In my post some days back, I wrote about Alcohol Poisoning, it’s symptoms, things to avoid doing when poisoned and ways of handling it. Today, I would be talking about another phase of effect that could be experienced from excessive consumption of alcohol which is a HANGOVER. Sounds familiar right?......Hangover we all know is a common term which consists of unpleasant signs and symptoms that could develop after drinking too much alcohol. Many people have experienced it at one point of their life and more go through it ever Saturday and Sunday morning after having a turned up night.

It’s the effect of the unmoderated booze, and shots taken the previous night having a blow back effect. It occurs when there is a major drop in the blood alcohol and it is at or near zero. This is usually in full effect at morning after a previous night of heavy drinking depending on how much was consumed. It's very difficult to determine the amount of alcohol that should be consumed to avoid a hangover as it's dependent on individual factors such as the circumstances that day, how tired you were, how hydrated you were before the commencement of the drinking session and how much sleep was gotten afterwards.

SYMPTOMS OF A HANGOVER

- Fatigue and Weakness: Hangovers could make people very tired and weak after waking up the following day, getting off the bed could be so much of a job to execute.

- Thirst: Consumption of alcohol makes people urinate more thereby increasing the chance of dehydration in such persons and resulting in thirst.

-Poor sleep quality: Sleeping is usually followed after being drunk, however the quality of sleep may be poor because individuals may wake up tired and still sleepy.

- Stomach irritation: Alcohol consumption could increase the production of stomach acids and also slow down the rate at which the stomach empties itself, this combination could result in nausea, stomachache or vomiting.

- Immune system response: There could be an inflammatory response by the immune system which could result in loss of appetite, poor concentration and memory.

- Fall in blood sugar: A fall in blood sugar as a result of consuming alcohol could result in shakiness, moodiness, general tiredness and weakness as well as seizures.

- Headaches and body pains

- Rapid heartbeat

TREATING SYMPTOMS OF ALCOHOL

According to the National Health Service (NHS) UK, there is no treatment for a hangover, the best way you could avoid one rather than treating is either not to drink, drink responsibly or staying within the recommended limits. You should ensure you never drink more than your body can handle as that’s the best thing that could be done. Also do not go “hair of the dog” which involves consuming an alcoholic drink to get rid of a hangover.

However the following tips should come in helpful if you find yourself in such situation;

- Water: Drink enough water as water is the best fluid at such times, you could as well drink fresh juice to give you a vitamin boost.

- Eating: Bananas and kiwis are a very good source of potassium (a mineral you lose when you drink because of the diuretic effect of alcohol). You should also go for bland foods such as bread or crackers which could help raise your blood sugar. Foods containing fructose may also help metabolize (break down or get rid) of alcohol more rapidly.

- Painkillers: If you really need to, you could take a painkiller and an antacid to settle your stomach, be aware that certain types of pain killer such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, paracetamol) attack the liver, while aspirin may not be ideal for a delicate stomach. If not sure what to use you could ask a qualified pharmacist or health care professional.

- Rest: Try to get as much rest as possible, sleeping would help you recover faster.

TIPS ON HOW TO PREVENT HANGOVERS

Drink in moderation and keep track of what you are drinking so as to stay within the government low risk unit guidelines.
Avoiding consumption of alcohol on an empty stomach, the presence of food materials in the stomach slows down the rate at which your body absorbs alcohol.
Avoid drinks with congeners, congeners are substances that are produced from fermentation and are responsible for the taste and aroma in distilled drinks, they are known to contribute to symptoms of hangover
The human body takes about one hour to process each unit of alcohol making it advisable to stop drinking before the evening so the process can begin before going to bed.
Drink plenty water, drinks or juice in between alcoholic drinks
Get enough sleep