Mason Delacroix
Feeling sick after consuming alcohol is usually a sign of a hangover, which is when you experience unpleasant symptoms after drinking too much alcohol. While there is no quick cure for a hangover, there are several remedies that can help alleviate the discomfort. These include drinking plenty of fluids, such as water or electrolyte beverages, eating bland foods with complex carbohydrates, getting adequate rest, and taking over-the-counter pain relievers or antacids to settle your stomach. It is also important to avoid drinking more alcohol, as it can increase toxicity and prolong the hangover. Additionally, drinking better quality alcohol and sticking to one type of drink can help reduce the severity of hangover symptoms.
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What You'll Learn
Eat and drink the right things
Drinking alcohol can cause dehydration, so rehydrating is important for feeling better. Drink water, sports drinks, coconut water, or electrolyte-infused drinks. Sip slowly to avoid upsetting your stomach. If you vomited, try drinking Gatorade or Pedialyte to help replenish lost electrolytes.
If you're feeling nauseous, eating small amounts of bland, carb-rich foods that are easy on your stomach can help. Try crackers, toast, or ginger tea. If you're not too nauseous, pair your carbs with a protein source, such as Greek yogurt or a hard-boiled egg. Eating slowly and opting for room-temperature or colder foods may also help.
If you're not feeling up for solid foods, try a smoothie made with frozen berries, banana, Greek yogurt, nut butter, and almond milk. This can provide antioxidants to help mitigate the inflammatory effects of alcohol.
Drinking coffee or tea may help with grogginess, but be cautious as caffeine and alcohol should not be mixed. Alcohol can also deplete your body's antioxidant glutathione, so eating foods rich in this compound may help with detoxification.
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Get enough rest
Getting enough rest is crucial when you're feeling sick from alcohol. Alcohol can disrupt your sleep, particularly the REM stage, which is the most restorative type of sleep. This can leave you feeling groggy and tired the next day. Therefore, it's important to prioritize getting enough sleep when recovering from alcohol-related sickness.
- Plan for restorative sleep: Recognize that your body needs time to recover. Take it easy and avoid strenuous activities or anything that might be overly stimulating. Create a calm and relaxing environment that promotes sleep.
- Stay hydrated: Dehydration can worsen congestion and make you feel even more unwell. Drink plenty of water or electrolyte-rich beverages like Gatorade or Pedialyte. Sucking on ice cubes can help if you're struggling to keep fluids down.
- Eat something bland and easy to digest: Eating a small amount of bland, plain food can help settle your stomach and make you feel more comfortable when resting. Try crackers, toast, or other simple carbohydrates.
- Avoid caffeine and stimulants: Caffeinated drinks and stimulants can interfere with your sleep and make it harder to rest. Opt for decaffeinated beverages or calming, sleep-promoting options like chamomile tea.
- Create a comfortable environment: Ensure your bedroom is cool, dark, and quiet. Use earplugs or white noise if necessary to block out any distracting noises. Consider using blackout curtains if light is an issue.
- Take a nap: If you're feeling particularly unwell during the day, don't hesitate to take a nap. Napping can help your body recover and bridge the gap until you can get a full night of restful sleep.
Remember, getting enough rest is a crucial part of recovering from alcohol-related sickness. Listen to your body and give it the time and environment it needs to heal.
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Avoid drinking more alcohol
Drinking more alcohol is not a good idea when you're feeling sick from alcohol. While it may be tempting to reach for another drink to alleviate the discomfort, it will only prolong and worsen your suffering. Here's why you should avoid drinking more alcohol when you're already feeling unwell from it:
Increased Toxicity
When you drink more alcohol while already intoxicated, you are increasing the toxicity of the alcohol in your body. This will only intensify the negative effects you're experiencing and delay your recovery.
Dehydration
Alcohol is a diuretic, which means it increases urine production and can lead to dehydration. Drinking more alcohol will further dehydrate you, exacerbating symptoms such as headache, dry mouth, and fatigue. It is crucial to hydrate with water or electrolyte-rich beverages to replenish lost fluids and minerals.
Stomach Irritation
Alcohol can irritate the stomach lining, causing nausea and vomiting. Consuming more alcohol will only aggravate your stomach further and may lead to prolonged vomiting and stomach discomfort. It is advisable to stick to bland, easy-to-digest foods like crackers and toast to soothe your stomach and reduce nausea.
Sleep Disruption
Alcohol interferes with your sleep patterns, particularly REM sleep, which is essential for restorative rest. Drinking more alcohol will disrupt your sleep further, leaving you feeling groggy and tired. Getting a good night's sleep is crucial for recovery, so it's best to avoid anything that might hinder it.
Prolonged Recovery
Drinking more alcohol will only delay your body's recovery process. As mentioned earlier, alcohol suppresses the immune system, making you more susceptible to illness and prolonging your recovery from sickness. It's important to give your body time to heal and recover from the effects of alcohol.
While it may be tempting to reach for another drink as a quick fix, it's important to remember that drinking more alcohol will only exacerbate the problem. Instead, focus on rehydrating, resting, and giving your body the time and nourishment it needs to recover.
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Take medication
If you're feeling unwell due to alcohol consumption, it's important to understand that there is no quick cure for a hangover. However, you can take some over-the-counter medications to alleviate specific symptoms. For example, you can take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help with any headaches or body aches you may be experiencing. Antacids can also help settle your stomach if you're feeling nauseous.
It's important to note that mixing alcohol with certain medications can be dangerous and lead to adverse effects. Alcohol can alter the metabolism and pharmacological effects of many common medications, and some medicines can make you sleepy, drowsy, or lightheaded, intensifying the effects of alcohol. This combination can increase the risk of falls, driving accidents, and even fatal overdoses. Older individuals are at a particularly high risk of harmful alcohol-medication interactions due to age-related changes in their bodies' responses to both substances.
Additionally, if you are taking disulfiram, it is crucial to avoid alcohol and alcohol-containing products, as this combination can lead to severe nausea, vomiting, headaches, and other serious symptoms. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting any new medication, especially if you consume alcohol.
If you are experiencing severe or persistent symptoms after drinking alcohol, it is important to seek medical advice. Alcohol poisoning, for instance, requires immediate medical attention and can be life-threatening.
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Plan ahead
Planning ahead is key to avoiding the worst effects of alcohol consumption. If you know you will be drinking, there are several steps you can take to reduce the likelihood of feeling unwell. Firstly, eat a good meal before you start drinking. Eating foods such as pasta, rice, and bread will line your stomach and help to prevent nausea. Drinking on an empty stomach can make you feel much worse, so this is an important step.
Secondly, it is a good idea to stick to one type of drink. Mixing different types of alcohol can increase the likelihood of feeling unwell, and it is also harder to keep track of your consumption if you are drinking various beverages. You should also try to have a glass of water between alcoholic drinks, and before bed, to reduce the risk of dehydration, which can make you feel very unwell.
Additionally, if you are prone to hangovers, it is worth considering the quality of the alcohol you are consuming. Cheap liquor often contains additives that can make a hangover worse, so opting for better-quality drinks may be beneficial. It is also worth noting that drinks with lower sugar content tend to result in milder hangovers, so consider choosing dry wines or low-sugar ciders.
Finally, if you are drinking at home or will be returning home after a night out, ensure you have easy access to plenty of water and some bland foods, such as crackers or toast. These will help to settle your stomach and keep your blood sugar stable if you wake up feeling unwell.
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Frequently asked questions
There is no quick cure for a hangover, but there are some things you can do to help yourself feel better:
- Drink plenty of fluids, especially water, to reduce dehydration.
- Eat small amounts of bland food with complex carbohydrates, such as toast or crackers, to boost low blood sugar levels and reduce nausea.
- Get plenty of rest.
- Take an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
There are several things you can do to prevent feeling sick from alcohol:
- Eat a meal high in carbohydrates before drinking.
- Drink water in between alcoholic drinks.
- Avoid mixing different types of alcohol.
- Drink better quality alcohol—cheap liquor contains additives that can make you feel worse.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the recommended drinking limit is no more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. Drinking more than this could indicate a possible drinking problem.
If you are concerned that you or someone you know may have a drinking problem, look out for the following signs:
- Frequent episodes of heavy drinking.
- Severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms.
- Negative impact on quality of life, including relationships and job performance.
- Drinking to relieve or escape feelings.
- Inability to stop drinking once started.
- Neglecting responsibilities due to drinking.
- Continued drinking despite negative consequences.
- Increased tolerance to alcohol.
