Try these tips to avoid a hangover

A hangover is an unpleasant symptom after drinking too much alcohol. Symptoms include - headache, weakness, thirst, fatigue, nausea, dehydration,  vomiting and increased blood pressure.

The sharpness of a person’s hangover depended on how much alcohol they drank and which alcohol they drank and after drinking how much sleep they got and whether they had any food or water before drinking. 

Also Read | What are the red flag signals that can destroy a relationship

Here are the ways to prevent or reduce the severity of a hangover:

Try to drink in moderation - 

Drinking alcohol in a limited amount is the best way to avoid hangovers. More the alcohol, the more likely you will have a hangover the next day. The amount of alcohol that is safe for an individual depends upon how much they have eaten before drinking or how much sleep they have had and how much water they have drunk. 

Avoid congeners - 

Alcoholic drinks that contain congeners, may contribute to hangover symptoms. Congeners are one of the strongest compounds and these are contributed to the flavour of alcohol. It irritates your blood vessels and tissues in the brain, which leads to a hangover. 

Drinks with low congeners -

• Vodka 
• Rum
• Gin

Drinks with high congeners -

• Whiskey particularly bourbon
• Cognac
• Tequila

Take supplements - 

Some supplements can ease hangovers. The symptoms a person experiences during a hangover result from low-grade inflammation.

These supplements can help - 

• Red ginseng - This helps boost the immune system and increase energy and also helps in reducing blood alcohol levels and hangover severity.
• Prickly pear - This helps in bettering blood pressure, and helps in reducing hangovers. This even halved the risk of experiencing severe symptoms. 
• Borage oil - This oil is derived from the seeds of starflower, and the supplements containing both prickly pear and borage oil reduce hangover symptoms.  
• Eleuthero - Supplements with eleuthero extract can reduce hangovers also known as Siberian ginseng. 

Pacing yourself - 

Avoid drinking too frequently, people who pace themselves while drinking and take a standard amount of drink at a particular time are less likely to experience hangovers.  
The average person can take one drink in one hour, this means that a person may drink less overall. 

Eat breakfast the next day - 

A good breakfast helps you to maintain a steady blood sugar level. Although blood sugar is not only the cause of hangovers they are often associated with it. Low blood sugar also worsens the hangover symptoms. Eating breakfast provides vitamins and minerals which help in reducing hangovers.

Drinking in a standard amount or not at all is the best way to avoid hangovers. It is essential to remember that drinking can have an adverse effect on a person's short-term and long-term health.

Also Read | Note to younger self: 15 life cheat codes that youngsters in their 20s should know