone has a hangover, the degree of hangover is different for each person.

The severity of a hangover is related to the amount of aromatic substances in the wine, which mainly include polyphenols and tannins. If the wine is dark and sweet, it contains more aromatic substances, and the hangover symptoms caused by it are more severe. The wines are ranked according to their strength in causing hangovers, in the following order: brandy, red wine, whiskey, strong-flavor liquor, sauce-flavor liquor, light-flavor liquor, gin liquor and vodka.

The severity of a hangover is not only related to the alcohol itself, but also to the state of the drinker. For example, people who are tired, anxious, or depressed are particularly prone to getting drunk and will feel uncomfortable for a longer time.

How to prevent a hangover before drinking?

Generally speaking, doing the following two things when drinking can help prevent or relieve the discomfort of a hangover.

1. Protect gastric mucosa in advance

Eat some high-fat foods or drink some milk before drinking to protect the gastric mucosa and reduce the stimulation of alcohol. Foods with high fat content, such as animal offal, pig's trotters, fatty meat, etc., are not easy to digest and will stay in the stomach for a long time, so they can protect the gastric mucosa and prevent alcohol from penetrating the stomach wall, slowing down the body's absorption of alcohol.

2. Don’t drink too much

It is best not to drink alcohol when you are unwell or taking medication, especially antibiotics. If you encounter a situation that you cannot refuse, avoid drinking on an empty stomach or drinking it all in one gulp, as this will easily lead to drunkenness.

Alcohol metabolism varies greatly among individuals. Do not urge others to drink at the table and drink in moderation.

If you experience symptoms of nervous excitement such as dizziness or rapid heartbeat, you should stop drinking to avoid danger.

Figure 2 Copyright image, no permission to reprint

How to relieve the discomfort caused by a hangover?

The discomfort caused by a hangover can be relieved with the help of the following methods.

1. Hydrate

Hangovers are mainly caused by dehydration. Excessive drinking can irritate the gastric mucosa, leading to nausea and vomiting. In addition, alcohol is a diuretic. The combination of these factors can lead to severe dehydration in the body. Therefore, it is important to replenish water in time after a hangover, especially after vomiting.

If you drink on an empty stomach, you should also keep warm and replenish sugars. You can drink some coconut juice.

2. It is not recommended to use strong tea or coffee to sober up

Tea has a diuretic effect, and after people drink too much, the acetic acid in the alcohol has not been completely excreted. Drinking tea at this time, especially strong tea, can easily cause damage to the kidneys.

Coffee can excite the brain and speed up blood flow in the body. Although this can speed up the metabolism of alcohol, it will put a great burden on the heart and blood vessels. For elderly people with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, the dual effects of alcohol and coffee will cause high blood pressure, posing a risk.

3. Lie down and rest when you feel unwell

If you feel a splitting headache or dizziness after drinking, it is recommended that you lie down and rest to avoid falling due to inability to maintain balance.

4. Eat foods that have hangover-relief effects

You can eat foods such as ginger, tomatoes, asparagus, persimmons, bananas and honey to relieve the discomfort of a hangover.

After waking up from a hangover, people can eat some bananas, asparagus, cherry tomatoes, etc. These ingredients can supplement vitamins; they can also drink a cup of cereal made with milk to supplement carbohydrates and protein.

After replenishing energy, hangover sufferers can take a hot bath to remove the smell of alcohol and promote blood circulation, allowing the body to rejuvenate.