Remedies for the next morning

Water and food are highly recommended to overcome a severe hangover. Because alcohol dehydrates the body, it is imperative to stay hydrated with water, sports drinks or fruit juices. Photo by: Devin Loretz

Waking up the morning after a night of drinking can be one of the roughest experiences a student can have – second to study week.  Grueling headaches, vomiting stomach acids, awful tastes from the night before and bruises from whatever the night’s adventures brought mark the dreaded diagnosis: hangover.

Students everywhere face the burden of finding a remedy for drunken antics that leave them debilitated the next morning.  Many believe they have the answers, but only a few treatments actually have an impact.

“I’m not going to lie, I like to go out and party with my friends,” UNLV senior James McDonnel said.  “The morning after – man, I wish I could pop a pill and make it all go away.”

Like many students, McDonnel has tried to find the unattainable cure to hangovers that is both quick and effective, but found that quality treatments are hard to come by.

“I think the best answer I’ve found is simply drinking water,” he said. “Lots of water.”

Photo by: Devin Loretz

Excessive alcohol consumption leads to extreme dehydration, which in turn causes dry, sticky throats, muscle weakness, headaches and dizziness, among other symptoms.

With every shot, mug of beer or glass of wine, water is effectively lost from the body, and hormones in the kidneys that keep you from darting to the bathroom are blocked.

Consuming water in between drinks will help alleviate the effects of dehydration.  Also, it is good to drink 8 ounces of water before going to bed to dilute the alcohol in the body and help prevent dehydration.

Of course, obeying your thirst can get you in trouble when it comes to nights out, but the morning after it is important to stay hydrated, and if water does not sound appealing, try healthy alternatives.

A glass of flat ginger ale has been known to soothe stomach pains, but if flat carbonated beverages make your stomach churn, try a sports drink to add electrolytes back to the body.

Adding honey to drinks or taking a teaspoon full of honey in the morning along with a beverage will soothe the throat, lessening dryness.

When thinking about what to drink, there are some brews to stay away from. 

Consuming coffee or tea while hung over is a bad idea as the caffeine in the drinks will further dehydrate the body, and because coffee is a natural diuretic, it may upset the stomach further.  In addition, dairy products like milk may make your stomach queasy.

“I always try to stick with the usual fixes,” said business major Tanner Rogers, adding that he eats granola bars while out with his friends to prevent an unpleasant morning.

“It actually works for me because I think it soaks up some of the alcohol and adds proper nourishments.”

True to Rogers’ beliefs, it is beneficial to eat small snacks before and while drinking to help lessen the effects of a hangover.  Some healthy suggestions include granola bars, nuts, brown rice or celery.

It’s good to raise a toast with a glass of champagne with a few close friends, but toast may also help the symptoms of a hangover.  Eating slices of toasted bread in the morning will ease the stomach pains, but make sure to avoid butter or jams.

Along with toast, it may also be beneficial to have fruit or 100 percent fruit juice to replenish the body’s store of Vitamin C.  If neither is on hand, try a simple multi-vitamin instead.

Taking Vitamins B6 and B12, which are diminished in the system by alcohol, can settle some of the after effects of drinking.  However, avoid taking larger than recommended doses as toxicity levels may lead to long-term nerve damage.

Sticking to good old over-the-counter drugs is one way to dodge the throbbing headaches associated with hangovers.  Asprin and ibuprofen are good ways to relieve the pressure in the head, but it is better to take them in the morning and not before bed when alcohol is still prominent in the system – some drugs have bad side-effects when mixed with alcohol.

“Cure?  I don’t think there’s a cure for hangovers,” said junior Nichole Vargas.  “If anything, I just sleep until I feel good enough to wake up.”

Sleep is one of the most important remedies of a hangover.  It is not a potion of drinks, medley of pills or revolting substance.  Assuming you can sleep in, doctors suggest sleep and one or more of the aforementioned therapies to avoid an unbearable hangover.

Hospitals around the world are racing to find a cure for cancer, but many drug companies are racing to find the cure for hangovers.

Bayer-branded Berocca, found only in the United Kingdom and Australia, is a multi-vitamin containing vitamins B and C, magnesium, zinc and a cocktail of other minerals the alcohol depleted the night before.

A product found in the United States called MODJO Synergy, by the medical company Cellutions, is a tablet fortified with natural hangover preventatives that gives a boost of energy and is said to increase alertness.

No matter what the answer might be, one thing is certain: hangovers make for a bad day, but are the sign of a crazy, fun night.