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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – CHICAGO, Dec. 26, 2012 — In one of the popular holiday songs, this season is described as “the most wonderful time of the year.” But it is not so wonderful if you wake up with a hangover after celebrating the previous night. The National Headache Foundation is providing some sound advice to avoid those headaches, or deal with the aftermath of too much celebration.
1. If you decide to drink alcoholic beverages – practice moderation. Sip
your drink slowly. Avoid drinks with straight alcohol. Mixed cocktails
that contain fruit or vegetable juices (think Bloody Mary) may have less
adverse effects. Red wine is definitely a usual suspect for triggering
migraine headaches. Naturally occurring chemicals, congeners, provide the
specific characteristic tastes to the different varieties of wine and are
believed to be the element causing the headache. Stick to white wine as
it contains less congeners than its red relative. And monitor your intake
– if enjoying a long evening, switch to soda or water.
2. Eat some honey. Honey contains fructose, a sugar that helps the body
metabolize alcohol. It is also rich in Vitamin B6 which can help reduce
hangover symptoms. Before starting the festivities, take two tablespoons
of honey on a cracker or piece of toast – and you may prevent the
hangover. Another good source of fructose, tomato juice, also allows the
body to burn the alcohol faster. Consuming fruit or fruit juice prior to
drinking may also help prevent the symptoms of a hangover.
3. During the party, alternate the cocktail or wine with a non-alcoholic
beverage. This habit will reduce the amount of alcohol consumed, and also
helps replace fluids lost by drinking alcohol. You can also order a glass
of water along with your cocktail.
4. Before you start celebrating, eat greasy food. In general, greasy food
should be avoided because of health issues. However, in this situation,
eating fatty foods (in moderation) may be helpful as these foods will
line the intestines, delaying alcohol absorption. Eating a burger or
burrito prior to drinking that cocktail or beer may help you feel better
the next day.
5. The day after the night before – drink fluids containing minerals and
salts. Alcohol consumption causes dehydration and you need to be
replenished. For example, drinking a cup of broth or bouillon replaces
fluid and does not cause nausea. Sports drinks or water are also helpful
when trying to replace fluids.
6. Get a cup of java when you awake the next day. The caffeine in coffee may
provide relief in dealing with the hangover headache. Caffeine acts as a
vasoconstrictor and will ease the dilated blood vessels.
7. Although aspirin is okay, your stomach may not tolerate it after an
evening of holiday celebrations. Ibuprofen is typically less irritating
to the stomach than aspirin. If you cannot take aspirin, ibuprofen, or
similar products, you may need to rely on acetaminophen to relieve the headache.
For those who experience chronic headaches during the holiday and throughout the year, you may need to consult your health care provider. If the headache is affecting work or school, and preventing your participation in social activities, it is time to seek help and get an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
The National Headache Foundation (NHF) exists to enhance the healthcare of individuals with headache. It is the premier educational and informational resource for individuals with headache, their families, health care providers who treat them, and the public. The NHF accomplishes its mission by providing educational and informational resources, supporting headache research, and advocating for the understanding of headache as a legitimate neurobiological disease.
For information on headache causes and treatments, or for a list of physicians in your area who treat headache, please visit www.headaches.org or call 1-888-NHF-5552.
Web Site: http://www.headaches.org
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