Alcohol is widely consumed among cultures such that each culture has its own alcohol beverage. Despite the unlimited selections of alcohol, all of them lead people to the same fate; the major hangovers after excess alcohol consumption.
Every culture has unique alcoholic beverages. For example, in southeast Asia, venomous snakes are infused in rice wine to make snake wine, credit to flickr
Dr. Erik Hefti of University at Buffalo listed the common over the counter (OTC) medications people used for treating hangovers and focused on the efficacy of each. However, many products lacked evidence that they provided hangover relief at all. Therefore, the best hangover remedy is to either quit drinking alcohol or consume less while remaining hydrated.
Ethanol, the main ingredient in alcoholic beverages, causes hangovers. Ethanol dehydrates the body because its chemical properties force us to produce excess urine, thereby draining our water content. Additionally, the body metabolizes ethanol into a toxic by-product called acetaldehyde, which is harmful and causes minor inflammation. This disastrous combination leads to hangovers, with symptoms such as nausea, dry mouth, irritated eyes, and headaches.
Ethanol metabolism, credit to National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Dr. Hefti debunks myths regarding products that cure hangovers, such as N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and vitamins. NAC is helpful because it enhances antioxidant production, which speeds up ethanol metabolism. Despite the benefits, it does not remedy hangovers. Furthermore, alcohol only impacts the body’s vitamin levels over a prolonged period of consumption, so, vitamins cannot treat acute hangovers. Therefore, people who claimed these products were effective most likely experienced the placebo effect, since there is no scientific evidence behind their claims.
Ineffective hangover remedies are a pain in the butt, so what relieves hangovers? The answer is nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), which includes Aspirin and Ibuprofen. These drugs are perfect for hangovers because they target headaches, pain, and inflammation. But, over relying on NSAIDs may cause side effects such as nausea, abdominal pain, and gastritis. Therefore, prolonged use of these drugs is not an ideal solution.
For some people, alcohol is a coping mechanism for stress and misery. For others, they think drinking is fun. However, alcohol is still harmful to the body and people should not turn to it as a remedy or recreational activity. There are many constructive methods to deal with mental health issues, have fun, and live a healthy life. So, why suffer the consequences when one can opt for better alternatives?
-Emily Lui
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