Tips To Prevent A Hangover - by Dr Trevor Baillie
1. Know your limits and stick to them
The hard reality is that seventy five percent of people who drink alcohol to intoxication will have a hangover the next day. A hangover is nature's way of clearing the toxins in alcohol from your body, so the more you pour in, the nastier the hangover will be. The number of alcoholic beverages it takes to reach a state of intoxication varies from person to person and knowing your own limits is important. Women tend to have a lower metabolic rate due to a higher ratio of body fat and may have lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme that breaks down alcohol. Pay attention to how different types of alcohol affect you. No matter what the studies say, every person's ability to metabolize alcohol differs and you'll know by experience which beer, wine, spirit, or liqueur works for you or plays havoc with your body. Listen to your own body's reactions and take care accordingly. The less alcohol consumed, the better your chances of avoiding a hangover. Try drinking one standard drink (can of beer, shot of hard liquor) per hour, which is about the rate at which your liver can keep up.
2. A tasty meal before heading out to drink is a good idea
Eat before going out so alcohol isn't absorbed as quickly. Eating food helps to reduce the acetaldehyde in your stomach, and it is the acetaldehyde that is thought to be the main cause of hangovers. Eat a proper meal, not just a greasy snack and have a glass of milk before alcohol, this coats the lining of your stomach and slows the absorption of alcohol.
3. Mixing drinks is more likely to cause a hangover
Stick with one type of alcohol as variety is not the spice of life in terms of a hangover and it will ensure that you're not mixing up the various additives, flavorings, and other elements in different types of alcohol, which can all increase the chances of forming a hangover cocktail. Aim to enjoy a beer night or a vodka night or a wine night or a rum night. Cocktails are likely to bring you problems if you have too many because they mix alcohol types, so stick with having only one or two during the entire event.
4. Lighter colored alcohol might be better than darker for you
Choose light liquors (for example, vodka or gin) over dark liquors (for example, brandy or whiskey). Light liquors have fewer "congeners" (a minor toxic chemical element of alcohol that gives it its distinctive characteristics), which contribute to hangovers. Overall, alcoholic beverages with more chemicals produce worse hangovers, and red wine is one of the worst culprits. One study found that hangover symptoms varied by the type of alcohol consumed: (in order of decreasing severity) brandy, red wine, rum, whiskey, white wine, gin, vodka, and pure ethanol. Choose less concentrated alcoholic beverages - beer is better than shots of whiskey.
5. Enjoy bubbly in moderation
Champagne and sparkling wine can literally go straight to your head and studies have shown that the effects of bubbles in alcohol increases the delivery of alcohol through your system and cause you to become intoxicated faster. If you can resist, perhaps leave the champagne for the toast and drink a different alcohol for the rest of the event. Stick with non-carbonated mixers. Just as with bubbly alcohol, carbonated mixers accelerate alcohol absorption.
6. Water between every drink slows the pace and absorption
Alcohol makes you urinate more, which can lead to dehydration so remember to have a glass of water before, during, and after consuming alcohol. The processes that break down alcohol also produce lactic acid and other chemicals that interfere with the production of glucose (sugar) and electrolytes; that's why drinking sports beverages can be a good idea. Avoid caffeinated beverages; these also make you urinate more and can also lead to diarrhea and a stuffy head when combined with alcohol. While not generally serious side effects, they can certainly add to the punch of the hangover symptoms. Have one glass of water after each alcoholic beverage, doing so keeps you hydrated and can also slow your alcohol consumption. Always keep a glass of water handy, or even keep the water in your hand and put down the alcoholic drink to drink just now and then. By actively making a choice to sip on water in between drinks, you lengthen the time taken to finish the alcoholic drink and you still have something to occupy your hands in a social setting. Drink at least a half a liter of water before going to bed.
7. Be Happy
Research suggests that guilt about alcohol consumption, a neurotic personality, becoming angry or depressed while consuming alcohol and having suffered "negative life events" in the past 12 months are better predictors of symptoms of hangovers than how much or what alcohol you consume during the night! Stay chilled, enjoy the occasion for the socializing opportunities that it presents, and vary your drinking with other activities like walking around talking to people, dancing, listening carefully to the music and what people have to say, and finding the healthy nibbles. These are all good ways to distract yourself from relying on alcohol to enjoy the evening and they are also helpful in preventing you from drinking without thinking.
8. Replace what alcohol takes out
Eat a breakfast with fruit, wholegrain toast, and honey as these healthy foods will restore the lost potassium, fructose and sodium caused by alcohol. Taking over-the-counter rehydration sachets or rehydration tablets with vitamins added can help improve your salt loss.
Facts About Alcohol
Alcohol is a Drug.
Alcohol is a depressant, which slows down thinking and actions and acts on the brain and affects all parts of the body. An average-size person's liver can break down about one drink per hour; the rest of the alcohol circulates throughout the body, affecting behavior, judgment, perception, and motor skills - such as driving and operating machinery.
Alcohol Affects Each Individual Differently.
Smaller-size people, women, younger or older people, and those who are ill will feel stronger effects from the same amount of alcohol than larger people, middle-aged adults, or people who are in good physical health. People with a history of alcoholism in their family may also be affected differently than people who have no history of alcoholism in their family.
Alcohol Abuse is a Health Risk.
Abuse of alcohol can cause damage to many of the body's organs. Researchers report damage to brain tissue, heart muscle, and reproductive organs in both males and females. Alcohol may cause the drinker's blood pressure to rise, putting him or her at risk for heart attack and stroke. Stomach ulcers, poor nutrition and sexual dysfunction have all been related to alcohol abuse.
Alcohol Affects Driving Skills.
Alcohol is involved in over half of the fatal car crashes and even though many states consider a driver legally intoxicated when their Blood Alcohol Content reaches 0.10%, driving skills are affected at levels as low as 0.03%. This is especially true of younger drivers, who may be less experienced. Alcohol affects crucial driving skills like quick reflexes and vision.
Alcohol is Harmful to Unborn Babies.
Alcohol consumed by a pregnant woman enters the bloodstream of the fetus she is carrying and can affect the fetus in many ways: slowing both physical and mental growth before and after birth; causing severe physical malformations of the face and brain; creating learning disabilities or retardation. The safe choice is not to drink during pregnancy.
Alcohol Reacts with Other Drugs.
Combining alcohol with certain over-the-counter or prescription drugs is dangerous. Drinking while taking medication may cause impairment of coordination, a sharp change in blood pressure, seizures, convulsions, and even death so ask your doctor or pharmacist about how a certain medications reacts with alcohol before combining these two drugs.
Alcohol Abuse May Lead to Alcoholism.
Drinking large enough amounts of alcohol over a period of time can produce alcoholism, a physical dependence on alcohol and people with a history of alcoholism in their family are at much greater risk of developing alcoholism themselves. Alcoholism is a treatable illness; family members and friends may need to obtain help, too.
More Facts
Chronic brain injury caused by alcohol is second only to Alzheimer's disease as known cause of mental deterioration in adults. If a man and a woman of similar weight drink the same amount of alcohol, 30% more alcohol will enter the woman's bloodstream, because women have less of a certain stomach enzyme that digests alcohol.
Effects Of Alcohol On The Body
The brain
Steady drinking over many years leads to permanent changes in the brain. One of the permanent effects of alcohol on the brain is to reduce the amount of brain tissue and to increase the size of the ventricles instead. Another way in which alcoholic drinks affect the brain is through depriving it of food substances such as vitamins. This is because heavy drinkers often neglect their diet, which can lead to vitamin deficiencies. Thiamine, one of the 'B' vitamins is most commonly missing from the diet and can lead to serious mental disturbance.
The Heart
The heart can be affected by the vitamin deficiencies caused by a neglected diet, the pumping action of the heart is weakened and heart failure can result from this.
The Liver
Some of the most serious effects on the body of drinking alcoholic drinks are caused by damage done to the liver by alcohol. If alcohol is frequently in the blood in large amounts, it causes the liver cells to die and prevents the liver from working efficiently. This disease is called Cirrhosis. In the case of a generally healthy person, if alcohol is taken infrequently or only in moderate amounts, any damaged liver tissue has time to repair itself.
The Stomach
Just one occasion when you drink heavily can irritate the stomach and cause sickness and pain. The steady drinking of alcohol can lead to the regular occurrence of these symptoms.
The Skin
Alcohol causes small blood vessels in the skin to widen, allowing more blood to flow close to the skin's surface and produce a flushed skin colour and a feeling of warmth.
The Reproductive Organs
Your sex life can be harmed by drinking alcoholic drinks as alcohol depresses nerve impulses. In men, it can depress those which cause erections. In women, heavy drinking during pregnancy can harm the foetus. The baby, when it is born, may be very small and could have reduced intelligence and facial deformities (Foetal Alcohol Syndrome), and babies born to mothers with an alcohol problem are at a high risk of suffering from this.
Weight
Alcohol contains sugar and other carbohydrates and so is a good from of energy, however heavy drinking can cause a serious weight problem due to alcohol's high carbohydrate content.
Pregnancy and Unborn Babies
Drinking during pregnancy significantly increases the chance of delivering a baby with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, small head, possible brain damage, abnormal facial features, poor muscle tone, speech and sleep disorders and retarded growth and development.
Just because you've taken preventative steps, that doesn't mean you won't get drunk. Always drink responsibly.
Remember: NEVER drink and drive! It's not a question of whether you are legally intoxicated, it's a question of whether or not it is safe to drive when you have consumed any amount of alcohol. Research shows that impairment begins long before a person reaches the blood alcohol concentration level necessary to be guilty of drunken driving.
Try Holistix Party Platinum Pack. Why ruin a day in hangover mode after enjoying a perfect party.
The hard reality is that seventy five percent of people who drink alcohol to intoxication will have a hangover the next day. A hangover is nature's way of clearing the toxins in alcohol from your body, so the more you pour in, the nastier the hangover will be. The number of alcoholic beverages it takes to reach a state of intoxication varies from person to person and knowing your own limits is important. Women tend to have a lower metabolic rate due to a higher ratio of body fat and may have lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase, an enzyme that breaks down alcohol. Pay attention to how different types of alcohol affect you. No matter what the studies say, every person's ability to metabolize alcohol differs and you'll know by experience which beer, wine, spirit, or liqueur works for you or plays havoc with your body. Listen to your own body's reactions and take care accordingly. The less alcohol consumed, the better your chances of avoiding a hangover. Try drinking one standard drink (can of beer, shot of hard liquor) per hour, which is about the rate at which your liver can keep up.
2. A tasty meal before heading out to drink is a good idea
Eat before going out so alcohol isn't absorbed as quickly. Eating food helps to reduce the acetaldehyde in your stomach, and it is the acetaldehyde that is thought to be the main cause of hangovers. Eat a proper meal, not just a greasy snack and have a glass of milk before alcohol, this coats the lining of your stomach and slows the absorption of alcohol.
3. Mixing drinks is more likely to cause a hangover
Stick with one type of alcohol as variety is not the spice of life in terms of a hangover and it will ensure that you're not mixing up the various additives, flavorings, and other elements in different types of alcohol, which can all increase the chances of forming a hangover cocktail. Aim to enjoy a beer night or a vodka night or a wine night or a rum night. Cocktails are likely to bring you problems if you have too many because they mix alcohol types, so stick with having only one or two during the entire event.
4. Lighter colored alcohol might be better than darker for you
Choose light liquors (for example, vodka or gin) over dark liquors (for example, brandy or whiskey). Light liquors have fewer "congeners" (a minor toxic chemical element of alcohol that gives it its distinctive characteristics), which contribute to hangovers. Overall, alcoholic beverages with more chemicals produce worse hangovers, and red wine is one of the worst culprits. One study found that hangover symptoms varied by the type of alcohol consumed: (in order of decreasing severity) brandy, red wine, rum, whiskey, white wine, gin, vodka, and pure ethanol. Choose less concentrated alcoholic beverages - beer is better than shots of whiskey.
5. Enjoy bubbly in moderation
Champagne and sparkling wine can literally go straight to your head and studies have shown that the effects of bubbles in alcohol increases the delivery of alcohol through your system and cause you to become intoxicated faster. If you can resist, perhaps leave the champagne for the toast and drink a different alcohol for the rest of the event. Stick with non-carbonated mixers. Just as with bubbly alcohol, carbonated mixers accelerate alcohol absorption.
6. Water between every drink slows the pace and absorption
Alcohol makes you urinate more, which can lead to dehydration so remember to have a glass of water before, during, and after consuming alcohol. The processes that break down alcohol also produce lactic acid and other chemicals that interfere with the production of glucose (sugar) and electrolytes; that's why drinking sports beverages can be a good idea. Avoid caffeinated beverages; these also make you urinate more and can also lead to diarrhea and a stuffy head when combined with alcohol. While not generally serious side effects, they can certainly add to the punch of the hangover symptoms. Have one glass of water after each alcoholic beverage, doing so keeps you hydrated and can also slow your alcohol consumption. Always keep a glass of water handy, or even keep the water in your hand and put down the alcoholic drink to drink just now and then. By actively making a choice to sip on water in between drinks, you lengthen the time taken to finish the alcoholic drink and you still have something to occupy your hands in a social setting. Drink at least a half a liter of water before going to bed.
7. Be Happy
Research suggests that guilt about alcohol consumption, a neurotic personality, becoming angry or depressed while consuming alcohol and having suffered "negative life events" in the past 12 months are better predictors of symptoms of hangovers than how much or what alcohol you consume during the night! Stay chilled, enjoy the occasion for the socializing opportunities that it presents, and vary your drinking with other activities like walking around talking to people, dancing, listening carefully to the music and what people have to say, and finding the healthy nibbles. These are all good ways to distract yourself from relying on alcohol to enjoy the evening and they are also helpful in preventing you from drinking without thinking.
8. Replace what alcohol takes out
Eat a breakfast with fruit, wholegrain toast, and honey as these healthy foods will restore the lost potassium, fructose and sodium caused by alcohol. Taking over-the-counter rehydration sachets or rehydration tablets with vitamins added can help improve your salt loss.
Facts About Alcohol
Alcohol is a Drug.
Alcohol is a depressant, which slows down thinking and actions and acts on the brain and affects all parts of the body. An average-size person's liver can break down about one drink per hour; the rest of the alcohol circulates throughout the body, affecting behavior, judgment, perception, and motor skills - such as driving and operating machinery.
Alcohol Affects Each Individual Differently.
Smaller-size people, women, younger or older people, and those who are ill will feel stronger effects from the same amount of alcohol than larger people, middle-aged adults, or people who are in good physical health. People with a history of alcoholism in their family may also be affected differently than people who have no history of alcoholism in their family.
Alcohol Abuse is a Health Risk.
Abuse of alcohol can cause damage to many of the body's organs. Researchers report damage to brain tissue, heart muscle, and reproductive organs in both males and females. Alcohol may cause the drinker's blood pressure to rise, putting him or her at risk for heart attack and stroke. Stomach ulcers, poor nutrition and sexual dysfunction have all been related to alcohol abuse.
Alcohol Affects Driving Skills.
Alcohol is involved in over half of the fatal car crashes and even though many states consider a driver legally intoxicated when their Blood Alcohol Content reaches 0.10%, driving skills are affected at levels as low as 0.03%. This is especially true of younger drivers, who may be less experienced. Alcohol affects crucial driving skills like quick reflexes and vision.
Alcohol is Harmful to Unborn Babies.
Alcohol consumed by a pregnant woman enters the bloodstream of the fetus she is carrying and can affect the fetus in many ways: slowing both physical and mental growth before and after birth; causing severe physical malformations of the face and brain; creating learning disabilities or retardation. The safe choice is not to drink during pregnancy.
Alcohol Reacts with Other Drugs.
Combining alcohol with certain over-the-counter or prescription drugs is dangerous. Drinking while taking medication may cause impairment of coordination, a sharp change in blood pressure, seizures, convulsions, and even death so ask your doctor or pharmacist about how a certain medications reacts with alcohol before combining these two drugs.
Alcohol Abuse May Lead to Alcoholism.
Drinking large enough amounts of alcohol over a period of time can produce alcoholism, a physical dependence on alcohol and people with a history of alcoholism in their family are at much greater risk of developing alcoholism themselves. Alcoholism is a treatable illness; family members and friends may need to obtain help, too.
More Facts
Chronic brain injury caused by alcohol is second only to Alzheimer's disease as known cause of mental deterioration in adults. If a man and a woman of similar weight drink the same amount of alcohol, 30% more alcohol will enter the woman's bloodstream, because women have less of a certain stomach enzyme that digests alcohol.
Effects Of Alcohol On The Body
The brain
Steady drinking over many years leads to permanent changes in the brain. One of the permanent effects of alcohol on the brain is to reduce the amount of brain tissue and to increase the size of the ventricles instead. Another way in which alcoholic drinks affect the brain is through depriving it of food substances such as vitamins. This is because heavy drinkers often neglect their diet, which can lead to vitamin deficiencies. Thiamine, one of the 'B' vitamins is most commonly missing from the diet and can lead to serious mental disturbance.
The Heart
The heart can be affected by the vitamin deficiencies caused by a neglected diet, the pumping action of the heart is weakened and heart failure can result from this.
The Liver
Some of the most serious effects on the body of drinking alcoholic drinks are caused by damage done to the liver by alcohol. If alcohol is frequently in the blood in large amounts, it causes the liver cells to die and prevents the liver from working efficiently. This disease is called Cirrhosis. In the case of a generally healthy person, if alcohol is taken infrequently or only in moderate amounts, any damaged liver tissue has time to repair itself.
The Stomach
Just one occasion when you drink heavily can irritate the stomach and cause sickness and pain. The steady drinking of alcohol can lead to the regular occurrence of these symptoms.
The Skin
Alcohol causes small blood vessels in the skin to widen, allowing more blood to flow close to the skin's surface and produce a flushed skin colour and a feeling of warmth.
The Reproductive Organs
Your sex life can be harmed by drinking alcoholic drinks as alcohol depresses nerve impulses. In men, it can depress those which cause erections. In women, heavy drinking during pregnancy can harm the foetus. The baby, when it is born, may be very small and could have reduced intelligence and facial deformities (Foetal Alcohol Syndrome), and babies born to mothers with an alcohol problem are at a high risk of suffering from this.
Weight
Alcohol contains sugar and other carbohydrates and so is a good from of energy, however heavy drinking can cause a serious weight problem due to alcohol's high carbohydrate content.
Pregnancy and Unborn Babies
Drinking during pregnancy significantly increases the chance of delivering a baby with Foetal Alcohol Syndrome, small head, possible brain damage, abnormal facial features, poor muscle tone, speech and sleep disorders and retarded growth and development.
Just because you've taken preventative steps, that doesn't mean you won't get drunk. Always drink responsibly.
Remember: NEVER drink and drive! It's not a question of whether you are legally intoxicated, it's a question of whether or not it is safe to drive when you have consumed any amount of alcohol. Research shows that impairment begins long before a person reaches the blood alcohol concentration level necessary to be guilty of drunken driving.
Try Holistix Party Platinum Pack. Why ruin a day in hangover mode after enjoying a perfect party.
