Party Over –now Its How to Get Ove’ the Hangover!

New Year eve could have been a blast guzzling gallons of liquor, partying into the night for many. The last dregs show up as a blasting headache and an I –am –run-over-by –a truck feeling the following day. Scientists try to explain what leads to this phenomenon. Dr. Christine Lay, a neurologist from New York City, is the co-author of a forthcoming article on hangovers .This article will be published in the journal Headache soon.

Scientists point out that consumption of alcoholic beverages and drinks causes blood vessels to dilate. Alcohol seems to hinder the body’s ability to release glucose into the circulation. Both these factors trigger of a throbbing headache. Lack of sufficient blood sugar makes the person feel exhausted and run over. Thoughts get clouded the person feels moody. Alcohol actually robs sleep. Although primarily sedating, it disturbs sound sleep called rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.

To add to the injury, the byproduct of alcohol when it is metabolized is acetaldehyde which is a toxin . Acetaldehyde causes rapid heart rate and also cause headache, flushed skin, bouts of sweat, nausea and vomiting. This in turn leads to dehydration and imbalance of electrolyte levels in the body. After consuming alcohol there is a tendency to urinate more, as the chemical in the brain that controls dehydration gets blocked by the effect of alcohol. So it’s a vicious cycle. Severe thirst, weariness, and lightheadedness are the end results.

Getting out of such a hang over will need plenty of water to flush out the symptoms of dehydration. It is absolutely essential as dehydration is the most frequent cause of hangover symptoms.

Experts like Khursheed Navder, a registered dietitian in New York, advice that after a drinking binge it’s essential to force yourself to drink plenty of water. Even if a person throws up, it is beneficial as that will help to flush out some of the alcohol. The earlier dehydration is addressed, a person can get over the squeamish feelings. Other, helpful options to substitute plain water are electrolyte laden drinks usually marketed for athletes as it helps to replace the electrolytes and minerals that are lost along with frequent urination. Fruit juices that are not acidic are also helpful to counter the low sugar levels in the blood, and helps to counter the light headed feeling.

If you don't feel like drinking water, then sports drinks are a good option because they replace essential salts and minerals that were flushed out of your body during frequent urination. Non-acidic fruit juices are another good choice because the sugar in them helps prevent hypoglycemia and feeling weak and lightheaded. Avoiding coffee will help reduce hangovers .This is because caffeine slows down the break down of alcohol in the body.

Exercise helps to ease symptoms. Eating a sumptuous meal complete with soups, fruits and a generous helping of vegetables will help ,opined experts in association with U.S. National Institutes of Health.

Lighter coloured alcohol like gin,vodka,white wine seem to be less intoxicating than the more mature deeper coloured alcoholic drinks, that have more ‘congeners’. Congeners are toxic byproducts of the fermentation process and are seen more in the more aged drinks, comment experts. Being cautious certainly helps before you reach out for the next cup of wine that is so enticing. Remember prevention is even better than a stitch in time that saves nine!

Source-Medindia
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