From what you remember, last night was amazing! Did you drink too much? Now you're suffering from that dreaded hangover?
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Obviously the best advice to avoid a hangover is prevention. Don't drink, but if that wasn't possible and you broke that promise of "I'll never drink again" then here are a few things that can help ease the pain.
Drink fluids.
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Alcohol is a diuretic and can cause dehydration. Daniel K. Hall-Flavin, M.D. a consultant in addiction psychiatry at the Mayo Clinic recommends you down 16 to 20 ounces of water before you go to bed. I mentioned this on my show over the weekend and the doctor also recommends ordering a glass of water with every beer and alternate between the two to replace lost fluids as you go.
Pain medication.
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Your head is POUNDING! If you take pain medication be sure you stick to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Stay away from acetaminophen (Tylenol) if you have been drinking alcohol. Dena Davidson, Ph.D., former associate professor of psychiatry at Indiana University School of Medicine says, "While (acetaminophen) is OK for a headache, when combined with a liver that's working overtime to metabolize alcohol, it can cause liver damage or be deadly," Read the label and consult your doctor before taking any medication.
Eat food.
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Eating is one of the last things you think of when you've been praying to the porcelain god. Without food your blood sugar drops and you become tired and irritable. Loading up on carbs can help bring your blood sugar levels back. Try toast or crackers when normal foods are impossible to keep down.
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Food helps slow the absorption of alcohol, so the next time you go out, load up on the eats. It takes longer for the alcohol to reach your blood stream and you tend not to drink as much because you are feeling full. Still be careful with the Irish Car Bombs.
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Exercise.
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Does exercising help? The "sweat it out" theory is myth. That said, the endorphin release from working out or watching a workout could boost your mood. Make sure you drink plenty of water or sports drinks to hydrate.
Talking about working out.
Sex.
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Joris C. Verster, Ph.D., assistant professor at Utrecht University in the Netherlands says, "There is no research that shows that sex will make a hangover go away." I say why hasn't there been a study? If sex makes you feel better then give it a go.
Additional ideas and thoughts here: menshealth.com
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