After a night of indulging in alcohol, you might wake up nursing a debilitating hangover. You are not alone. A good number of people who drink experience the headache, dizziness, nausea, and fatigue of the following morning. It is the main reason why countless hangover cures exist in the market today.
Did you know that dehydration is one of the largest contributors to a hangover? In this article, we explore dehydration and the best dehydration hangover cure.
How Does Alcohol Cause Dehydration?
You have probably noticed that you visit the bathroom more frequently while drinking. This is because alcohol consumption causes your body to produce more urine. Essentially, it suppresses the secretion of a hormone called vasopressin.
Vasopressin is an antidiuretic hormone that signals your kidneys to recycle and conserve body water. When it is suppressed, your body loses vital water.
The phenomenon of alcohol-induced dehydration was first studied in 1950. Researchers served participants with 5 shots of bourbon and studied their urination patterns. According to the findings, the participants produced 120 milliliters of urine more than usual.
Overall, this means that the more alcohol you drink, the more dehydrated you become.
Dehydration and Hangover Symptoms
Dehydration is a condition on its own. However, it shares some symptoms with a hangover, such as fatigue, nausea, and headache. This explains why dehydration is considered one of the biggest contributors to hangovers.
You often begin to feel thirsty at 2% dehydration. By this point, your body has lost water, electrolytes, and important minerals such as potassium and sodium. This creates an electrolyte imbalance, leading to symptoms such as:
- Muscle ache
- Nausea
- Headache
Preventing Dehydration
As you can see, the effects of dehydration can be crippling. Dehydration causes a good number of hangover symptoms and can exacerbate others. You can protect yourself by doing the following:
Drinking-Water
Taking water in the morning likely won’t have significant effects on your body. At this point, you are already dehydrated. This is why it is more advisable to take plenty of water in between drinks. Doing so will ensure you remain hydrated throughout the night.
Drinking Other Fluids
If you miss your chance to hydrate while drinking, you can replenish your electrolyte and nutrient levels in the morning. This is best done by drinking teas, smoothies, and electrolyte-rich drinks.
Eating Certain Foods
Always eat before drinking alcohol. The food will coat your stomach, which will reduce alcohol absorption into the bloodstream. In turn, your body will lose less water.
Consuming Clear Alcohols
Clear-colored drinks contain fewer congeners. This means they produce fewer toxins and milder hangover symptoms, including dehydration.
Avoiding Caffeine
Although milder than alcohol, coffee is also a diuretic.
Get Hangover Relief in Key West
If you have felt the agony of a hangover, chances are, you would do anything to escape it.
One of the most effective ways of doing this is to rehydrate your body. But what is the best dehydration hangover cure for your pain? We say you need an IV hangover relief.
If last night’s celebrations have left you with a contemptible hangover, the Hangover Hospital in Key West is here for you. We offer a 45-minute IV hangover remedy that will have you up and running in no time. Contact us today to schedule your appointment.