Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Causes and treatment of Alcoholic Hangover

Alcohol induced hangover is one of the big reasons behind poor job performance of employees and absenteeism at the work place in the US. Excessive consumption of alcohol induces a physiologically unpleasant experience as well as unhealthy psychological effects.


Signs of a hangover begin to show when the level of blood alcohol drops drastically. Some common signs include tremulousness, diarrhea, and a feeling of discomfort, dry mouth, headache, nervousness, and tiredness. Individuals with alcoholic hangover experience a decrease in dexterity and visual-spatial abilities.
The effects of hangover can continue to show for an entire day. When alcohol breaks down into acetaldehyde, it sets into motion a series of negative bodily processes. The breaking down of ethanol adds to the body’s vulnerability to oxidative stress.

Some alcoholic beverages contain ‘congeners’ as a flavoring agent, which increase the intensity of hangovers and the resulting effects. Generally, clear beverages have low levels of congeners whereas darker liquors have higher concentration. This is why vodka and gin cause less intense hangover effects.
The best way to avoid the negative effects of alcohol consumption and hangover is to consume it in a controlled manner and limited quantities. Even the best cardiologist in NYC would suggest that abstinence is the best cure.

Do not consume too much alcohol in one go, instead sip it slowly. Also, make sure to eat before drinking. To keep the body hydrated, drink a lot of water. In fact drinking a good amount of water is the recommended treatment to subdue the effects of hangover. Eat food items like crackers, toast, and soup, and take proper rest if you are feeling tired. If you feel dizzy after drinking alcohol, do not operate heavy machinery. Refrain from driving an automobile or any other vehicle. The best way however to prevent a hangover is to completely refrain from ethanol.

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