- From December 12 to January 6, what is popularly known as the Guadalupe-Reyes Marathon takes place, being the time of year in which the highest consumption of alcoholic beverages is recorded.
- A hangover is characterized by the onset of symptoms including fatigue, thirst, headache, nausea, and dizziness.
- The only infallible method to avoid a hangover is to avoid alcohol consumption.
The final part of each year is full of joy and constant parties. Although the objective is to promote personal relationships, it is also counterproductive because it is the time when more alcohol consumption is recorded. In addition to the effect on health, there are also other risks such as an increase in traffic accidents. On this topic, there are various myths about hangovers that to date are thought to be true and you should clarify them among your patients.
First of all, this unpleasant feeling occurs after excessive intake of alcohol. It is characterized by the onset of symptoms including fatigue, thirst, headache, nausea, and dizziness. Although sometimes it can be treated with the use of analgesics, there are also serious situations in which urgent medical attention is required.
Fake news about hangovers
The only infallible method to avoid a hangover is to avoid excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages. The problem is that some people try to avoid suffering the consequences by using alternative procedures. In the end none of them work and the only thing that is achieved is to increase the danger.
About, Amanda Beaverwellness nutritionist at the Houston Methodist Hospitalshares the top hangover myths that are prevalent today.
Myth 1: Drinking an alcoholic drink in the morning will cure my hangover: FALSE
The idea behind this myth is that alcohol itself can cure its negative effects. This idea lacks any logic if you think about it.
Consuming alcohol in the morning when hungover can make people feel a little better but only for now. In reality, continuing to drink will only aggravate the symptoms. Also, many scientists agree that doing this too often can lead to severe alcohol dependency.
Myth 2: Taking a pain reliever just before bedtime will prevent a hangover: FALSE
When you’ve had too much to drink, you may be tempted to take a pain reliever with a tall glass of water and go straight to bed. The medicine will take effect while we sleep. That’s what you think? Well it’s false.
The first thing to know is that alcohol in combination with pain relievers such as acetaminophen can damage the liver. Also, any pain reliever will increase the production of acid in your stomach, which is already suffering from a lot of irritation produced by the same alcohol.
“The fact that you feel better in the morning is not derived from the pain reliever but rather from the water you drank before going to sleep, the dinner you ate, or even the type of alcohol you consumed the night before.”
Myth 3: Drinking coffee cures hangovers: FALSE
If you are a coffee drinker, you surely have faith in the power of your morning cup. But when it comes to hangovers, coffee won’t cure it.
“The caffeine in coffee may temporarily reduce fatigue, but it won’t cure a hangover. In fact, there is no scientific evidence to prove that caffeine has beneficial effects on hangovers.
If you regularly drink coffee, Beaver recommends having a small cup if you’re hungover, but you don’t really need it.
What you should eat and drink to lessen the effects of a hangover
After analyzing the popular hangover myths it’s time to learn the opposite point. These are tips that do work to reduce hangover symptoms, although they are by no means solutions.
When you wake up with a horrendous headache and utter grogginess after a night of drinking, the last thing you need is eating and drinking food that could make you worse than you already feel. What must be done is the following:
- Drink a glass of water.
- Avoid fatty foods and opt for easily digestible carbohydrates.
- Try a refreshing smoothie.
- Consume egg and vitamin C.
Also read:
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