Haikai Haidan Hangover HELP

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The Hangover (loved that movie) is the #$%^^ given to the very distasteful after effects of drinking too much alcohol. While a blessed 25%-30% of drinkers are naturally resistant to experiencing hangovers, the rest of us might need to know how to prevent or cure a New Year‘s Eve induced hangover.  The surest way is not to drink any alcohol, really this is an option.

Symptoms (like you didn’t already know)
If you have ever had a hangover, you know them, and the symptom list is as they say is more than somewhat redundant unnecessary & superfluous.

 “I WILL NEVER DRINK AGAIN”

Most hangovers begin several hours after drinking. A hangover may last as long as a couple of days. I have lost the 1st few days of more than one trip celebrating at the airport & on the plane for my trip I have looked forward to for months. See “I WILL NEVER DRINK AGAIN”

Causes (Thanks Captain Obvious)

Alcoholic beverage that contains impurities or preservatives can give you a hangover, even if you only have one drink. Some of these impurities may be other alcohols besides ethanol. Other hangover-causing chemicals are congeners, which are by-products of the fermentation process. Sometimes impurities are intentionally added, such as zinc or other metals which may be added to sweeten or enhance the flavor of certain liqueurs. You get a hangover because the ethanol in the drink caused increase urine production, leading to dehydration. Dehydration causes headaches, fatigue, and dry mouth. Alcohol also reacts with the stomach lining, which can lead to nausea. Ethanol is metabolized into acetaldehyde, which is actually a lot more toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic than the alcohol itself. It takes time to break down the acetaldehyde into acetic acid, during which you'll experience all the symptoms of acetaldehyde exposure.

Prevention

The only sure way to prevent a hangover is to avoid drinking!!
 While you may not be able to totally prevent a hangover, drinking a lot of water or other rehydrating drink will go a long way toward preventing or lessening most hangover symptoms. 

Remedies

If drinking water didn't help you out enough or it's too late and you're already suffering, here are some potentially beneficial remedies from the OldSchoolHaiku HANGEROVER Cure Closet.

Drink Water: You'll feel miserable until you are rehydrated.

Eat Something Simple: Eggs contain cytosine, which may help combat hang over symptoms. Milk is more food than water, but it serves to rehydrate you while supplying calcium, which may ease your misery, dry toast was one my father used on more than one occasion.

Sodium Bicarbonate: Try a spoonful of baking soda in water to help quell the queasiness.

Exercise: Not including walking back & forth to the Bar.  It raises your metabolic rate, which helps you clear toxins.
Exercise helps you deliver oxygen to your cells, which can increase the speed at which you detoxify harmful compounds.
Supplemental oxygen is another way to speed up detoxification, without having to exercise.

Vitamin B1 or Thiamine: Helps prevent the buildup of glutamate & cobwebs in the brain, which may be associated with part of the headache associated with a hangover. Other B vitamins are depleted when you drink, so taking a B vitamin complex may be beneficial.

This was written with more than a bit of humor & a lot of tongue & cheek.  Please be SAFE as you bring in this New-Year, never ever drive Impaired, have a designated driver, call a cab or sleep where you FALL!  

I look forward to sharing 2011 with all of you!