Tips On Avoiding A Hangover
Only One Sure Way
I know what you're thinking: If you want to avoid a hangover.....DON 'T DRINK! But unfortunately, some of us are not that strong.
And if you're Irish, like me, it's nearly impossible to avoid social situations where drinking is going on because nearly all social situations involve drinking. So this is for those rare times when you might have been a little"overserved."
Hangovers can ruin your day, and generally make it impossible to focus on anything other than laying in bed and moaning. For most people, hangovers make regular heavy drinking not worthwhile, and probably for the best! People that tend to get mild or no hangovers are at a much greater risk for alcoholism. Sometimes however you know you’re going to be in a social situation that will be hard not to drink a little too much. Maybe a wedding, a New Year's party, or some other event is coming up and you know you’re going to overdo it. For me it used to be going to a Cubs or Bears game (accent on "used to be"). Here are some tips to try to help prevent getting a hangover the morning after.
Tips On Avoiding Hangovers
First of all, make sure you’ve got something in your stomach. Drinking on an empty stomach is like kissing your rear end goodbye and almost a guaranteed way to get a bad hangover. You’ll also get drunker faster, which may sound great but it is not without its consequences. I've got a news flash for you. It's fun to get a little happy when you're drinking the bubbly, but getting drunk is a bummer. You look like a drunk to anyone else who's not also drunk, and there's nothing uglier than a drunk. And if that drunk is you--well, you get the picture. Eating beforehand, and having plenty of snacks while you drink will go a long way to prevent a hangover, but won’t do it completely if you really push it. This is one of the reasons why nuts and other snacks are so popular in bars; it’s not just a tasty snack, its nutrition to prevent a hangover. That's one take on the subject. The other is that the bar owner puts out free salty snacks to make people thirstier. The truth is probably somewhere in between.
Drink Plenty Of Water
Just as important as eating is drinking plenty of water or non-diuretic fluids in addition to your booze. This is especially important prior to going to bed. In the two to three hour period before sleep, the more non-alcoholic clear fluids you drink the better. Also, it’s a good idea to have a final snack a few hours prior to sleeping. Make sure you leave plenty of time between your last drink and going to sleep as well. Drinking booze right up until bedtime is going to really cost you the next day. Take it from me. I'm the Voice of Experience.
Hangover Pills
You can try hangover prevention pills if you like, but they never worked for me, or anyone I know. Maybe they work for some people? Some people remember to take some aspirin before they go to bed. Most people are too drunk to remember it.
Back To The Beginning
Of course, the best way to prevent a hangover is to avoid alcohol like I said in the opening. Hopefully you realize that it is in fact alcohol that causes hangovers, and so any amount of alcohol consumption drastically increases your chance of getting a hangover the next day. Abstaining is the best way to prevent a hangover, but if your reading this I’m assuming you are going to be drinking anyway. Food, fluids, and moderation then are my best advice to prevent a hangover.
My only real serious advice is that if you do drink a little too much at some point over the holidays...Don't Drive! Otherwise have a Merry Christman and a Happy Holiday and a Happy New Year!
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