Part 22 - Hangovers
This month James selflessly explored the effects of alcohol on the human body. Here's what he found out when the head thumping hangover set in.
Story Highlights
- The Literary Source of the Pain
- The Scientific Aftershock
- Prevention and Cure
- It Could Always be Worse
“It feels like little people are hammering inside my skull with a jackhammer.” This article is dedicate to all those people waking up on a Saturday or Sunday morning - perhaps in a foreign place - with a ringing head. People wondering what exactly happened after that sixth shot of Jagermeister. Yes this month's Backpacker Bites column is all about the almighty hangover. No doubt most of our readers have nursed many of these during their world travels and the recent Oktoberfest in Germany probably involved a fair few headaches.
The Literary Source of the Pain
Let's start with an understanding of why your head feels like it's being smashed with a large hammer and why every little noise sounds like a jet plane taking off. The formal name for a hangover is veisalgia. This is derived from the Norwegian word kveis, (which means uneasiness following debauchery) and the Greek word algia (which translates as pain). This is an appropriate title when you consider the uncomfortable symptoms experienced by the average drinker in the aftermath of a heavy session.
The Scientific Aftershock
Simply put a hangover happens because alcohol is a diuretic which speeds up the loss of water from the body, causing dehydration. Tell take signs of this include a parched mouth, thirst, headaches and a feeling of dizziness. The nausea, vomiting and indigestion occur because the alcohol irritates the stomach lining. The metabolism of alcohol creates a toxic by-product and when you combine this with dehydration and the fact that alcohol depletes the levels of vitamins A, B and C in your blood-stream, a hangover is created.
Prevention and Cure
The obvious answer as to how you can prevent a hangover is simply this – don't drink. Realistically however there are many other things you can do to make sure you are better off the next morning. Let's start with one simple mantra - look after your body and it will look after you.
Avoid dehydration by drinking lots of water before you go to sleep and some non-alcoholic beverages, during your evening. Protect the stomach lining by not drinking on an empty stomach and take it easy as far as the volume of alcohol is concerned. You can also reduce the after effects of alcohol by getting plenty of sleep, increasing the activity you do while drinking (like dancing) and trying to stay healthy in all other aspects of your life.
There are specific anti-hangover supplements available, however their effectiveness has been called into question
You can ignore this advice at your own peril. However at this point all you are left with are the man made remedies - that may or may not help, once you're in the grips of a terrible hang over. The idea that the hair of the dog (another alcoholic drink when you wake up) will help is wrong. You may feel better in the short term but this will only prolong the negative effects of alcohol metabolism.
There is currently no known or proven mechanism for making oneself sober after a heavy night - short of waiting for the body to metabolise the alcohol. This occurs via oxidation through the liver before the alcohol eventually leaves the body. Common remedies such as a fried breakfast, headache medication and drinks tend to help in that they fill up the stomach, reduce dehydration or mask the symptoms. There are specific anti-hangover supplements available, however their effectiveness has been called into question, based on scientific studies. These remedies also only seem to work when you have ingested small amounts of alcohol.
It Could Always be Worse
Basically if you're going to drink the best approach is to do it in moderation on a full stomach, consume plenty of non-alcoholic beverages before, during and after your session and have fun. Also remember that if you are currently suffering from a very bad hangover - it could have been worse.
For example in October 2006 a 37-year-old man walked into an emergency room in Glasgow in Scotland, complaining of vision problems and a non-stop headache that had lasted for four weeks. With no history of injuries or illnesses, doctors were stumped as to the cause. After seeing numerous specialists the man revealed that he had consumed 60 pints of beer (roughly 35 litres) over a four day period, following a domestic crisis. The doctors guessed that the severe dehydration caused by the alcohol had led to a rare condition called Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis (CVST). CVST can cause seizures, impaired consciousness, loss of vision and neurological damage. The doctors reported that it took more than six months of long-term blood thinning treatments to restore the man's normal vision and to get rid of the headache.
If there are any topics on health, nutrition and fitness that you would like to see addressed or you have any questions, please contact me at healthy.living@st-christophers.co.uk or go to www.fireinsidefitness.com.
You can also read the online blog at www.FireInsideFitness.blogspot.com
- James
James McDonald is a St Christopher's Manager and fully certified personal trainer, working in Edinburgh.
