Mixing different types of alcoholic beverages will increase your risk of severe hangovers. If you take any medications, always check with your healthcare provider before drinking alcohol to avoid negative interactions that may prolong your hangover. Although alcohol is known to induce sleep, it’s most likely to cause disrupted sleep.6 This makes you feel worse when you wake up, prolonging and worsening hangover symptoms. Drinking alcohol can cause dehydration, which is what leads to some of the symptoms of a hangover like dry mouth, fatigue and dizziness. Symptoms of a hangover generally last about 24 hours, but some people feel better after a few hours while others may have symptoms that persist for more than a day. Hangover intensity and duration are individual to the person and how much alcohol was consumed.

• But the good news is, your brain is plastic and can recover once you stop drinking.
• But it’s different from a hangover, which may or may not include a headache.
• A hangover is a feeling of illness that occurs after alcohol consumption.
• But the best hangover cure is to wait it out and drink lots of water.

Are hangovers dangerous?

Typically, hangover symptoms peak about 12–24 hours after drinking and resolve within 24–48 hours. If you’re experiencing hangover symptoms beyond 72 hours, consult a healthcare professional. A hangover is defined by a set of negative symptoms that occur normally as a result of drinking too much. ‘When your blood-alcohol concentration starts to drop (aka a hangover), your brain experiences boomerang-like shifts in the levels of certain chemicals,’ Dr Aparna Iyer, a US-based psychiatrist, told WH. If you want to minimize the length of your hangover or avoid severe hangover symptoms, stick to moderate drinking. If you find that you’re unable to control your alcohol consumption despite your efforts, you may be facing alcohol use disorder (AUD).

Addictions

Many Americans usually experience a hangover after a major event, party, family gathering, or holidays. However, Oxford House if you find yourself having regular hangovers, then this could be a sign that you are struggling with alcohol use disorder. This can affect your personal relationships, career, and finances, reducing your overall quality of life.

Mental Health

It’s also important to eat easily digestible foods, such as toast or bland soup, to soothe a sensitive stomach. If you’re feeling sick or being sick, ginger or peppermint tea can help. Drinking plenty of water, or fluids that are rich in electrolytes such as sports drinks and coconut water, can help to counteract the effects of dehydration. At Ardu, we understand the challenges of alcohol addiction and are here to help you reclaim control of your life. Our expert team offers comprehensive, personalized treatment plans tailored to your unique needs and the severity of your addiction.

• While it is not the answer people will want to hear, Dr. Basford believes “prevention really is the best cure”, although, she added there are some other measures to consider if the hangover has already hit.
• This is unlikely to elevate your blood alcohol content to a level where it would come back down substantially, so giving you the symptoms of a hangover.
• As a result, you’re more likely to throw up and have your hangover linger for a longer period.
• A hangover can cause a range of unpleasant symptoms such as headache, fatigue, and nausea.
• Alcohol consumption can lead to a range of unpleasant symptoms collectively known as a hangover.

Generally, the more alcohol you drink, the more likely you are to have a hangover the next day. But there’s no easy way to know how much you can safely drink and still avoid a hangover. If you’re prone to migraine attacks, you’re also more likely to have problems with hangovers, particularly hangover headaches, because alcohol is a common migraine attack trigger. If you haven’t eaten, you’re a lot more likely to have stomach pain and vomiting after drinking. Believe it or not, how many drinks you have doesn’t appear have a significant impact on how long a hangover lasts, according to a 2017 study.

Treatment Service Areas

The best way to prevent AUD, and frequent hangovers, is to limit the amount of alcohol you consume. Whatever your choice of breakfast, most hangovers go away after a tall glass of water and some hearty food. A shower can provide some temporary relief from hangover symptoms. The steam and warm water can make you feel more alert and how long can a hangover last refreshed. A cool shower might reduce inflammation and ease headache pain.

You drank darker spirits

As the body metabolizes the alcohol, adenosine levels drop, often causing a person to wake up before they’re fully rested. If you find yourself frequently experiencing severe hangovers or struggling to control your alcohol consumption, it may be a sign of a more serious problem. Ardu offers a comprehensive alcohol rehab program to help you achieve and maintain sobriety. Consider alternating a non-alcoholic drink with each alcoholic beverage.