Everyone has had a hangover. Well statistically it's only 75% of people who drink alcohol will have a hangover. So, I guess I need to rephrase my first statement, everyone I know has had a hang over. It is interesting to see how easy to prevent a hangover is when you understand the science behind them.
The formal name for a hangover is veisalgia, from the Norwegian word for "uneasiness following debauchery" (kveis) and the Greek word for "pain" (algia) -- an appropriate title considering the uncomfortable symptoms experienced by the average drinker. The common hangover includes some or all of the following:
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Diarrhea
- Loss of appetite
- Trembling
- Nausea
- Fatigue
- Increased heart rate and blood pressure
- Dehydration(dry mouth, extreme thirst, dry eyes)
- Trouble concentrating
- Anxiety
- Difficulty sleeping
- Weakness
- Headache
- Poor Sense of Overall Well-being
Now for the important part... WHY DO I GET A HANGOVER?
When alcohol is consumed, it enters the bloodstream and causes the pituitary gland in the brain to block the creation of vasopressin (also known as the antidiuretic hormone). Without this chemical, the kidneys send water directly to the bladder instead of reabsorbing it into the body. This is why drinkers have to make frequent trips to the bathroom after urinating for the first time after drinking. (This is known to drinkers as "breaking the seal")
According to studies, drinking about 250 milliliters of an alcoholic beverage causes the body to expel 800 to 1,000 milliliters of water; that's four times as much liquid lost as gained. This diuretic effect decreases as the alcohol in the bloodstream decreases, but the aftereffects help create a hangover. Partaking in additional activities that could assist in dehydration (dancing or sun exposure) could make matters worse.
The morning after heavy drinking, the body sends a desperate message to replenish its water supply -- usually manifested in the form of an extremely dry mouth. Headaches result from dehydration because the body's organs try to make up for their own water loss by stealing water from the brain, causing the brain to decrease in size and pull on the membranes that connect the brain to the skull, resulting in pain.
The frequent urination also expels salts and potassium that are necessary for proper nerve and muscle function; when sodium and potassium levels get too low, headaches, fatigue and nausea can result. Alcohol also breaks down the body's store of glycogen in the liver, turning the chemical into glucose and sending it out of the body in the urine. Lack of this key energy source is partly responsible for the weakness, fatigue and lack of coordination the next morning. In addition, the diuretic effect expels vital electrolytes such as potassium and magnesium, which are necessary for proper cell function.
WHAT CAN HELP PREVENT A HANGOVER?
To prevent a hangover, the three things you can do prior to beginning drinking is drink water, eat, and take a multivitamin.
The food will slow down the absorption of the alcohol, giving the body more time to process the toxins. Having food in the stomach will also decrease stomach irritation, making it less likely for the drinker to vomit.
The water will make it less likely to become dehydrated, and the multivitamin will equip your body with all the vitamins and minerals it needs, so when the alcohol starts to deplete your vitamin levels, you're not as adversely affected.
WHAT IF I HAVE ALREADY STARTED DRINKING BEFORE I READ THIS?
Well, the first thing you need to do is start drinking water, and stop drinking alcohol. The second step would be to eat something fatty and high in carbohydrates. (My personal preference is Taco Bell) And finally, take two Aspirin (NO TYLENOL) and maybe a vitamin.
When you wake up in the morning, you need to have a nice breakfast with fruit juice, eggs, and a banana or Gatorade. Why you ask?
Eating eggs the morning after provides energy like any other food, which is the primary benefit. But eggs do also contain large amounts of cysteine, the substance that breaks down the hangover-causing toxin acetaldehyde in the liver's easily depleted glutathione. Therefore, eggs can potentially help mop up the left-over toxins.
Eating bananas the morning after a night of heavy drinking provides lost electrolytes like any food would, but it also specifically replenishes the potassium lost to alcohol's diuretic effect. Other potassium-rich foods such as kiwi fruit or sports drinks work just as well.
The fructose, fruit sugar, in fruit juice helps to naturally increase the body's energy. Studies have proven that it also increases the rate at which the body gets rid of toxins such as those left over from alcohol metabolism. Fruit juice is also a good idea the morning after because it's high in vitamins and nutrients that were depleted the night before because of alcohol's diuretic effect. Vitamin supplements high in vitamins C and B are also effective.
I hope this helps out, but please take heed when you drink. The only true hangover remedy is to abstain from drinking, and never drink and drive. Have a safe summer!
No comments:
Post a Comment