29 December,2009 07:18 AM IST | | Soumya Mukerji
Here's the truth: There's no fool-proof cure for a hangover, except staying away from drinks. But since that's not an option this 31st, here's a handy survival guide
Nothing, absolutely nothing, feels as horrible as a heavy head the morning after an exciting evening. The headache takes up half the next day, and recovering, half the evening. Naturally, there's little room for more partying. And that, we assume, isn't the way you quite want it.
Hangovers have been recorded since Biblical times. Here's proof:u00a0 "Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning, that they may follow strong drink" (Isaiah 5:11). Medical investigation, however, has focused on the acute effects of alcohol ingestion. More than 4,700 articles have been written about alcohol intoxication since 1965, but only 108 have addressed hangovers. What's worse, the exact cause of a hangover is still not quite clear. Part of the mystery is the set of ill-defined physiological characteristics that underlie the syndrome. One theory suggests that a hangover is the first stage of alcohol withdrawal. Some say it's natural punishment for drinking.
Although hangovers are associated with alcoholism, most of the cost is incurred by the light-to-moderate drinker. In the US, for instance, related absenteeism and poor job performance costs the state $148 billion annually (average annual cost per working adult, $2000).
Quick solutions are right at hand, say experts. "Anything citrus, like sweet lime juice or Nimbu Paani works both before and after. That's because Vitamin C helps detoxify the liver, the organ that's hit worst by heavy drinking, says nutritionist Dr Shikha Sharma.
You know you have a hangover when:
Scientifically speaking, a hangover or veisalgia is a delayed alcohol-induced headache. You know you have one When you experience:
> A splitting headache
> Nausea
> Are irked by moderate light and noise
> Lethargy, dysphoria, diarrhea and/or thirst
> Depression or anxiety
> Disturbed sleep and fatigue
> Tremors or shaking
> Decreased concentration
> Sweating
Choose your spirit wisely
White wine, vodka better than dark spirits
A new paper by researchers at Brown and Boston Universities and the University of Michigan suggests that wine and vodka are far safer than red wine and dark drinks, when it comes to horrible hangovers. Certain drinks contain by-products of the materials used in the fermenting process. Bourbon for instance, has 37 times the amount of by-products vodka does. They are not poisonous, but there is a lot more of the non-poisonous stuff in darker, distilled beverages than the lighter, coloured ones. (Mental note: dark = bad, light = good).
Secret weapon of the famous
Shibani Kashyap, singer: Black coffee and Alka Seltzer (an antacid) always seems to work for me.
Ganesh Hegde choreographer: I try not to get drunk since it affects my voice. But if I get carried away, nothing works better than fresh oranges or orange juice.u00a0
Lakshmi Rana model: Sleep, and a run on the treadmill work for me.
4 stage plan to arrest a hangover
It's late, you are out. The drinks are free. But you know you are going to have to pay eventually. Here are some easy ways to beat your hangover.
BEFORE BOOZING
> Pop a Vitamin C-B combo tablet a few hours before the party to reduce the severity of a hangover.
> Make sure your tummy isn't empty when the booze pours in. Eating fatty foods before you drink helps, because the fat sticks to the stomach's lining longer and absorbs more alcohol.
> Plan healthy snacks to make the drinking a balanced affair. Deep-fried stuff doubles your chances of indigestion and intoxication. Fresh salads, baked greensu00a0and boiled peanuts have lots of protein. They stay in your digestive system longer, helping soak up alcohol.
WHILE DRINKING
> Alternate every drink with a glass of water.
> Don't mix drinks.
> Those who have cocktails must make sure the juices used aren't stale.
> Keep nibbling on snacks.
> Don't drink too quickly. Mull over one drink for about an hour.
BEFORE HITTING THE BED
> Down a glass of lemon or orange juice.
> Have a sports drink. When you booze, you lose electrolytes and become dehydrated. This adds to the headache the next morning.
> Grab a bite.
> A warm water wash relaxes the body.
THE MORNING AFTER
> Juice, again. No coffee; caffeine will dehydrate you. Or try a glass of flat ginger ale to soothe your stomach.
> Get some fresh air. If you can't walk, stand in the balcony for ten minutes. Oxygen is the ultimate healer.
> Avoid painkillers. Instead, take a dose of Vitamin B6 (pyritinol), if symptoms are acute. "Use of pain killers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can be dangerous, particularly for heavy drinkers since they can increase the risk of liver damage and stomach bleeds," warns health expert Ishi Khosla.
> Rest. The body needs time to rejuvenate.
> Plain toast, honey and fruit are your best bets.
Au00a0cocktail is the cure
A nutritionist of Indian origin claims to have invented an alcoholic cocktail that could prevent festive hangovers by "cleaning" the bloodstream. Gurpareet Bains, British nutritional therapist, has come up with a Christmas spice-infused acai and pomegranate cocktail, which has an alcohol by volume rate of 40%.
What's going on in your body during a hangover?
Your liver processes alcohol in two stages. First, an enzyme in your liver cells (ADH) converts alcohol to a toxic substance called acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is then converted to acetate (a non-toxic substance) by another enzyme (ALDH). Normally, acetaldehyde is quickly converted to acetate and excreted from your body. But when you have had too much to drink, your liver slows down, leading to toxic build-up.
It inspired a painting!
The Hangover isn't just a movie. The original hit by that name was an 1887-88 painting that shows artist Suzanne Valadon in a wasted state. Fellow artist Henri de Toulouse Lautrec painted it.
Au00a0hangover almost breaks up a marriage in actor/director Saurabh Shukla's forthcoming film, Raat Gayi Baat Gayi. in theatres on December 31
The IRISH CURE
In IRELAND, it was said that the cure for a hangover was to bury the ailing person up to the neck in moist river sand.
Britney lost her kids to it!
Pop icon Britney Spears is said to have missed two drug tests due to hangovers. And, as the court decided, "a missed test is a failed test." The result: she lost custody of her kids.
