Hangover is the after effect of consuming too much alcohol.
Triggered by too much alcohol consumption, hangovers are known to be a major source of embarrassment to people especially grown-ups. The more alcohol you drink, the more likely you are to experience hangovers.
When having a hangover, you are prone to experience problems with your memory, your concentration and your dexterity.
Symptoms of Hangovers
Depending on what and how much you drank, hangover symptoms may include the following;
- Dizziness
- Fatigue and weakness
- Nausea, vomiting or stomach pain
- Thirst
- Headaches and muscle aches
- Body pain
- Decreased or poor sleep
- Decreased ability to concentrate
- Mood disturbances such as depression, anxiety, and irritations
- Accelerated heartbeat
Other severe signs and symptoms of hangovers which could also be life-threatening include:
- Confusion
- Seizures
- Slow or irregular breathing
- Hypothermia (low body temperature)
- Unconsciousness (Passing out)
Causes of Hangovers
Anyone who drinks alcohol can experience hangovers, but some people are more susceptible to hangovers than others and some would say it is as a result of how strong one’s head is.
There are certain factors that could trigger hangovers, and they include:
- Having a drink on an empty stomach – This is very harmful and prone to cause hangovers as it speeds the body’s absorption rate of alcohol.
- Hereditary problems – Having a family history of alcoholism may suggest an inherited problem with the way your body processes alcohol.
- Using other drugs along with alcohol – Using drugs like nicotine and tramadol could cause hangovers.
- Not getting regular sleep after drinking
Prevention and Care
Though time is known to be the only real cure for any hangover, the following measures can be carried out to prevent and care for hangover patients.
- Do not drink on an empty stomach. This is really dangerous as it speeds up the rate at which the body absorbs alcohol.
- Avoid consuming drinks with high volume of congeners (dark coloured drinks) as these chemicals are more likely to cause hangovers.
- When taking alcohol, try to take as much water as possible to prevent dehydration. Apart from re hydrating the system, water also helps to dilute the impurities left in your stomach, and these impurities could be passed out as waste in form of urine.
- Try taking lemon when experiencing hangover. Lemon helps in controlling the blood sugar level and altering the pH level, thus re balancing the body.
- Consumption of Bananas helps in dealing with hangovers. Bananas help in calming the stomach and boosting your energy levels. To help replenish lost potassium which is being lost as a result of excessive drinking, one natural remedy is to consume bananas.
- When feeling dizzy, try not to struggle with the sleep, rest and get as much sleep as possible. A good sleep helps in relaxing the brain and also resetting the whole body system.
- When experiencing a severe hangover symptom, it is advised you seek medical attention.
Above all it is recommended you do not drink at all; as alcohol has been known to have a bad effect on our health
