How to Prevent a Hangover: 7 Evidence-Based Tips

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But you can have symptoms after consuming just one or two drinks the night before, while other times, you might not experience a hangover even after consuming large amounts of alcohol. You’ll start feeling the effects of a hangover hours after you stop drinking. Symptoms of a hangover can be mild or serious, depending on how much and what you drank.

Eat a big breakfast

  • Rehydrating the body by drinking water may help to improve the symptoms of a hangover.
  • If you’ve drunk enough alcohol to have a hangover, you may be drinking in a pattern that’s harming your health.
  • In fact, the FDA has called out makers of so-called hangover cures for marketing unapproved concoctions.
  • Find other hangover food recommendations from a registered dietitian.
  • This means it is difficult to predict the number of drinks or the amount of alcohol that will cause a hangover.
  • It can be tempting to try quick hangover remedies, like a shower, coffee or greasy breakfast.

Yes, you’ve heard it a thousand times before — but there’s a good reason why so many experts stress drinking plenty of water when you’re drinking alcohol. Because of this, it’s important to stay hydrated to off-set (and prevent) any alcohol-induced dehydration that may cause headaches, dizziness and other common symptoms. From pounding headaches to stomach pain, fatigue, and irritability, many of us are all too familiar with the long list of hangover symptoms that often follow a night of heavy drinking.

How to prevent future hangovers

However, drinks that contain caffeine are diuretics, which may worsen the effects of dehydration in the body. Caffeine does not alter a person’s blood alcohol content, so it does not reduce the health risks relating to drinking alcohol. A hangover is unpleasant, but symptoms tend to go away within a day or so. If you drank too much alcohol and feel sick, try at-home hangover remedies like drinking plenty of water, eating some carbs and sleeping. You need to let your body rid itself of the alcohol and heal. If excessive drinking and hangover symptoms are interfering with your life, talk to your healthcare provider.

Hangover Cure FAQs

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Always check with your healthcare provider or pharmacist before drinking if you take any medications. The more dehydrated you are, the worse you’ll feel, and longer. It is important for a person to eat a good meal before drinking. The average person can process one standard drink every hour. Drinking slowly also means that a person may drink less overall.

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How long will symptoms last?

Alcohol has a diuretic effect that makes you pee more, leading to dehydration if you’re not also drinking water. If you drink enough alcohol to vomit, then that’s even more fluid lost. For one, it gets you intoxicated faster and makes day-after misery a lot more likely. Plus, hangovers tend to be more severe after drinking on an empty stomach. The risk of developing these conditions increases over time with the amount of alcohol a person drinks.

The following are some questions people frequently ask about how long do hangovers lasts. There is no particular way to increase the speed at which a person detoxes from alcohol and recovers from a hangover. In this article, read about hangover duration, remedies, prevention, and when to consult a doctor. Find other hangover food recommendations from a registered dietitian. The best thing you can do to minimize or resolve a hangover? Down a glass before going to sleep and do the same as soon as you get up, recommends Dr. Waters.

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Medical Professionals

But the best hangover cure is to wait it out and drink lots of water. SummaryYou can significantly reduce the severity of hangovers by drinking low-congener beverages, such as vodka, gin, or rum. If you really want to avoid a hangover, the best way is not to drink! If you do decide to drink, you’re more likely to get one if you drink more than you normally would.5 Drinking less will lower your risk of a hangover. Given that a large (250ml) glass of wine can typically contain more than three units, it’s a good idea to drink smaller measures and alternate with water, to pace yourself. Switching to a alcohol-free or low alcohol option could help you reduce your overall consumption.

Person-related factors

  • Certain foods, supplements, and over-the-counter products can help get rid of a hangover.
  • Studies show that if you smoke cigarettes while you drink, you may get a worse hangover.
  • The extract has a protein that curbs the inflammation you can get from drinking too much.
  • Many people also use sports drinks that contain electrolytes or rehydration powders to restore the balance of electrolytes in their bodies.
  • This is a good option for people who tend to feel sick when hungover.

Alcohol causes your body to produce more urine, which can cause dehydration. The symptoms of dehydration can include headache, lethargy, and excessive thirst. There are treatment approaches that can relieve some of the severe effects of a hangover. In addition to getting some rest, you can drink fluids, eat in moderation, and take over-the-counter (OTC) medications. There is no cure for a hangover, but there are some treatment strategies.

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How common are hangovers?

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