How can you effectively cure a hangover stomach ache. What are the most effective ways to ease hangover symptoms. Which remedies actually work for hangover relief. How to prevent and treat hangover-related stomach discomfort.

Understanding Hangover Stomach Aches: Causes and Symptoms

Hangover stomach aches are a common and unpleasant consequence of excessive alcohol consumption. These discomforts typically arise from the irritating effects of alcohol on the digestive system, dehydration, and the body’s efforts to metabolize toxins. Symptoms often include nausea, abdominal pain, and general gastrointestinal distress.

Why do hangovers cause stomach aches? Alcohol irritates the lining of the stomach and intestines, increases acid production, and slows digestion. This combination can lead to inflammation, bloating, and discomfort. Additionally, alcohol acts as a diuretic, leading to dehydration, which can exacerbate stomach issues.

Common Symptoms of Hangover Stomach Aches

• Nausea and vomiting
• Abdominal pain and cramping
• Bloating and gas
• Acid reflux or heartburn
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea

The Prickly Pear Strategy: A Proactive Approach to Hangover Prevention

One intriguing method for mitigating hangover symptoms, including stomach discomfort, involves the use of prickly pear extract. This natural remedy has shown promise in scientific studies for its potential to reduce hangover severity.

How does prickly pear extract work against hangovers? The extract contains a protein that may help reduce inflammation caused by alcohol consumption. By taking prickly pear extract several hours before drinking, you might be able to decrease your hangover symptoms by approximately 50%.

It’s important to note that while prickly pear extract shows promise, it’s not a guaranteed cure. Its effectiveness can vary from person to person, and it’s always best to drink responsibly regardless of any preventative measures taken.

Tips for Using Prickly Pear Extract

1. Take the extract at least 5 hours before you start drinking
2. Follow the recommended dosage on the product label
3. Choose a high-quality supplement from a reputable source
4. Combine this strategy with other hangover prevention methods for best results

Hydration and Nutrition: The Cornerstones of Hangover Recovery

One of the most effective strategies for combating hangover stomach aches is to focus on proper hydration and nutrition. Alcohol’s diuretic effect leads to significant fluid loss, contributing to many hangover symptoms, including stomach discomfort.

How can you effectively rehydrate after drinking? Start by drinking water throughout the night, alternating between alcoholic beverages and water. Before bed, drink a large glass of water and keep a bottle by your bedside for easy access in the morning. Electrolyte-rich drinks can also help restore balance more quickly.

Eating a meal before or while drinking can help mitigate the effects of alcohol on your system. Food in your stomach slows the absorption of alcohol, potentially reducing the severity of your hangover. Opt for nutrient-dense foods that are easy on the stomach, such as whole grains, lean proteins, and fruits.

Hydration and Nutrition Tips for Hangover Recovery

• Drink water or electrolyte-rich beverages
• Consume easily digestible, nutrient-rich foods
• Avoid greasy or spicy foods that may further irritate your stomach
• Consider drinking coconut water for natural electrolytes
• Eat small, frequent meals rather than large portions

The Clear Liquor Advantage: Minimizing Hangover Severity

The type of alcohol you consume can significantly impact the severity of your hangover, including stomach discomfort. Clear spirits like vodka, gin, and light rum tend to result in less severe hangovers compared to darker alcohols.

Why do clear liquors lead to milder hangovers? The answer lies in compounds called congeners. These are byproducts of the fermentation process and are more prevalent in darker alcohols like whiskey, red wine, and dark rum. Congeners are associated with more severe hangover symptoms, including stomach issues.

While choosing clear liquors may help reduce hangover severity, it’s crucial to remember that excessive consumption of any type of alcohol can lead to a hangover. Moderation remains the best strategy for avoiding hangover-related discomfort.

Clear Liquor Options for Reduced Hangover Risk

• Vodka
• Gin
• Light rum
• White tequila
• Sake

The Smoking and Drinking Connection: A Recipe for Worsened Hangovers

For those who enjoy both alcohol and cigarettes, it’s important to understand the compounded negative effects of combining these habits. Research suggests that smoking while drinking can lead to more severe hangovers, including intensified stomach discomfort.

How does smoking exacerbate hangover symptoms? Both alcohol and tobacco affect sleep quality, and poor sleep is a significant contributor to hangover severity. Additionally, smoking can increase inflammation in the body, potentially worsening alcohol-induced stomach irritation.

To minimize hangover symptoms, especially stomach aches, it’s advisable to avoid smoking while drinking. If you’re a regular smoker, consider cutting back or quitting altogether for overall health benefits, including less severe hangovers.

Strategies to Avoid Smoking While Drinking

1. Inform friends of your decision to avoid smoking while drinking
2. Choose non-smoking venues for socializing
3. Use nicotine replacement therapy if needed
4. Practice stress-relief techniques to manage cravings
5. Consider seeking support from a healthcare professional

The “Hair of the Dog” Myth: Temporary Relief vs. Long-Term Consequences

The practice of having a drink the morning after to alleviate hangover symptoms, known as “hair of the dog,” is a controversial and potentially harmful approach to hangover management. While it may provide temporary relief, it’s not a recommended solution for hangover stomach aches or other symptoms.

Why does “hair of the dog” seem to work initially? Alcohol suppresses the production of glutamate, a neurotransmitter. When you stop drinking, glutamate levels surge, contributing to hangover symptoms. Having another drink temporarily suppresses this glutamate rebound, providing brief relief.

However, this approach merely delays the inevitable. Once you stop drinking again, you’ll still experience hangover symptoms, potentially even more severely. Additionally, this practice can contribute to unhealthy drinking patterns and increase the risk of alcohol dependency.

Healthier Alternatives to “Hair of the Dog”

• Hydrate with water or electrolyte-rich beverages
• Eat a nutritious, easily digestible meal
• Get plenty of rest
• Try gentle exercise like a short walk for fresh air
• Use over-the-counter pain relievers cautiously and as directed

Targeted Symptom Relief: Addressing Specific Hangover Discomforts

While there’s no cure-all for hangovers, you can take steps to alleviate specific symptoms, including stomach aches. It’s important to choose remedies carefully, as some common pain relievers can interact negatively with alcohol or irritate an already sensitive stomach.

How can you safely treat hangover symptoms? For headaches, consider using an anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen. For upset stomach, over-the-counter remedies like Pepto-Bismol may provide relief. Caffeine can help with fatigue, but be cautious as it may also irritate your stomach.

It’s crucial to avoid acetaminophen (paracetamol) when treating hangover symptoms, as it can cause serious liver problems when combined with alcohol. Even with safer options like ibuprofen, use caution and follow dosage instructions carefully.

Safe Remedies for Common Hangover Symptoms

• Headache: Ibuprofen (in moderation)
• Nausea: Ginger tea or Pepto-Bismol
• Fatigue: Small amounts of caffeine
• Dehydration: Electrolyte-rich beverages
• Stomach discomfort: Probiotics or digestive enzymes

Prevention Strategies: Minimizing the Risk of Hangover Stomach Aches

While treating hangover symptoms is important, prevention is always the best approach. By implementing certain strategies before and during alcohol consumption, you can significantly reduce the likelihood and severity of hangover stomach aches and other symptoms.

How can you effectively prevent hangovers? The most crucial step is to moderate your alcohol intake. Know your limits and stick to them. Additionally, staying hydrated, eating before and during drinking, and choosing your alcoholic beverages wisely can all contribute to hangover prevention.

Key Hangover Prevention Tactics

1. Set and stick to a drink limit
2. Alternate alcoholic drinks with water
3. Eat a substantial meal before drinking
4. Choose drinks with lower alcohol content
5. Avoid mixing different types of alcohol
6. Get enough sleep after drinking
7. Consider taking vitamin B complex and magnesium supplements

By implementing these prevention strategies and understanding how to manage hangover symptoms effectively, you can minimize the impact of alcohol on your body and reduce the likelihood of experiencing severe hangover stomach aches. Remember, the safest approach to avoid hangovers entirely is to drink responsibly or abstain from alcohol consumption.

6 ways to ease your symptoms

Written by Paige Fowler

• Prepare With Prickly Pear
• Eat Up and Drink Water
• Chose Clear Booze
• Don’t Light Up And Drink
• Have a Drink the Next Day
• Treat Your Symptoms
• More

Ask a dozen people how to cure a hangover and you’ll get a dozen different answers. Eat greasy grub. Drink coffee. Pop over-the-counter pain relievers.

Do any of them work?

“There’s no magic potion that gets rid of a hangover,” says George Koob, MD, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). The only way you can avoid that tired-headachy-nauseated feeling is to drink less.

But if you think you might overdo it, these steps could help tone down your morning-after symptoms.

While most over-the-counter hangover remedies won’t help much, there’s one supplement that may do you some good — but you’ll have to plan ahead. If you take prickly pear extract several hours before you drink, it might lower your day-after symptoms by about half.

Experts don’t know how it works, but the extract has a protein that curbs the inflammation you can get from drinking too much. That may help hold off a hangover.

Don’t wait until the end of the night to polish off a pizza. It might be too late.

“The alcohol is already in your body, so eating food or drinking water won’t affect how it’s absorbed,” says Aaron White, PhD, senior advisor to the director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

But if you eat a meal and have water while you’re throwing back those cocktails, your hangover may not be as bad. “Having food in your stomach while drinking reduces how high your peak blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) gets by about a third,” White says.

The less drunk you get, the less crummy you’ll feel the next day. And fluid from water slows the rate at which your body absorbs alcohol. This will also lower your overall BAC.

“It’s a good idea to alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks,” White says.

Along with drinking water throughout the night, be sure to down even more before you go to sleep.

“Alcohol is a diuretic,” Koob says. This means it makes you pee a lot, which causes you to lose a lot of liquid. “Hangover symptoms are partly due to dehydration, so replacing that fluid loss can help.”

It’s also smart to keep a bottle of water by your bedside so you can hydrate as soon as you wake up in the morning.

The color of the spirits you drink may affect how you feel tomorrow. You may be better off sticking to a clear booze like vodka and gin, or the clear versions of rum and tequila.

The reason has to do with chemical compounds called congeners. Those are “anything in alcohol besides alcohol and water,” Koob says. Darker drinks like bourbon, scotch, and tequila tend to have higher levels. Those compounds can bring on the inflammation that makes your hangover worse.

For some people, the two go together. But you may pay the price.

“Smoking cigarettes while drinking results in worse hangovers,” says Damaris Rosenhow, PhD, associate director of the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University.

One theory is that both alcohol and smokes affect your sleep, and poor shut-eye may make you feel even crummier.

If you’re looking for a short-term fix, this may help — but not for long. There’s a scientific explanation for why the “hair of the dog that bit you” works.

When you drink, alcohol holds back a brain chemical called glutamate. That causes your brain to make more and more of it, Koob says. When the alcohol wears off, you have a bunch of it floating around in your brain. It may be to blame for hangover symptoms like irritability, headaches, nausea, and fatigue.

Down another drink or two the next morning, and you’ll hold off the glutamate all over again. Your hangover symptoms may improve. But it won’t last. “Once you stop drinking you’ll still have to deal with a hangover,” Koob says.

Although there’s no cure for a hangover, there are ways to treat what ails you.

If you have a headache, reach for an anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen. Upset stomach? Pepto-Bismol might help. If you’re tired, have some coffee.

One thing you shouldn’t take is any other medication that has the ingredient acetaminophen. It can cause serious liver problems when it mixes with alcohol.

While ibuprofen is a better option, you still need to be careful. “Taking too much ibuprofen can upset your stomach, and it may already be queasy from your hangover,” Koob says.

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6 ways to ease your symptoms

Written by Paige Fowler

• Prepare With Prickly Pear
• Eat Up and Drink Water
• Chose Clear Booze
• Don’t Light Up And Drink
• Have a Drink the Next Day
• Treat Your Symptoms
• More

Ask a dozen people how to cure a hangover and you’ll get a dozen different answers. Eat greasy grub. Drink coffee. Pop over-the-counter pain relievers.

Do any of them work?

“There’s no magic potion that gets rid of a hangover,” says George Koob, MD, director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). The only way you can avoid that tired-headachy-nauseated feeling is to drink less.

But if you think you might overdo it, these steps could help tone down your morning-after symptoms.

While most over-the-counter hangover remedies won’t help much, there’s one supplement that may do you some good — but you’ll have to plan ahead. If you take prickly pear extract several hours before you drink, it might lower your day-after symptoms by about half.

Experts don’t know how it works, but the extract has a protein that curbs the inflammation you can get from drinking too much. That may help hold off a hangover.

Don’t wait until the end of the night to polish off a pizza. It might be too late.

“The alcohol is already in your body, so eating food or drinking water won’t affect how it’s absorbed,” says Aaron White, PhD, senior advisor to the director of the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

But if you eat a meal and have water while you’re throwing back those cocktails, your hangover may not be as bad. “Having food in your stomach while drinking reduces how high your peak blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) gets by about a third,” White says.

The less drunk you get, the less crummy you’ll feel the next day. And fluid from water slows the rate at which your body absorbs alcohol. This will also lower your overall BAC.

“It’s a good idea to alternate alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks,” White says.

Along with drinking water throughout the night, be sure to down even more before you go to sleep.

“Alcohol is a diuretic,” Koob says. This means it makes you pee a lot, which causes you to lose a lot of liquid. “Hangover symptoms are partly due to dehydration, so replacing that fluid loss can help.”

It’s also smart to keep a bottle of water by your bedside so you can hydrate as soon as you wake up in the morning.

The color of the spirits you drink may affect how you feel tomorrow. You may be better off sticking to a clear booze like vodka and gin, or the clear versions of rum and tequila.

The reason has to do with chemical compounds called congeners. Those are “anything in alcohol besides alcohol and water,” Koob says. Darker drinks like bourbon, scotch, and tequila tend to have higher levels. Those compounds can bring on the inflammation that makes your hangover worse.

For some people, the two go together. But you may pay the price.

“Smoking cigarettes while drinking results in worse hangovers,” says Damaris Rosenhow, PhD, associate director of the Center for Alcohol and Addiction Studies at Brown University.

One theory is that both alcohol and smokes affect your sleep, and poor shut-eye may make you feel even crummier.

If you’re looking for a short-term fix, this may help — but not for long. There’s a scientific explanation for why the “hair of the dog that bit you” works.

When you drink, alcohol holds back a brain chemical called glutamate. That causes your brain to make more and more of it, Koob says. When the alcohol wears off, you have a bunch of it floating around in your brain. It may be to blame for hangover symptoms like irritability, headaches, nausea, and fatigue.

Down another drink or two the next morning, and you’ll hold off the glutamate all over again. Your hangover symptoms may improve. But it won’t last. “Once you stop drinking you’ll still have to deal with a hangover,” Koob says.

Although there’s no cure for a hangover, there are ways to treat what ails you.

If you have a headache, reach for an anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen. Upset stomach? Pepto-Bismol might help. If you’re tired, have some coffee.

One thing you shouldn’t take is any other medication that has the ingredient acetaminophen. It can cause serious liver problems when it mixes with alcohol.

While ibuprofen is a better option, you still need to be careful. “Taking too much ibuprofen can upset your stomach, and it may already be queasy from your hangover,” Koob says.

Top Picks

Stomach hurts after alcohol what to do how to treat

Alcohol is a toxic substance that disrupts the functioning of all organs. The gastrointestinal tract is the first to be affected by drinking alcohol. Drinking alcohol in excess leads to an exacerbation of existing chronic diseases of the digestive system, and is also the cause of the development of new pathologies.

Why does the stomach hurt after alcohol

The main reason for the appearance of pains of different localization is poisoning by the decomposition products of ethyl alcohol. When ingested, alcohol comes into contact with all organs of the digestive system. Ethyl alcohol is a chemical agent. It negatively affects all organs of the gastrointestinal tract, from the esophagus to the large intestine, even after a single dose. With a long binge, alcohol is constantly in the gastrointestinal tract and dissolves the mucous membranes. Alcohol has an anesthetic effect, but after the end of its effect, unpleasant sensations appear.

Pain in the digestive system occurs for the following reasons:

• drinking on an empty stomach. Ethanol burns the mucous membrane of the esophagus, stomach, intestines. As a result, inflammation, gastritis develops. In the presence of diseases and prolonged alcohol intake, this leads to the formation of ulcers and bleeding;
• violation of metabolic processes, due to which the assimilation of useful microelements stops;
• dysbacteriosis. Alcohol disrupts the production of beneficial microorganisms and stimulates the formation of harmful ones. They interfere with the absorption of nutrients and poison the body with the products of their vital activity. As a result, intoxication occurs, which is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and impaired stool.

The stronger the drink and the greater the amount drunk, the higher the risk of complications. Pain in the stomach after binge occurs due to several diseases.

Poisoning

Alcohol poisoning occurs due to a single intake of a large amount of alcohol, its low quality, systematic use. Symptoms of intoxication are as follows:

• nausea, vomiting, loose stools;
• pale skin, cold sweat;
• weakness, loss of consciousness;
• loss of appetite;
• cutting pains in stomach.

To alleviate the condition, you can take a sorbent – Polysorb, Enterosgel, activated carbon. You can cope with poisoning on your own only with mild symptoms. In case of alcohol intoxication, it is better to consult a doctor. Acute poisoning can lead to organ failure and death.

Gastritis

95% of alcoholics suffer from gastritis. The disease can proceed in a latent form, but is exacerbated by the use of large doses of alcohol. Alcohol disrupts the production of gastric juice, which leads to an inflammatory process.

In addition to stomach pains, gastritis is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• constant nausea in the morning;
• fast satiety with small portions of food;
• vomiting due to indigestion, often mixed with mucus, bile;
• feeling of heaviness in the abdomen;
• violation of the chair.

Due to the constant intake of alcohol in gastritis, erosion forms on the mucous membrane. The walls of the stomach begin to bleed. With further alcohol intake and no treatment, gastritis flows into a stomach ulcer.

Gastric ulcer

Stomach ulcer is a chronic disease, which is manifested by the presence of ulcerative formations on the mucous walls. In addition to the same symptoms as in gastritis, the disease has the following symptoms:

• pain in the upper abdomen after eating;
• frequent belching, bad breath;
• plaque on the tongue;
• heartburn;
• weight loss.

The danger of an ulcer is that it can be asymptomatic. Alcohol causes a sharp exacerbation, and the disease is manifested by perforation and severe bleeding. In this case, emergency medical care and surgical intervention are necessary, otherwise a fatal outcome is possible.

Pancreatitis

The pancreas is the organ most affected by alcohol toxins. It produces gastric juice, which stagnates with the constant intake of alcohol. As a result, the pancreas begins to digest its own tissues. Since there are many nerve endings in the organ, any pathology is accompanied by severe pain in the solar plexus area. This indicates the development of pancreatitis, which, if left untreated and further alcohol intake, leads to necrosis and death.

As a result of a disorder in the pancreas, the production of insulin is disrupted, which causes diabetes mellitus. If you suspect pathologies, you should immediately stop drinking alcohol and consult a doctor.

Inflammation of the esophagus

The esophagus is the part of the digestive system that first comes into contact with alcohol. In addition to the toxic effects, ethanol disrupts the secretion of saliva, which has a protective effect. Alcohol destroys the epithelium, which causes mucosal defects.

Inflammation of the esophagus is accompanied by the following symptoms:

• heartburn;
• difficulty swallowing;
• chest pain after swallowing food or liquid;
• regurgitation of food.

If left untreated, inflammation leads to rupture of the esophagus, bleeding, narrowing of the lumen and inability to pass food into the stomach.

Alcoholic enteritis

Alcoholic enteritis is an inflammation of the small intestine with subsequent destruction of the mucous membrane. The cause of the pathology is the constant intoxication with ethyl alcohol and the lack of enzymes in the pathologies of the pancreas.

Alcoholic enteritis has the following symptoms:

• frequent bowel movements up to 5-6 times a day. Feces are liquid, contain undigested food residues;
• dehydration;
• swelling;
• white coating on the tongue;
• pain in the abdomen that increases with the activation of the digestive processes;
• high temperature in the acute form of the course of the disease.

In case of enteritis, the absorption of useful microelements is disturbed. Due to constant diarrhea, dehydration, weakness occurs. In the absence of treatment, the disease takes a chronic form with a severe course.

How to get rid of pain in the stomach after drinking

To get rid of discomfort and pain in the stomach, improve digestion, you can use traditional methods. Of the medicinal herbs for the restoration of the gastrointestinal tract, the following are used:

1. Chamomile decoction. The plant has an anti-inflammatory effect, relieves pain. Chamomile has an antibacterial effect.

2. Oak bark. Has a regenerating effect, destroys pathogenic microflora. A decoction of oak bark accelerates the healing of mucous membranes.

3. Flax seeds. Relieve inflammation, have an antimicrobial effect. A decoction of flax seeds envelops the walls of the stomach and prevents irritation and inflammation of the mucous membrane with increased acidity caused by ethanol.

4. Rosehip decoction. Has a choleretic effect, is used as a detoxifying agent for liver diseases. Rosehip improves metabolism, accelerates regeneration. It is not recommended to take a decoction for gastritis and ulcers in the acute stage. Rosehip contains a large amount of vitamin C, which can irritate the mucous membranes with increased acidity.

It is better to consult a doctor before taking folk remedies. Medicinal herbs help restore the digestive system, but can cause complications if there are other chronic diseases. Folk remedies are effective only if the intake of alcohol was short-lived. With chronic addiction, you cannot do without the help of a doctor and medications.

First of all, after the deterioration of health after drinking, if pain occurs, you should consult a narcologist. The doctor will conduct an examination and, if necessary, refer you for a consultation with highly specialized specialists. The first step in the treatment of pain in the stomach after binge is to cleanse the body of alcoholic poisons. The narcologist put a cleansing dropper, which includes:

• adsorbents that accelerate the removal of toxins from the body;
• saline solutions for dehydration;
• antispasmodics that relieve pain;
• hepatoprotectors to restore the liver and normalize the functions of the pancreas;
• vitamin complex;
• preparations of potassium, magnesium, which are washed out of the body when drinking alcohol.

In the absence of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, after cleaning from alcohol toxins, the pain disappears. If discomfort persists, consultation with a gastroenterologist is necessary. The doctor will refer you for additional examinations to determine the cause of the pain, and also prescribe further therapy. For the treatment of diseases of the digestive system after alcohol abuse, drugs are used:

• antispasmodics. No-Shpu, Baralgin, Spazgan are prescribed. Drugs stop an acute attack of pain. It is not recommended to take painkillers such as Analgin, Aspirin. They are toxic to the liver. Aspirin should not be drunk in the presence of chronic gastrointestinal diseases, as it can aggravate the course of the disease, provoke an ulcer or bleeding;
• drugs for the restoration and support of the functions of the pancreas. Festal, Mezim, Pancreatin, Creon are used. The preparations contain enzymes that help improve digestion, reduce the load on the pancreas after alcohol abuse;
• hepatoprotectors. They are prescribed for violations of the liver and pancreas, since the activity of these organs is closely related. Hepatoprotectors accelerate the processing and elimination of toxins, protect the gastrointestinal tract from their effects. The most effective are Heptral, Phosphogliv, Gepabene, Glutargin;
• antacids for diseases with high acidity (ulcer, gastritis). The drugs have an enveloping effect, neutralize the irritating effect of gastric acid on the mucous membrane, relieve pain, and eliminate heartburn. Phosphalugel, Almagel, Maalox are used.

Medicines should only be taken after consulting a doctor. The dosage indicated in the instructions may differ depending on the type of disease, the severity of its course. Many drugs only relieve pain and unpleasant symptoms, but do not eliminate their cause.

In addition to drug therapy, in case of chronic diseases, you will need to follow a diet and permanently refuse to take alcohol of any strength. In the presence of severe alcohol dependence, it is recommended to undergo a course of treatment and recovery in a drug treatment clinic.

How to get rid of a hangover headache

Headache is the most common hangover symptom that appears as a result of intoxication of the body with alcoholic beverages. The condition is quite dangerous, because it not only negatively affects well-being, but can also cause irreparable damage to health. There are several ways to get rid of a headache on your own, but sometimes you need the help of a specialist.

Causes of a hangover

Frequent use of alcoholic beverages in unlimited quantities leads to disturbances in the body. The condition, which is commonly called a hangover syndrome, is caused by an increase in the concentration of toxic components. The state of intoxication provokes the development of some unpleasant symptoms:

• nausea and vomiting;
• dry mouth;
• dizziness and headache;
• asthenia;
• tremor of limbs;
• pain and discomfort in the stomach and intestines;
• palpitations;
• fever;
• feeling of anxiety.

Hangover occurs due to the destructive effect of alcohol on the cells of the body. A large amount of alcohol destroys cell membranes, negatively affects the nucleus, disrupts the function of organelles.

Why does the head hurt

Most often, a person suffers from a headache after excessive drinking. Doctors point to several main causes that lead to headaches:

1. intoxication;
2. dehydration;
3. mixing of several types of drinks;
4. age.

The body accumulates acetaldehyde, which is a breakdown product of ethanol. The substance is very toxic, therefore it negatively affects the entire body as a whole, as soon as it enters the bloodstream. The brain suffers the most.

Dehydration or dehydration is a pathological condition that occurs with the use of alcohol. It is expressed not only in a decrease in the amount of moisture in the body, but also in violation of metabolic processes. Only 200 g of drunk alcohol can remove more than 800 g of water from the body. Together with it, many microelements are removed, which cannot be replenished immediately. The body tries to take fluid from the brain, which leads to severe pain.

Intoxication of the body is much stronger if several types of alcohol are mixed during a feast. When drinking strong alcoholic beverages, the enzyme that breaks down ethanol is not synthesized. Alcohol with a high sugar content increases its concentration. For this reason, mixing drinks leads to the formation of toxins and disrupts the liver.

Age also causes headaches after drinking. The older a person is, the more difficult it is for his body to cope with the consequences of poisoning. First of all, this is due to a decrease in enzymatic activity. The rate of production of enzymes that eliminate ethanol is decreasing, which means that alcohol stays in the body longer. Accordingly, the signs of intoxication become more pronounced.

First aid for a hangover at home

First of all, you need to measure your blood pressure and count your pulse. Folk remedies and medicines for headaches will be ineffective if the indicators are too high. There are home methods by which you can quickly get rid of an unpleasant condition without a specialist. However, it is worth noting that they are suitable for those who are not dependent on alcohol and the use of alcoholic beverages was one-time.

How to replenish fluid in the body

Since alcoholic beverages lead to dehydration and flush out useful components from the body, it is important to replenish fluids in a timely manner. After drinking alcohol, it is recommended to drink fruit drinks, compotes, and a decoction of ginger is also useful. It thins the blood, has a calming effect, is able to quickly normalize the work of blood vessels, so the headache, as the drink is taken, gradually disappears. The decoction is not safe for those who have pathologies of the digestive tract.

Many people prefer to quench their thirst with brine. A few minutes after consumption, a surge of vigor, spasm relief and improvement in overall well-being are noted. It is advisable to drink cabbage brine, because it contains succinic acid. It stimulates liver function, promotes the rapid elimination of ethanol and prevents the development of hypoxia. However, for people with high acidity, the brine is not recommended for use.

In addition, recommended for use:

• green tea;
• bread kvass;
• natural juices, including tomato juices;
• mineral water without gas;
• fermented milk products (tan, curdled milk, kefir).

Drink in small portions, but often. It is forbidden to drink strong black tea and coffee, as well as drinks with a high sugar content. Separately, it is worth noting one of the most popular ways to deal with a hangover – a new portion of alcohol. Under no circumstances should this method be used. After a while, the relief is replaced by a more intense headache. Again, you need a serving of alcohol. This is how alcohol addiction develops. A person goes into a binge and then it is impossible to do without the help of a specialist.

Water treatments

Water treatments will help you get back to normal quickly. A visit to the bathhouse, sauna, and a hot bath is recommended. This will help relieve puffiness and eliminate toxins. Such procedures are allowed for people who do not have pathologies of the cardiovascular system.

The best solution is to take a warm bath. The water temperature should correspond to room temperature. This procedure will help to relax and bring the blood vessels back to normal. If there is no predisposition to allergies, you can add medicinal herbs to the bath, for example, chamomile, mint, motherwort, lemon balm.

Thus, folk methods of dealing with headaches are not as harmless and effective as it might seem at first glance. Sometimes they aggravate the condition and lead to serious complications. It is advisable to contact a narcologist who will give recommendations and help eliminate unpleasant consequences.

Medications

Medication therapy is the only way to deal with hangovers and headaches. It is allowed to drink a sorbent, antispasmodic or analgesic.

Adsorbents

Sorbens are considered first aid for hangovers. They provide a quick removal of toxins from the body in case of poisoning. They can be of natural or synthetic origin. Adsorbent substances are not interconnected with gastric juice and are excreted naturally. The action of sorbents is accompanied by some additional therapeutic effects:

1. normalization of water-salt metabolism;
2. restoration of intestinal flora and mucous membranes;
3. improvement of blood supply to the digestive tract;
4. reducing the load on the liver.

The most common drug is activated charcoal. The minimum dosage is 1 tablet per 10 kg of body weight. If intoxication is severe, then the dosage should be increased. Modern analogue of activated carbon is Enterosgel. Even with severe alcohol poisoning, it is enough to drink 1-2 tbsp. l. means to feel relief. The drug is also recommended as a prophylaxis of intoxication. Sorbents should be taken separately from other drugs to prevent a decrease in effectiveness.

No-Shpa

No-Shpa is a popular drug used for smooth muscle spasms. Headaches are also indications for use. The active substance is drotaverine, which is able to expand the vessels of the brain, improving blood supply to tissues.

Severe heart failure and certain liver and kidney pathologies are considered contraindications. It is forbidden to take no-shpu at the same time as alcoholic beverages, as this can lead to a decrease in blood pressure and swelling.

Succinic acid

Succinic acid can quickly and effectively restore cells and tissues. It is used as an active substance that improves the metabolism and energy supply of cells and tissues of the body. The components that make up succinic acid reduce tissue hypoxia.

Aspirin

Aspirin is an antipyretic, analgesic and anti-inflammatory drug. Used as a blood thinner. Aspirin begins to act 15 minutes after application, normalizing blood vessels and improving blood flow. Relieves hangover headaches quickly and effectively. The drug should be used with caution in people with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.

Ibuprofen

Ibuprofen has a strong analgesic effect, but unlike Aspirin, it does not harm the digestive tract. The drug acts for 3-4 hours. Ibuprofen is effective only with the simultaneous intake of a sufficient amount of liquid.

Alkoseltzer

Contains acetylsalicylic acid. It has anti-inflammatory, antipyretic and analgesic effect. Indications are pain syndrome, including headache. Produced in tablet form. The tablets dissolve easily in water. They have a pleasant taste. Alkoseltzer should not be taken with gastrointestinal diseases.

Glycine

The substance has a positive effect on the basic functions of the brain, has a tonic and tonic effect. However, to achieve maximum effect, it should be taken along with other medicines.

Antipokhmelin

The drug not only effectively helps with a hangover, but also prevents unpleasant symptoms if you take Antipokhmelin before a feast. However, the remedy does not have a detoxifying effect, for this reason it is ineffective in case of severe alcohol poisoning.

Any drug has contraindications, so you should consult a specialist before taking it. This will help avoid side effects.

When a doctor’s attention is needed

For people who rarely drink alcohol, the headache completely disappears within 1-3 days, subject to good rest. In the presence of alcohol dependence and detection of the following symptoms, the assistance of a narcologist is required:

• nausea and vomiting;
• throbbing headache in the parietal region;
• confused mind;
• severe edema;
• blurred vision.

Severe headache that does not go away within 3 days, sometimes worsens, is a sign of acute intoxication, may indicate the onset of cerebral edema, and often serves as a harbinger of heart attack and stroke. At risk are people over 35 years of age. If you experience these symptoms after drinking alcohol, you need to consult a doctor.

After carrying out some diagnostic measures, the narcologist will prescribe the necessary medicines and give recommendations. Often a specialist prescribes a dropper. It contains antispasmodics, sorbents, vitamin complex. Drugs with intravenous administration begin to act after half an hour.

If the binge is prolonged, hospitalization will be required, especially if there are chronic pathologies or symptoms that threaten the patient’s life. In a hospital setting, plasmapheresis is possible. This is an extracorporeal procedure, which consists in cleansing the blood of toxic substances. During the procedure, blood is taken, and then the purified plasma is returned to the bloodstream.

Xenon inhalation has a sedative and analgesic effect. The procedure stimulates metabolic processes, restores the functioning of the nervous tissue, relieves headaches and has a relaxing effect. During the procedure, the patient breathes the therapeutic composition, then rests.

Another effective procedure is intestinal lavage.