Ahmad Chehade, PharmD. Candidate
The dreaded hangover, what exactly is it? What causes it? And is there any way to lessen your suffering the next morning?
The majority of us have been there. It’s Friday or Saturday night and in some cases even the middle of the week. We’re out to have a good time and unwind from the stresses of life. One drink leads to another and the next thing you know you’re waking up with a hangover, telling yourself “I’m never drinking again”. We all know how that works out..
What causes a hangover?
It’s been commonly assumed that hangovers are a result of dehydration, because alcohol (ethanol) acts as a diuretic, therefore increasing urine production1. This theory is a part of the reason and can be deemed to be realistic. After all, how many of us really follow the “throw a water in there” rule. However, studies examining the link between dehydration and hangovers tell a somewhat different story. Long story short, a hangover is accompanied by significant increases in the body’s “inflammatory system” a result of our body’s attempt to deal with the effects of alcohol1.
Symptoms
Hangovers are different for everyone. They usually consist of an array of symptoms, ranging from fatigue, nausea, headaches, and mood disturbances. Most of the time they last throughout the day and unfortunately, there’s no magic formula that tells us how much we can drink and avoid experiencing a hangover.
What can help?
Now there’s a lot of over-the-counter remedies that claim to prevent hangovers, but the only real way to guarantee that you won’t experience a hangover is to avoid alcohol. Now that’s not realistic to ask of most people, so firstly we can encourage you to drink in moderation and know your limits.
The less alcohol you drink, the less likely you are to experience a hangover. There are some ways to help mitigate the hangover experience, here are some tips:
- Ensure that you’re not drinking on an empty stomach. Alcohol is more readily absorbed if there is no food in your stomach, so it may help to eat before you start drinking2
- Mix a water in between drinks. Although dehydration is not the only causative factor for a hangover, staying hydrated can still play a role in lessening the morning burden2
- Headaches are common in the hangover experience. Tylenol® or Advil® can be a tool for helping mitigate this, but be sure to consult your pharmacist to ensure that taking these products are right for you
- Taking it slow and not having one drink after another can help you stay in control and gauge what your limit is
- Lastly, as we mentioned, don’t over do it. Know your limits and decide when you want to stop
If you have any questions or want to know some more details, feel free to email us at ask@orbishealth.ca
Resources
- http://www.medicaldaily.com/what-causes-hangover-everything-you-need-know-morning-after-drinking-alcohol-366042
- https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hangovers/symptoms-causes/syc-20373012
