Why You Get A Hangover and How to Prevent or Cure Them

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!

How to enjoy your summer and avoid poison ivy.

Summer is a great time of year to enjoy outside activities, but avoiding some of the harmful environmental elements like poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac can be a job in itself. The oil that causes the rash in all three plants is the same, it is called urushiol. If you come in contact with this oil, the key is getting it off with in the time it binds to your skin, which is about 10-15 minutes. Knowing what the plants look like, how to treat the oil, and eventually the rash is the easiest way to avoid any miserable days during the summer months. Check out this awesome video on poison ivy and its treatment to find out more.

To find out more about poison ivy or to ask about the best way to treat your rash, please call The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy of Largo at 727-501-0188.

How to Inject an Insulin Pen

Please check out this short video on the step by step instructions on how to inject your insulin via a pen needle. At Regal Palms on the fourth Thursday of every month, we give a class on diabetes or heart health. Please make sure to either contact The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy of Largo at 727-501-0188 or Amy Cunningham at Regal Palms at 727-437-1350 if you interested in attending. Classes are free and lunch is provided.

7 Triggers That Increase Hot Flashes and 5 Remedies to Cool You Off

A hot flash is a momentary sensation of heat that can be accompanied by a red, flushing face and sweats. Hot flashes occur when the blood vessels near the skin's surface dilate to cool. This produces the red, flushed look to the face. A woman may also perspire to cool down her 

body. In addition, some women experience a rapid heart rate or chills.

How can you help prevent hot flashes? You can try to avoid these 8 triggers.

Stress

Caffeine

Alcohol

Spicy foods

Tight clothing

Heat

Cigarette smoke

Are you currently having them and want to try to temper them? Try these remedies.

Hormone Replacement Therapy. Everyone's body is different, so everyone experiencing hot flashes or other premenopausal symptoms require different levels of medication. The good thing about this, with lab work and an experienced doctor, you will know exactly what hormone you need, how much you need, and the best way to take the medicine. This will require a prescription, but this is the best way to treat the underlying cause of your symptoms.

Soy products. Plant estrogens, found in soy products, such as isoflavones, are thought to have weak estrogen-like effects that may reduce hot flashes. The research results, however, have been contradictory. Soy foods, not supplements, are recommended.

Black cohosh. Some studies suggest that black cohosh may be helpful in the very short term (six months or less) for treating hot flashes and night sweats. Side effects include gastrointestinal upset.

Evening primrose oil is another botanical that is often used to treat hot flashes, although there is no scientific evidence to support this. Side effects include nausea and diarrhea. Women taking certain medications, such as blood thinners, should not take evening primrose oil.

Flaxseed. Although there is no scientific evidence to support using flaxseed, it is thought to decrease the symptoms of menopause, particularly hot flashes. Also known as linseed, flaxseed is available in both whole seed and seed oil forms.

If you have any questions about Hormone Replacement Therapy, need help finding a doctor, or have any questions about the supplements listed here, call The Medicine Shoppe Pharmacy of Largo at 727-501-0188 and the staff can give you any information you need. You can also bring in your lab results from your blood work and have our pharmacist give you his opinion about your hormone levels.

The Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare And You

The Affordable Care Act aka Obamacare and You

When President Obama decided that he wanted to "fix" healthcare by passing the Affordable Care Act, his intentions were to reduce the overall costs of healthcare in America. Regardless of party ties or if you agree with what the President has decided to do, it will affect every person in America. The original bill that passed is thousands of pages; so for me to write about everything you need to know, it would take days and many blog posts.

What I can recommend is taking an active role in trying to figure out how these new laws will affect you NOW and  in the future. There are a couple ways to do that. There is a book that is absolutely fantastic at breaking down Obamacare from each type of patient affected's point of view. The book is called "Obamacare Survival Guide" by Nick J. Tate. He was able to take the 2000 plus page bill and break it down by section into 220 pages. It is a very easy and quick read.

The other thing I would recommend, would be coming to see me speak on the topic on July 2, 2013 at Pinecrest Place as a public service sponsored by The Medicine Shoppe of Largo. If you're interested in attending the free event, please either call Diane Baldwin at Pinecrest Place in Largo, or call the pharmacy at 727-501-0188. The event is FREE and it takes place at 2:00 PM.

The Medicine Shoppe of Largo's Top 5 Medicare Part D Questions and Answers

Q: What classes of drugs are not covered under Medicare Part D?

A: - Meds used for anorexia, weight loss, or weight gain

- Fertility drugs

- Medications used for cosmetic reasons (acne, bleaching, hair growth) 

- Cough and cold medications

- Prescription vitamins and mineral products

- Over the counter medications 

- Some specialty medications

- Barbiturates

- Some plans do not cover benzodiazepines 

Q: How can I find out if a new medication is covered?

A: Unfortunately, the pharmacy cannot tell you if a new drug will be covered until they bill the claim. The only way to find out formulary information or which drugs are covered on your Medicare Part D plan is by contacting your insurance company. The number for each individual insurance company is on the back of your card.

Q: Why is my Medicare Part D copay different than last month?

A: There can be a variety of reasons that your Medicare Part D copay is different than the prior month. The most common reasons are a change in formulary or a change in your coverage. Medicare Part D plans can change formularies randomly, at any time. Medicare has 4 different sections of coverage. If you leave one section of coverage and go into a different section of coverage your copay can change drastically.

Q: I'm in my donut hole, how soon will it be until I'm able to have flat company's again?

A: Medicare Part D is broken up into 4 sections... your deductible, your initial coverage, your coverage gap, and your catastrophic coverage. This is how the four sections are broken down.

Deductible: The patient pays the first $325.00 dollars out of pocket.

Initial Coverage:  The patient is responsible for company's until the total amount of payment has reached $2970.00.

Coverage Gap (donut hole): Begins once you reach your Medicare Part D plan’s initial coverage limit ($2,970 in 2013) and ends when you spend a total of $4,750 in 2013. During this time, the patient is responsible for 47.5% of the brand costs and 79% of their generic drug costs.

Catastrophic Coverage: After the patient reaches a total of $4750 of total drug costs, they enter the catastrophic coverage. During their catastrophic coverage, the patient pays $2.65 for generics and $6.60 for brand drugs.

Q: My doctor gave me a manufacture copay coupon for my expensive drug, can I use it to reduce my copay or to help me in the donut hole?

A: Unfortunately if you look at the back of the card there is some fine print that says if the patient is enrolled in any government funded healthcare, they cannot use the manufacture coupon. That government funded healthcare could be Medicare Part D, Medicaid, or Tricare.