Hangover (alcohol intoxication)

A Hangover (alcohol intoxication) is a mental health disorder that starts with severe discomfort, headaches and nausea after heavy alcohol consumption. In most cases, a hangover does not appear until the next day or a few hours after drinking alcohol. A hangover must be differentiated from alcohol poisoning.

What is a hangover (alcohol intoxication)?

A Male cat or Bad luck is not a real disease, even if it is characterized by typical symptoms. You can see a hangover as a general malaise or a disorder. Nevertheless, we list the hangover at Symptomat.de for reasons of systematization as a disease.

In addition to the typical discomfort after a night of drinking with too much alcohol (beer, wine, schnapps, mixed drinks, cocktails, etc.), mental and physical disorders can also occur. The performance of a hangover is greatly reduced for at least one day. The term hangover is derived from the old word catarrh, which means inflammation of the mucous membranes.

causes

As can be assumed, is the main cause for one Male cat excessive alcohol consumption. The most typical headache symptom is caused by dehydration of the body from the alcohol. Not only was water or fluids removed from the body by the alcohol, but important minerals and electrolytes were also removed.

Furthermore, the alcohol in the blood and in the cells also disrupts the body's own proteins (denaturation), which can then cause headaches in the brain. Residual alcohol in the stomach and in the blood also lead to nausea and severe discomfort, as the toxins put a lot of strain on the stomach and the gastric mucosa.

Finally, the performance of the heart is also disturbed. This leads to an insufficient supply of oxygen to the brain (the result is also headache) and not infrequently to cardiac stumbling or cardiac arrhythmias.

Symptoms, ailments & signs

Alcohol intoxication typically leads to dehydration: the body lacks fluids. This is also the case with a simple intoxication - a pathological extent does not have to be reached. The hangover therefore usually leads to severe thirst. Other symptoms such as dizziness, low blood pressure, and circulatory collapse are also largely due to dehydration.

Many people who have hangovers have to urinate more frequently. They can also suffer from palpitations. With certain forms of dehydration, quantitative disturbances of consciousness such as drowsiness, but also seizures and confusion are possible.

Both dehydration and the hangover itself can result in low blood volume. Blood sugar levels may also be low, which can make you dizzy and faint. Typical hangover symptoms also include headaches and poor cognitive performance.

This concerns, for example, concentration, short-term memory and logical reasoning. People often feel generally unwell and ill after alcohol intoxication. Many are sensitive to noise and react especially to sudden loud noises with increased headaches.

Furthermore, gastrointestinal symptoms can occur with a hangover. These range from rumbling and a dull feeling to vomiting. Diarrhea is less common. Some lack appetite and feel sick when they see food. Others have a particularly big appetite.

Complications

In most cases the hangover is not a particularly life-threatening situation and therefore does not necessarily need to be treated by a doctor. As a rule, this occurs after excessive alcohol consumption and depends heavily on the amount of alcohol consumed. Those affected suffer from severe nausea, headaches and often vomit.

There are also considerable disturbances in concentration, so that normal thinking and acting is usually not possible for the patient. People continue to suffer from increased thirst and tremors. In serious cases, alcohol poisoning can also occur in addition to the hangover. Those affected can sometimes lose consciousness. In this case, treatment by a doctor is necessary.

Complications usually only arise when the hangover is relatively common and the person concerned develops an alcohol dependence. Internal organs and the brain can be damaged. This damage from alcohol is usually irreversible and can also significantly reduce life expectancy. A specific treatment of the hangover does not have to take place. The symptoms can be limited with plenty of fluids and food. The affected person must of course refrain from alcohol.

When should you go to the doctor?

If various health problems arise after excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, a doctor does not normally need to be consulted. Signs such as nausea, vomiting, tremors, loss of appetite, headaches or disturbances in concentration, perception and alertness are consequences of alcohol that resolve themselves without medical care. Rest, rest, sleep and a sufficient supply of water or other non-alcoholic drinks help to alleviate the symptoms.

After a few hours of relaxation and a restful night's sleep, the symptoms and the health discomfort gradually disappear. Due to the self-healing powers of the organism and the natural breakdown of pollutants, the disorder leads to complete freedom from symptoms within a short time.

Over-exertion should be avoided during this time and the supply of oxygen is advisable for support. If the symptoms persist for more than 48 hours, you should see a doctor. There are other illnesses that need to be assessed and medically treated.

If the hangover's symptoms are found to be unbearable or if the symptoms increase in the following hours instead of a decrease in the symptoms, a doctor should be consulted. There appear to be serious health developments that go beyond ordinary alcohol intoxication and require medical care.

Treatment & Therapy

A normal one Male cat does not have to be treated by a doctor, but goes away by itself after approx. one day if no further alcohol consumption takes place. For some of those affected, the hangover or its symptoms such as headache lasts up to three days.

While there are some home remedies for self-treating a hangover, their actual healing effects are not scientifically proven. This includes, for example, a hangover breakfast with salted herring, pickled cucumbers and the like. Only compensating for the loss of minerals, such as salt, can have an effect here.

But it is much more important that the person concerned drinks a lot of mineral water or lemon balm tea, cools their head and only eats light food. For the latter, fresh fruit with honey has proven to be beneficial, as it can accelerate the breakdown of alcohol. You should also be in the fresh air or carry out light activities outdoors (walking, light gardening).

The well-known drugs with the ingredients acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol and ibuprofen help against headaches and nausea. However, before taking the pharmacist or doctor should be asked about side effects.

Outlook & forecast

To effectively relieve your hangover yourself, you have to know that alcohol leads to dehydration, a disruption of protein metabolism and the flushing out of minerals and electrolytes. Knowing this also explains why plenty of fluids is the easiest way to relieve the worst symptoms.

A glass of water with baking soda helps the electrolyte balance and neutralizes any residual alcohol. In addition, a typical hangover breakfast with fatty sausage or fish helps the protein metabolism on the jumps and a combined breakfast egg supports the body in detoxifying after alcohol consumption thanks to the amino acids it contains.

Instead of using a headache tablet, it is advisable to drink a strong coffee with a dash of lemon juice. The taste takes getting used to, but the caffeine not only gives an energy boost, but also works in combination with lemon to actively combat headaches, especially since the lemon juice can also partially neutralize the effects of alcohol.

Until the chosen home remedies take effect, the headache can be relieved with a little peppermint oil on the forehead or with cool compresses and plenty of fresh air.

Preventing another hangover at the next party is pretty easy. Before consuming alcohol, eat a fatty meal, avoid sugar and drink at least as much water or juice as you consume alcohol.

prevention

The prevention of one Male cat In the case of alcohol, it should be obvious, namely the renunciation of alcohol. This is probably the only really effective prevention, but drinking mineral water at the same time in addition to consuming alcohol can slightly reduce symptoms such as headaches.

If fatty food is consumed before alcohol consumption, this can also have a preventive effect, as the fat in the stomach binds the alcohol like a sponge and only releases it slowly. However, this can also lead to the person concerned thinking that they are not yet sufficiently drunk, drinks more alcohol and in the end has consumed more alcohol than their body can actually handle. Alcohol poisoning is then very likely.

Another option for prevention is the selection of alcoholic beverages. Cheap and adulterated spirits, poor quality wine, and drinking many different types of alcohol can contain high levels of toxic fusel alcohol. Finally, everyone is advised to only drink alcohol in moderation.

Aftercare

Follow-up care for alcohol intoxication usually begins the next morning when the alcohol leads to headaches and other complaints. A lot of fluids then help those affected to stimulate the metabolism again and counteract dehydration. With water containing soda, the electrolyte balance comes back into balance.

At the same time, the remaining alcohol in the body is neutralized. Fatty foods strengthen the protein metabolism and accelerate detoxification, so that the condition improves. Many sufferers simply take a headache pill. But even without medication it is possible to drive away the discomfort.

A coffee with lemon juice helps twice. While the caffeine provides an energy boost, the lemon juice with vitamin C neutralizes the alcoholizing effect. For headaches, those affected can rub a little peppermint or lavender oil on their foreheads. Cooling compresses and being in the fresh air are also very useful in relieving the hangover.

There are also a few helpful preventative measures. Refraining from alcohol comes first. With plenty of mineral water and other non-alcoholic drinks in addition to alcohol, the level does not rise too quickly. A fatty meal and little sugar make the body less susceptible to the typical effects of alcohol.

You can do that yourself

If you have a hangover the next morning after a long party, you should drink as much water as possible. In this way the fluid turnover in the blood is favored the fastest. Since headaches are often a side effect, the head should be cooled with cold compresses. The pain is also relieved by drinking plenty of water. It also helps to drink a glass of water with soda dissolved in it right after getting up. It is not advisable to take tablets, for example with the active ingredient acetylsalicylic acid. These can damage the stomach and it is not uncommon for gastric bleeding to occur.

A large, fatty breakfast with sausage or fatty fish such as salmon and herring can also help. By the way, sweet things like honey or jam and cocoa can provide relief. If there are problems with the stomach, the patient should take small sips of herbal tea, for example peppermint tea or chamomile tea, and later a salty broth with an egg whisked in it. To avoid a hangover next time, it is advisable to drink a glass of water after every glass of alcohol. This trick makes it easier for the amount to be controlled and the alcohol has a much lower chance of acting too quickly.