What to Do if You Have a Really Bad Hangover

So, you had a little more to drink than you intended to last night? Bad hangovers are the worst. A standard hangover can be tolerable, still allowing you to pull it together and eek your way through your daily obligations. But when you have a hangover from H-E-Double-Hockey-Sticks, it can feel impossible doing anything other than going back and forth to the bathroom. Fortunately, if you did in fact drink too much last night and today you feel like you are at death’s door, there are plenty of things you can do to alleviate your agony without even leaving your house!

Continue reading to learn some effective methods for curing a nasty hangover so you can get back to real life sooner than later!

Thirsty Thursday Specials Downtown Indianapolis 317-822-5070
Thirsty Thursday Specials Downtown Indianapolis 317-822-5070

Hangover Treatment 101

Have a nasty hangover? Don’t let it get in the way of your day! Try these remedies to quickly reduce the ailing effects of over-drinking from the night before:

Drink Several Glasses of Water

This is by far the most important and most effective method for treating a hangover. Your body is deprived of hydration right now and needs as much water as you can give it in a 24 hour period. Aim for one gallon of water. This is a sure way to flush out all those residual toxins and get your body back to a normal state.

In fact, if you feel like you’ve had too much to drink before going to bed, drink a few bottles of water to lessen the symptoms of a hangover the next morning. This truly works, especially if you are prone to headaches when hungover. If you are a coffee or tea drinker in the morning, limit your intake to one cup. Too much caffeine can enhance your hangover symptoms.

Eat As Soon As Possible

You likely did not eat as much as you should before drinking alcohol last night. So, with your water, you will need increase your blood sugar levels by filling your belly with something that will give you energy and absorb the digestive acids in your stomach, which can cause indigestion, upset stomach, and acid reflux. It should also help reduce the feeling of nausea and prevent you from vomiting.

When choosing something to eat, you’ll want to reach for the phone and dial a pizza or Chinese delivery service, but don’t. Try to eat something hearty and healthy if you want to feel better soon, like eggs, oatmeal, whole grain breads, deli meats, grilled fish, fresh vegetables, fruit, and whole wheat pasta are great choices.

Stay away from heavy creams, syrups, sugars, and grease. Highly processed foods and foods high in sugar will not make you feel better. They can actually prolong your hangover symptoms, like fatigue, headache, and upset stomach. You might just feel worse tomorrow if you spend all day consuming sugary frappuccinos, buttery cookies, and greasy fried foods.

Medicate Your Symptoms

If you are open to taking over-the-counter medication, consider taking Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, and even an antacid to help alleviate your symptoms. This will help reduce body aches, headaches, and heartburn, and can even help settle an upset stomach. Never drink another alcoholic drink in the morning to alleviate your hangover. This will just prolong the inevitable. Try to not drink for a full 48 hours after curing your hangover too. This is the best way to get your body back on track after a night of drinking.

Are you looking for a Hair of the Dog? Or perhaps some delicious, hangover-worthy bites in Downtown Indianapolis? Come to English Ivy’s Pub and Eatery for our Thursday drink specials, including $5 Margaritas, $3.50 Corona Bottles, $3 Fireball, $5.35 Pitchers, $10 Beer Buckets. We also have a full bar that can make any cocktail you request!

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