Alcohol dehydration, or a hangover, is a very familiar morning after surprise for anyone who may have had a little to much to drink the night before. Even if you don't consider any of the long-term negative effects of excessive drinking, a hangover alone is enough to prove of the fact that drinking too much is not healthy.
Alcohol is know as a diuretic. That means that is causes an increase in urination. That means that the more alcohol a person drinks, the more they feel like they have to use the restroom. Have a few beers and you will see what that's all about. More urination leads to quicker water loss, and that is why we get dehydrated. And it isn't just from beer. All alcoholic beverages have diuretic properties.
Besides boosting our need to use the restroom, alcohol also depletes the body's vital reserves of vitamins and minerals. The lack of these nutrients can send many body functions horribly out of balance. This may cause uncomfortable symptoms such as headache, diarrhea, fatigue, nausea, and irritability, all of which, ironically, are the basis of a hangover.
There is no direct cure for alcohol dehydration, or a hangover, but there are a few things you can do to decrease the severity of the symptoms. Obviously, the best way to prevent a hangover is to avoid drinking excessive alcohol. It is not just alcohol that causes hangovers, it is excessive alcohol that causes hangovers. A great way to reduce the amount you drink is to slow down your pace; the faster you drink the more you drink. Keep that in mind the next time you go out.
Another way to dumb down the effects of alcohol dehydration is to simultaneously hydrate the body as you drink. Every few drinks, take a water break. This will help keep your body hydrated throughout a night of heavy drinking. The symptoms can also be held at bay by drinking water before going to bed. If you know you had to much to drink, drink as much water as you can after you are done drinking. It may not be comfortable, but it will help you in the long run by replacing at least some of the fluids you lost during your night of drinking.
When you wake up in the morning with a hangover, the best way to recover is to begin re-hydration quickly. Stay away from other diuretic beverages, like coffee and tea, and stick with water or sports drinks to replace the lost fluids, vitamins, and minerals. And even if you feel sick to your stomach, you should still eat. Food helps to replenish the important nutrients that the alcohol depleted from your body. Sleeping it off can be very helpful as well.
Author Resource:
Check out Jeff Smith's Cure Hangover and Prevent Hangovers for more information.
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