The holidays are just around the corner and some of you might party a little too hard. Whether you just bought a ready for occupancy condo or you recently got promoted, this holiday season is the time to celebrate! This Christmas or New Year’s eve, you need to make sure that you have not dropped the ball on yourself with the monumental hangover.
Hangovers are an unfortunate result of last night's drinking. After a wild night of holiday parties and alcohol intoxication, expect an unpleasant feeling and severe headache in the morning. Scientifically speaking, a hangover is a discomfort and disorientation that occurs when you have physical and psychological withdrawal from alcohol. The cause is tachycardia, which occurs due to a low blood alcohol level. The body begins to release epinephrine, which causes vasoconstriction of the precapillary sphincters of the brain. This decreases cerebral blood flow, leading to decreased oxygen supply in the brain and a headache as a result.
What are the effects of excessive alcohol intake?
The effects of having an excessive alcohol intake can be different from person to person. Headache, fatigue, weakness, muscle aches, thirst, stomach discomfort, nausea, vertigo, sensitivity to light and sound, irritability, anxiety, sweating, and high blood pressure are just some of the typical symptoms of having a hangover.
However, other causes contribute to these hangover symptoms and make hangovers worse aside from the main culprit — alcohol.
Dehydration
Alcohol inhibits the release of vasopressin, a brain hormone that causes the kidneys to retain fluid by sending signals to them. As a result, often urination and excess loss of fluids are increased due to alcohol, which then causes dehydration and contributes more to your hangover.
Gastrointestinal irritation
Alcohol irritates the stomach lining and causes an increase in the acid release. This leads to stomach discomfort and nausea.
Inflammation
Alcohol aggravates inflammation in the body. This inflammation in the body contributes to the malaise that people experience when they are sick; thus, it could also be a factor in having a hangover.
Insufficient sleep
People who drink alcohol may fall asleep faster, but their sleep is fragmented, and they are most likely to wake up earlier. This could lead to fatigue, exhaustion, and decreased productivity.
Truly, a hangover and its effects are the worst and they are very painful. For you not to experience an excruciating hangover especially during this holiday season, this article will help you avoid it first because seriously, who would want to miss a night of party and celebration?
How to Avoid Hangovers Before Drinking?
Drink plenty of water
One of the easiest ways to prevent hangovers is hydrating yourself before drinking alcohol. In the next 24 to 48 hours before you engage in an alcoholic event, drink water as much as possible. Remember that it is recommended to have 8 glasses of water every day, and if you’re drinking alcohol, try to drink more than the required glasses.
Eat food
Don’t drink alcohol on an empty stomach. Before drinking, have a hearty meal that consists of carbohydrates such as rice or pasta and healthy fats like avocados, almonds, and walnuts. With this, your alcohol absorption will be slower and you will be less prone to have a hangover. Eating high-fiber foods like popcorn and beans will also help in breaking down alcohol, keeping it reaching your bloodstream quickly.
Load yourself with Vitamins B and C
Although vitamin B plays an essential role in maintaining good health and well-being, and vitamin C are for the growth and repair of body tissues, these vitamins may also guard you against hangover symptoms. Some B-vitamins and Vitamins C decrease craving, eliminate alcohol from the blood and lessen the intensity of hangovers. Before drinking, make sure you have taken vitamin supplements or at least have eaten salmon or citrus fruits. Whether you’re in a condo living your life to the fullest, always have some vitamin supplements.
How to Avoid Hangovers While Drinking?
Don’t drink alcohol high in Congeners
Hangovers appear to be more frequent and intense in alcoholic drinks with high quantities of congeners. Congeners are substances like ethanol that are produced during the fermentation of alcohol. Dark liquors, such as brandy, bourbon, darker beer, and red wine, have higher levels of congeners than clear liquors, such as vodka, gin, and lighter beers. Thus, for you not to have a strong hangover on Christmas day or new year’s day, choose clear liquors.
Stick to one kind of drink
Holidays parties have various booze served on the table. It might be tempting to try these different liquors, it is still best if you only stick to one kind of drink the entire party. It helps you keep track of how much you have already taken, and you’re also less likely to have an upset stomach the next day.
Drink 1 glass of water for every alcoholic drink
One of the worst symptoms of hangovers is dehydration because it causes exhaustion, dizziness, and headaches. Alcohol has the ability to inhibit the production of a hormone called vasopressin which regulates how much water your kidneys hold. When vasopressin is limited, it causes your kidneys to dump their water reserves into your bladder. Drink 1 glass of water for every alcoholic drink you take. The more water in your system, the less chance you become dehydrated.
How to Avoid Hangovers After Drinking?
Avoid drinking an hour and a half before sleeping
Despite the depressive effects that make you want to sleep, falling asleep drunk is never gonna give you a full quality night's rest, whether or not you sleep longer than usual. Don’t drink anything at least an hour and a half before bed. Instead of waking up to pee and interrupting your already messed up sleep cycle during holidays, prepare yourself ahead of time.
Exercise if you can
Many individuals believe that a good workout or exercise will help erase the hangover. Mild to moderate exercise improves circulation and metabolism while also removing toxins from the body caused by alcohol. Today, condo designs have spacious areas for exercising. However, you must also listen to your body. If you’re unable to, forcing yourself to exercise and work out isn’t wise.
Eat eggs
Crush some eggs when you wake up after a night of drinking. Eggs have a high concentration of an amino acid called L-cysteine which helps your body break down excess toxins, clear the liver of harmful free radicals, and eliminate some of the hangover symptoms.
The severity of the hangover depends on the amount of alcohol you consume. There is only one logical way to stop a hangover: don’t drink like a fool. It is important to drink in moderation, or if possible, do not drink at all. For sure, there are other ways you can enjoy your holiday parties aside from drinking alcohol.
Invest in a place where safety and convenience all meet, perfect for the ones who are always on-the-go for indoor parties. Check out Vista Residences.
Vista Residences is the condominium arm of the country’s largest homebuilder, Vista Land & Lifescapes, Inc. that offers ready for occupancy and pre-selling condominium projects in Manila, Makati, Mandaluyong, Quezon City, Ortigas, Baguio, Cebu, and CDO that are strategically located within major cities, in close proximity to premium universities, transit oriented locations and developed business districts.
At Vista Residences, unit owners can take advantage of the property’s centrality. The properties of Vista Residences are strategically located near the country’s premium universities and CBDs, making them an attractive investment for both local and foreign investors.
Living in Vista Residences enables you to enjoy convenience, where everything is pretty much within walking distance or a few minutes away from the property; comfort because the project features and amenities are designed to deliver comfort at all times, which makes condo living a worthy investment; security that is 24/7 and CCTV monitoring, which makes the residents safe and secure within the property.
In line with Vista Residences’ thrust to offer convenience among its residents, it also features an AllDay Convenience Store and Coffee Project in all its projects.
For more information on Vista Residences, email info@vistaresidences.com.ph, follow @VistaResidencesOfficial on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, or call the Marketing Office at 0999 886 4262 / 0917 582 5167.
