Hangover Myths Busted

Most hangover relievers are mere myths that you always thought would work. There is no point of drinking a hard drink before you have beer to avoid a hangover, as it is bound to happen if you’ve been drinking too much.

It may be surprising that the laws of drinking that you’ve learned over the years do not hold true. Listed below are a few of those:

Myth: Only excessive drinking cause hangovers, drinking a few shots is safe.

Fact: A few drinks in the night can also leave you reeling with a headache the next morning, but excessive drinking is more likely to cause hangover. There is no specific volume of liquor that will cause a hangover; it just depends on your body chemistry. To reduce the chances of a hangover, rehydrate yourself by drinking water or soft drinks after drinks.

Myth: Hangover is just a one-day affair, with no health risks enclosed.

Fact: Alcohol, especially in excessive amounts, alters body’s biochemical balance. The effect of alcohol disturbs neuroreceptors, to cause excessive dehydration. You may recover from unpleasant physical effects (headache and fatigue) following the heavy use of alcohol within hours, but it has a long-term impact on body's immune system.

Myth: Hangover’s intensity is same for men and women.

Fact: Women are more prone to hangovers than men. There is a difference in body chemistry of the two sexes. Men have more volume of water in the body fluids, which dilutes alcohol and makes them more resistant against a hangover as compared to women.

Myth: Drink a strong alcoholic drink before beer to prevent a hangover.

Fact: The order of your drinks has nothing to do with hangover prevention. The intensity of the hangover depends only on the amount of alcohol consumed. In fact, drinking beer after a strong alcoholic drink increases the chances of a severe hangover as you tend to drink more.

Myth: Eating after drinking prevents a hangover.

Fact: Eating carbohydrate or fat rich foods before consuming alcoholic beverages prevent hangovers, but eating after alcohol can’t be your saviour.

Myth: Drinking an alcoholic beverage in the morning helps cure hangover.

Fact: Drinking alcohol first thing in the morning does no good, rather makes hangover worse. It may postpone the hangover spell for some time.

Myth: Coffee cures a hangover

Fact: Caffeine has a tendency to dehydrate body. Owing to this reason, a cup of coffee in the morning can make the hangover worse. Avoid it and drink water or caffeine-free beverages to get rid of your hangover.