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Hangover Headache: Treatment and Prevention

There are a couple reasons that taking an anti-inflammatory medication may help with hangover symptoms. In cases when it’s too late for abstinence, there are at least a few things that may make an individual with an alcohol-induced hangover feel a little better. Over time, the body breaks down acetaldehyde into a less-toxic acetate and the symptoms resolve. But other than waiting for that to happen, there really doesn’t seem to be a legitimate quick fix for the damage already done. While the occasional night out with cocktails can be fun, alcohol-induced hangovers are the exact opposite.

In fact, the FDA has called out makers of so-called hangover cures for marketing unapproved concoctions. Use caution if you experiment with any anti-hangover supplements. This root has been a feature of Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Herbalists use it to treat everything from stress to asthma. In one small study, a drink made from red ginseng cut down hangover symptoms.

Drink slowly and on a full stomach.

And if you find that hangovers are affecting your work or relationships, talk to your doctor about your drinking. The best way to prevent a hangover is to avoid drinking more alcohol than your body can tolerate. There is no magic hangover “cure,” but there are some remedies that can help alleviate your symptoms. In addition, hangovers often cause sufferers to miss work and school and not perform optimally. As poor balance and vertigo are common symptoms while blood alcohol levels are dropping, falls and accidents are also a danger.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen may help relieve hangover symptoms, but they can also irritate the lining of your stomach. Although a hangover isn’t curable, there are steps you can take before, during, and after drinking to help alleviate symptoms like headache and fatigue. Some methods are extreme — I’m looking at you, IV drips — and others, such as immersing your face in a bowl of ice water, are simply viral sensations. One of the most popular remedies discussed online involves eating greasy food, and people aren’t shy about sharing their favorite fast food items to eat during a hangover. Congeners are chemicals that are produced during fermentation and are responsible for much of a drink’s flavor and aroma.

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Moderation allows people to enjoy the pleasurable effects of alcohol before physical impairment occurs, Turner explains. Anxiety can happen for a lot of reasons, but one possible cause could relate to alcohol use itself. To put it another way, you might have some awareness, whether it’s conscious or not, of alcohol’s less-than-positive effects on your mental health. If you were with a close friend, you might feel reassured by talking to them. But for the moment, it might help to take a few minutes and examine your thoughts.

“Vitamin B3 (niacin) and zinc are considered beneficial for hangovers due to their roles in alcohol metabolism, energy production and supporting overall health,” says Norton. Vitamin B3 helps metabolize alcohol and provides energy, while zinc replenishes nutrient levels and supports how long does a hangover last immune and digestive function. Taking an anti-inflammatory may also help calm down your body’s immune system. After drinking too much, research shows that the body responds by releasing cytokines, which are a protein meant to help you “recover” from the toxin (i.e. alcohol).

Red Ginseng

The color indicates the presence of infection-fighting white blood cells, and phlegm and nasal mucus will be thicker than usual. Stop drinking completely when you’ve reached your https://ecosoberhouse.com/ limit (or before then). If you have a hangover, it will take time for the headache to completely go away, but there are certain measures you can take to relieve its severity.

  • Certain foods and drinks, like dairy products and alcohol, can also increase mucus production.
  • Moderation allows people to enjoy the pleasurable effects of alcohol before physical impairment occurs, Turner explains.
  • You’re probably familiar with the usual physical symptoms of a hangover — the pounding headache, the nausea, the need to wear sunglasses at the first hint of daylight.
  • The challenge with finding a cure for a hangover is that there are so many underlying processes affected by alcohol.
  • Excessive phlegm can be uncomfortable but there are several home remedies to help get rid of it.

But if you have an infection or inflammation in your respiratory tract, your body increases its production of both phlegm and nasal mucus. Drinking dark liquors (such as whiskey) tends to lead to more severe hangovers due to chemicals called congeners in the drinks. In this article, we explore the causes of hangovers and how to reduce the symptoms.