How to Cure a Hangover: 6 Tips to Make Your Feel Better

Before we talk about how to cure a hangover, you may want to know why it happened in the first place. Here are some reasons why you feel hangover after drinking:

1. Your Body Loses Water

When you drink alcohol, you go to bathroom more often, causing your body lost a lot of water and mild dehydration. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, this happen because alcohol disrupt the production of vasopressin. It's a hormone that control how your body retain fluids.

2. Your Stomach Gets Upset

Alcohol irritates the inside of your stomach. It makes your stomach produce more acid than normal. Too much acid causes pain in your stomach. You may feel like you need to vomit. This is why many people feel sick to their stomach during a hangover.

3. Your Body Creates Harmful Substances

When your liver breaks down alcohol, it creates a toxic substance called acetaldehyde. This substance is bad for your body and causes inflammation. Inflammation makes you feel unwell, similar to when you have the flu. It affects your whole body and makes you feel weak and tired.

4. Your Sleep Gets Disturbed

Alcohol may help you fall asleep quickly, but it does not give you good quality sleep. You may wake up many times during the night. You may also sleep for less time than usual. Poor sleep makes you feel very tired and unable to think clearly the next day.

5. Your Blood Sugar Drops

Drinking alcohol can make your blood sugar level go down. Low blood sugar makes you feel weak, shaky, and tired. It can also affect your mood and make you feel anxious or sad. Your brain needs sugar to work well, so low blood sugar affects how you think and feel.

Most people can tell they have a hangover by how they feel. The symptoms usually start when there is no more alcohol in your blood. You may feel the worst in the morning after drinking. Here are some common signs of hangover, according to Mayo Clinic

- Feeling very tired and weak.

- Feeling very thirsty and having a dry mouth.

- Head pain and muscle pain.

- Feeling sick, throwing up, or having stomach pain.

- Sleeping badly or not getting enough sleep.

- Being sensitive to bright light and loud sounds.

- Feeling dizzy or like the room is spinning.

- Shaking and sweating a lot.

- Trouble focusing or thinking clearly.

- Mood changes, such as feeling sad, worried, or easily angry.

- A fast heartbeat.

Different people have different symptoms. Some people feel very sick after just one or two drinks. Other people can drink more and have milder symptoms. How bad you feel depends on how much you drank, what you drank, and your body type.

There is no magic cure that makes a hangover disappear immediately. However, these methods can help you feel better while your body recovers. Here is how to cure a hangover effectively:

1. Drink Plenty of Water

Water is the most important thing for hangover recovery. Alcohol removes water from your body, so you need to put it back. Drink water slowly throughout the day. Sports drinks can also help because they contain minerals your body needs. Keep drinking until your urine is clear or light yellow. This shows you are properly hydrated again.

2. Eat Simple Foods

Your stomach is sensitive during a hangover. Eat foods that are easy to digest. Toast, crackers, and bananas are good choices. These foods give you energy without upsetting your stomach more. Vegetable soup is also helpful because it provides water, vitamins, and minerals. Avoid greasy or spicy foods that might make you feel worse.

3. Get More Rest

Your body needs time to heal. Sleep helps your body recover faster. If you cannot sleep during the day, try to rest quietly. Even lying down with your eyes closed can help. Do not force yourself to do hard work or exercise. Give your body the rest it needs to feel better.

4. Take Pain Medicine Carefully

You can take ibuprofen or aspirin for headaches and body pain. These medicines can help you feel more comfortable. However, they may upset your stomach, so take them with food. Never take acetaminophen (like Tylenol) after drinking alcohol. This combination can damage your liver and is very dangerous.

5. Try Antacids for Stomach Pain

If your stomach hurts or feels upset, antacids can help. These medicines reduce the amount of acid in your stomach. You can buy them at any pharmacy. They come in tablets or liquid form. Follow the directions on the package for how much to take.

6. Eat Something Sweet

If you feel shaky or weak, your blood sugar might be low. Eating something with sugar can help. Fruit juice, honey, or a piece of fruit can raise your blood sugar quickly. This can make you feel less shaky and give you more energy.

The best way to deal with hangovers is to prevent them from happening. These tips show you how to cure a hangover before it even starts:

1. Drink Less Alcohol

The most effective way to avoid a hangover is to drink less. Your body can process about one drink per hour. One drink means one beer, one glass of wine, or one shot of liquor. If you drink more than this, your body cannot keep up. Stick to one or two drinks, and you will likely feel fine the next day.

2. Eat Before and While Drinking

Never drink alcohol on an empty stomach. Food slows down how fast alcohol enters your blood. Eat a good meal before you start drinking. Continue eating snacks while you drink. Choose foods with protein and healthy fats. These foods help your body process alcohol more slowly.

3. Drink Water Between Alcoholic Drinks

Have one glass of water after every alcoholic drink. This keeps you hydrated and slows down your drinking. It also helps you drink less alcohol overall. Keep a glass of water next to you while drinking. This simple habit can prevent many hangover symptoms.

4. Choose Light-Colored Drinks

Dark alcoholic drinks contain more congeners. Congeners are chemicals that make hangovers worse. Vodka, gin, and light beer have fewer congeners than whiskey, dark beer, and red wine. If you want to avoid a bad hangover, choose lighter drinks.

5. Stop Drinking Early

Give your body time to process alcohol before you sleep. Stop drinking at least two hours before bed. Drink water during this time. This allows some alcohol to leave your system before you sleep. You will feel better in the morning if you follow this rule.

6. Know Your Limits

Everyone is different. Learn how much alcohol your body can handle. Pay attention to how you feel after drinking different amounts. Some people get hangovers easily, while others do not. Once you know your limit, stay below it. This is the smartest way to enjoy drinking without suffering the next day.