Today is the first day of the year 2025. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine in 2022, 2.3 billion people around the world drink alcohol on New Year's Eve and start their New Year's morning with a hangover.
Many people would have planned a New Year party with friends on the evening of December 31. In such a situation, many people have a hangover, what to do to relieve it? That question may have arisen. Then the best way would have been to not drink alcohol at all. But if you still want to drink, how to drink and what precautions should be taken? And how to get out of a hangover? – We will talk about this in today's work news
Expert: Dr. Urvi Maheshwari, Physician, Janova Shelby Hospital, Mumbai
Q- What is a hangover and why does it happen? Answer- Hangover is the after effect of drinking alcohol. A hangover occurs because a chemical called acetaldehyde is released in the body after drinking alcohol. When our liver processes alcohol to remove it from the body, in the process this chemical is released into the body, causing a hangover. Apart from this, there can be 3 more reasons –
- Drinking alcohol on an empty stomach or not eating anything after drinking alcohol can cause a hangover.
- Alcohol is a diuretic. It means something that dehydrates the body. Dehydration can cause a hangover.
- Drinking alcohol with higher congeners, such as whiskey, rum or red wine, makes a hangover more likely. A congener is a chemical compound produced in wine during the fermentation process.
Q- What are the symptoms of a hangover? Answer: Hangover symptoms can range from a severe headache to nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea. It depends on the liver's ability to digest alcohol. Its symptoms can be experienced both physically and mentally. Hangover symptoms usually last up to 24 hours.
Hangover symptoms begin when blood alcohol levels become too high or zero. These symptoms usually appear the next morning after a night of heavy drinking.
Q- The biggest cause of hangovers and the biggest side effect of alcohol is dehydration. What to do to counter this? Answer : Dehydration occurs when the amount of water in the body decreases. This problem worsens after drinking too much alcohol. Drinking large amounts of alcohol does not release the vasopressin hormone in the body. It is also called anti-diuretic hormone (ADH). ADH itself signals the kidneys to stop urinating. To avoid this, drink plenty of water before and after alcohol. If you drank alcohol at night, eat electrolyte-rich fruits like bananas, coconut water, watermelon, oranges as soon as you wake up in the morning. It will keep the body hydrated.
Q- What are the home tips to combat hangover? Answer- Everyone wants to start the first day of the year feeling energetic and active. So, if you might have a hangover after drinking too much alcohol late at night, you can try some home remedies to get rid of it. See them in the graphic below-
Question: What precautions should be taken while drinking alcohol to reduce the chances of a hangover? Answer- Physician Dr. Urvi Maheshwari says that if you want to avoid a hangover, take some important precautions before the New Year party. such as-
- Eat healthy food during the day. Keep your diet low in carbohydrates and high in protein. Eat more like roti, rice and pulses, coarse grains, eggs, chicken etc.
- Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water throughout the day.
- Go after eating something healthy. Do not drink alcohol on an empty stomach.
- Drink two glasses of water before starting to drink.
- Keep mixing non-alcoholic drinks with alcohol at the party.
- Drink water after and between each drink. It will not cause dehydration. Also, toxic substances will continue to leave the body through urine.
Apart from this there are some other precautions as well. See them in the graphic below-
Question- Can any medicine be taken to get rid of hangover?
Answer- Dr. Urvi Maheshwari says that headaches, dizziness, vomiting or fatigue are common in hangovers. Don't worry too much about this. Get as much rest as you can. It will reduce hangover symptoms within a few hours.
According to the doctor, one should avoid taking medicines in the condition of hangover because these medicines are also digested in our liver. The liver is already tired from working hard to digest alcohol. Any drug taken to cure a hangover in such a situation can damage the liver. So don't take medicine and rest.
Question: What kinds of mistakes should not be made when trying to get rid of a hangover?
Answer- Some people follow wrong ways to get rid of hangover. It can spoil your health. Find out from the points below which types of mistakes should be avoided.
Drink coffee or tea: Drinking coffee or tea to get rid of a hangover is wrong. Coffee and tea contain caffeine, which can increase dehydration.
Do not drink water: One of the most effective ways to get rid of a hangover is to drink plenty of water. Keep drinking water even if you are vomiting or not thirsty.
Having a heavy breakfast: A heavy breakfast should not be eaten during a hangover. It can spoil the digestive system.
Not taking rest: Adequate rest is essential during a hangover. This gives the body enough time to recover. Lack of rest can damage your health.
Image Credit: (Divya-Bhaskar): Images/graphics belong to (Divya-Bhaskar).
