The hangover, a term used as a synonym for hangover, acute alcoholism or drunkenness, is the uncomfortable companion of many aficionados or occasional drinkers. It is essentially a set of disorders, in many ways unpleasant, associated with the consumption of an excessive dose of alcohol .
Waking up with a hangover at your side is an often tragic event and for this reason described with rather colorful expressions: “I feel like I’ve been run over by a train”, “I have a hammer that keeps beating in my head”, “I am a rag” and so on. In these cases, recovering quickly is important not only to feel better, but also to avoid attracting prejudices upon yourself,
The severity of the hangover is directly proportional to the amount of alcohol ingested and varies on the basis of numerous factors, such as gender (females are more exposed), genetic predisposition, habit of drinking and the simultaneous intake of food , medicines or drugs .
Whatever the cause, the advice and do-it-yourself remedies are varied and numerous, but only a few are really effective; on the other hand, many others do not have the desired effect and can even aggravate the problem.
The first and most banal recommendation is to drink lots of water, in order to rehydrate the body and restore the liquids lost due to alcohol; at the same time, good hydration favors the removal of a small amount of ethanol through urine and sweat (which together with the breath represent the auxiliary routes for liver detoxification).
Soft drinks are also very useful for preventive purposes; if you order a double quantity of water together with a drink, on the one hand you will drink less alcohol and on the other hand the hangover will dampen any hangover; likewise, to improve the situation when you wake up, it’s important to sip a couple of glasses of water just before going to sleep . As soon as you get up, a breakfast
is recommendedsimple, mainly based on fruit. The hangover, in fact, has weakened the whole organism and in particular the liver and the stomach . Even at the metabolic level there are problems: glycemic levels are low, free radicals are everywhere, the blood is more acidic and some B vitamins have been used in the detoxification of ethanol. No foods that are difficult to digest , therefore, but a wholesome and healthy breakfast based on fruit, with a few slices of bread , jam and honey .
If possible, no painkillers, because many of them have gastric side effects (NSAIDs ) and liver ( nimesulide , paracetamol ).
Although it may seem obvious, it is better to underline that consuming a small amount of alcohol upon waking, almost as if it were a homeopathic remedy, certainly does not relieve the symptoms of the hangover, on the contrary… Do not forget that acute alcoholism causes
vasodilatation , increasing loss of body heat, hence hypothermia . Therefore, even when you experience hot flashes and sweat dripping from your forehead, it’s good to cover up and avoid going out to sing bare-chested in the snow!
No cola and coffee type drinksto alleviate the symptoms of the hangover: they stimulate the secretion of gastric juices , irritating the already proven stomach mucosa , and promote diuresis , aggravating body dehydration (which increases when you vomit). A precious help can also be found in artichoke and milk thistle
extracts , thanks to their silymarin content . The latter, together with the B vitamins and the amino acid cysteine (precursor of glutathione), is a common ingredient of the so-called “sober up pills”, highly publicized on the internet.
A moisturizer, along with a few slices of cucumber on your eyes, can give your face a fresher, more rested look.
If the hangover isn’t particularly severe, light physical activity can help: be careful though, your reflexes will certainly be less prompt, the risk of dehydration greater and physical efficiency compromised; never sport on an empty stomach , since alcohol causes hypoglycemia and inhibits gluconeogenesis . Better not to ask too much of the body and limit yourself to a relaxing walk.
To dispose of 1/2 liter of wine or 5 small glasses of spirits, the body takes about 7 hours. The elimination of ethanol is mainly entrusted to the liver (92% – 98%), lungs (1.6% – 6%) and to a lesser extent to sweat, tears, mother’s milk and faeces (0.5 -4%).
In conclusion, there are no miraculous remedies to cure the hangover and this for a simple reason: the hangover will go away only when the liver has metabolized all the alcohol present in the blood. Since the speed of hepatic detoxification is almost constant (around 3-6, maximum 8 grams/hour), the best weapon remains prevention: drink little, responsibly and never on an empty stomach.
