I’m on-call in the hospital today. For absolutely no reason whatsoever, completely unrelated to any human I have met today: what’s the best hangover cure?
Medical term for hangover is “veisalgia” – from Old Norse kveis “uneasiness following debauchery,” and Greek -algia “pain”.
So let’s bust some hangover urban myths:
1. You just can “detox” after drinking too much? #mythbusted. You can’t “detox” after alcohol excess: vitamins, fasts, cleanses, smoothies, “soakage” meals, supplements, IV drip bars. It may ease symptoms but can’t undo any damage.
2. Hangovers are just feeling bad? No – hangover isn’t just about how bad you feel: Few patients are aware that they are actually somewhat impaired the next day – even after their blood alcohol is 0. In studies with pilots, drivers, skiers who consumed excess alcohol, foudn that the next day, they had poorer coordination, altered perception, slower brain waves for up to 16 hours AFTER blood alcohol went back to 0.
3. Making someone suffer with hangover symptoms will NOT prevent them from drinking again. Studies show those with moderate to severe hangovers are MORE likely to drink to excess again.
4. There is NO magic hangover cure.
5. What you drink can affect getting a hangover. Drinks that contain “congeners” like brandy, wine, tequila, whiskey, dark spirits can cause worse hangover BUT…
6. It’s really about how much drink you had: more than 5 to 6 drinks for a man or 3 to 5 drinks for a woman. (standard drink is pub measure spirit, half pint beer, or small glass wine)
7. Hangovers are a problem. It has serious and well-studied economic effects: The cost of hangovers are from lost days of work, lost productivity and #errors by those who make it to work, and increased injury. (If you remember, in January we talked about how ONE THIRD of the HSE budget is made of complications related to alcohol misuse).
8. So, you’ve over-indulged? What does work? Hydration. Your usual over-the-counter headache medication. Some non-diabetics have low blood sugar with hangovers, so food helps. Rest.
What’s the sure-fire way to prevent a hangover? Low-risk alcohol intake. Limit yourself to 11 standard drinks for women or 17 standard drinks for men. Have 2 to 3 alcohol-free days per week. Drink no more than 6 standard drinks at each occasion,
If you want help with your alcohol use, talk to your GP or contact the HSE Drugs and Alcohol helpline 1800 459 459.
#lifestylemedicine #StPatricksDayFest #DrinkAware
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