What to take for a hangover?

A hangover, also known as veisalgia, is a phenomenon that occurs after an episode of heavy alcohol consumption and affects your body when your blood alcohol levels are close to 0%. Each person has a different threshold forheavy alcohol consumption, but the truth is that this is a very unpleasant feeling and it can leave you unable to function for a full day.

A hangover is one of those episodes we want to end as soon as possible, so atFarmaciasdirectwe are going to explainwhat to take for a hangoverand even how we can prevent it.

Hangover symptoms

A hangover is made up of aset of very different symptoms, which we present below. You may only feel one of them in your body, or you may experience several of them; it will all depend on how alcohol affects your body and what level of tolerance you have:

• dizziness
• headache
• dry mouth
• rise in blood pressure
• muscle pain
• nausea
• vomiting
• tachycardia
• excessive sweating
• sensitivity to light or sound
• tiredness or tremors
• irritability
• anxiety
• depression

To know what to take for a hangover, the first thing you should do isidentify the symptomsyou are suffering from. Do not assume that all hangovers are the same; instead, take a moment to see what your body is feeling right now.

In addition, a hangoverdoes not have to be the samein two people who have drunk exactly the same amount of alcohol, as there are genetic factors that affect the metabolism with which we process this substance.

Nor will a person experience the same hangover on two different days, even if they drink exactly the same amount. This is becausetheir physical and emotional statewill have a lot to do with it.

What to take for a hangover?

But if, the night before, your alcohol consumption was higher than what your body is used to, you will most likely wake up with a hangover. You can then turn to some of the followingtips to relieve the symptoms of veisalgia:

• Drink more waterthan usual, so your body can rehydrate
• Try toeat breakfastas much as you can. If you do not feel like eating anything, you can take an electrolyte-rich solution such as Sueroral. It will help stabilise the glucose levels in your blood, so you can feel better.
• If you feel a lot of discomfort or have a headache, you can turn topainkillerssuch as Paracetamol. Avoid taking high doses of these medicines, as they directly affect the liver, the organ that has already previously been put under strain by alcohol.
• Othermedicationoptions, which are a little more acceptable than painkillers, are Ibuprofeno or Aspirina. Take the lowest dose possible, since these have a direct effect on your gastrointestinal system. Under no circumstances should you take them to prevent a hangover before going to sleep; only take them when you really need them.
• Another symptom of a hangover can beheartburn; in this case it is good to turn to effective solutions such as Sal de Fruta ENO.
• Chamomile or gingerare two very effective natural plants that can help relieve the symptoms of a hangover.

What can I do to avoid a hangover?

Obviously, the best way to avoid a hangover is to avoid drinking alcohol. But when you know that abstinence will not be possible on a particular occasion, it is good to be able toprevent hangover symptomsin advance, so you can feel a little better the next day:

• Eatbefore drinking, so that the alcohol does not hit an empty stomach.
• Drinkslowlyand in small sips.
• Alternate alcoholic drinks withnon-alcoholic drinksto avoid dehydration and give your body time to process the previous alcohol.
• Avoid drinks with ahigh alcohol content, or ones you simply do not know.
• Avoid mixing alcohol withcarbonated or sugary drinks, as this speeds up the absorption of alcohol into the blood.
• Do not smokewhile drinking, or reduce your tobacco consumption. Cigarettes can worsen a hangover, causing symptoms such as stomach pain or fatigue.

Now you knowwhat to take for a hangoverand how you can prevent it from the day before. AtFarmaciasdirect, you can buy all the medicines you need to combat the symptoms of veisalgia. If the discomfort lasts for several days, it is a good idea to consult your doctor to rule out any more serious possible condition. 

Bibliography:

• Stevenson, R. L. (1996). La resaca. Ediciones del Sol.
• Delgado-Sánchez, J. D., Herrera-Beiza, B. M., García-Luis, A. M., Herrada-Aguilar, C. J., Lepe-Valdez, S. P., & del Carmen Terrones-Saldívar, M. (2021). Actualización de la resaca de alcohol. Lux Médica, 16(46).