So you went out with the boys last night and knocked back a few too many drinks. Now you’re paying the price to the porcelain gods and asking la Virgencita to forsake you. We’ve all been there – the hangover – a pounding headache, queasy stomach and cotton ball mouth. How can a night of fun lead to a day of feeling like you’ve been hit by a truck?
Jim White, a registered dietician and American Dietetic Association spokesperson, explains that drinking can irritate the lining of your stomach and – you guessed it – you’re left curled in the fetal position on your bathroom floor. White also notes that alcohol can also cause your blood sugar levels to fall which contributes to that overall sleepy feeling. That drum solo in your head? That’s because alcohol causes your blood vessels to expand, which can lead to headaches. Plus, alcohol stimulates your body to produce more urine, dehydrating you even further. “Ingredients called congeners are found in larger amounts in dark liquors like whiskey and brandy, than in clear ones like vodka and gin, [which] can contribute to hangovers, too,” White explains.
So after getting three sheets to the wind, what can you do to keep happy hour from turning into a horrific morning after? While there’s no one quick fix, there are a few things you can do to help ease specific symptoms.