There are different types of myths about preventing and curing hangovers that need to be dismissed immediately. Here are some common hangover myths and the truths behind each. The myths range from popping a prickly pear pill to eating pasta at bedtime. By understanding the myths you will come to know about what works and what do not. Read on.
1. Hangover is not a big deal
When your body is poisoned with a lot of alcohol it reacts in different ways. It affects the central nervous system. The alcohol interferes with the nerve cells and causes dizziness, headache, nausea etc. It makes you use the bathroom frequently and leaves you hydrated. The imbalance due to the excess alcohol in your body can cause fatigue, a pounding headache, queasy stomach, cotton mouth and a weak immune system.
2. Hangover is gender-blind
If you are getting ready to enjoy the Ladies Night, be cautious. Women are more likely to show the effects of alcohol when compared to men. This is because men have higher amount of water in their bodies to dilute the alcohol. But when a woman drinks alcohol, it leads to alcohol build up in the blood stream which causes some side effects.
3. Hangover is for bingers
Hangover is mostly experienced by binge drinkers. However, it depends on your body on how the alcohol is going to react. Some people can get headache and other symptoms by consuming a couple of drinks. The best thing to do is to consume water or other nonalcoholic drinks between your alcohol consumption. It will reduce the overall effects to a certain level.
4. Wine is gentle
Tannin is the compound that triggers headache in some people. Red wine contains tannins. Drinks like malt liquors can produce severe headache. If you do not want to suffer from the hangover in the morning try to consume clear liquors like gin, vodka or beer.
5. Diet cocktails are the best
If you are worried about your calories, you can enjoy diet drinks. But they may not be helpful to avoid hangovers. According to a research, you can control the hangover to some extent by consuming fruits, sweetened drinks and fruit juices.
6. Beer after liquor
It does not really matter whether you are going to have whiskey before or after the beer. What really matters is the amount of alcohol you are going to consume. What you should remember is that a standard shot of any drink contains almost the same amount of alcohol. So, do not get cheated by looking at the size of the container.
7. Pasta before bed
There is absolutely no truth in this belief. Eating while going to bed is not healthy. You have to eat at least two hours before going to bed. Fat helps to slow the absorption of alcohol in the body. So, try to eat a pizza or a steak before your drink. It can reduce the impact of hangover. Drink water to prevent dehydration.
8. Pain pill before bed
Some people believe that popping painkillers can help you wake up fresh in the morning. The best thing is to take the pill in the morning as soon as you get up. Never take acetaminophen after alcohol. It can lead to liver inflammation and damage it permanently.
9. Sleep well
There is a common belief that alcohol helps you to sleep well. The truth is that it disrupts your sleep and reduces the quality of your sleep too. Sometimes, it becomes too difficult to get good sleep late in the night making you feel uncomfortable for the later part of the night.
10. Wake-up cocktail is the best
Drinking alcohol in the morning to overcome the hangover will make it worse. When the level of blood alcohol drops to zero, the symptoms are more visible. If you feel that you are not able to function normally without the wake-up cocktail, it is time you consulted a doctor.
11. Drink coffee
Coffee may not be very useful to get rid of the hangover. It will only cause dehydration and make the situation worse. Never drink anything that contains caffeine. Drink a lot of water or other sports drinks to prevent dehydration and replace the lost electrolytes. If you experience vomiting, then follow the same.
12. Herbal remedies
Some British researchers studied the effects of hangover pills like artichoke and yeast etc. They found nothing useful. Some researchers found that consuming supplements made of prickly pear could reduce dry mouth and nausea due to the hangover. But nothing could be done to reduce the headache.
Alcohol poisoning is considered to be a very serious condition. The symptoms include vomiting, stupor, confusion, seizures, bluish skin, low body temperature, irregular breathing etc. When you see anyone vomiting too often, there are chances of brain damage or severe dehydration. The best thing to do is to visit the nearest doctor.
