Mason Delacroix
The spins is a common adverse reaction to intoxication that causes dizziness and nausea, and the feeling that you or your surroundings are spinning or moving when no actual motion is occurring. This is caused by the alcohol sending abnormal impulses to the brain, which in turn tells the brain that the body is rotating, causing disorientation and making the eyes spin round to compensate. While the only way to really get rid of the spins is for your body to filter out all the alcohol in your system, there are several remedies that can help alleviate the spinning sensation.
What to do when your head is spinning from alcohol:
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Before drinking alcohol | Drink pear juice |
| Eat high-fat proteins | |
| During drinking alcohol | Drink in moderation |
| Drink water between alcoholic drinks | |
| Avoid mixing alcohol types | |
| After drinking alcohol | Drink lots of water |
| Focus on a fixed object | |
| Watch a movie or play a video game | |
| Take slow, deep breaths | |
| Take OTC painkillers | |
| Sleep with one foot flat on the ground | |
| Wait at least 48 hours before drinking again |
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What You'll Learn
- Drink water to rehydrate and help your body filter out toxins
- Focus on a fixed object to ground yourself and stop the spinning
- Take deep breaths to minimise the spins and lower your heart rate
- Eat before and during drinking to slow the absorption of alcohol
- Avoid mixing alcohol types and drinking on an empty stomach
Drink water to rehydrate and help your body filter out toxins
Drinking water is a simple yet effective way to help your body recover from the spins. The condition, known as "the spins", is an adverse reaction to intoxication, causing dizziness, nausea, and a spinning sensation, as if you are "spinning out of control". It is primarily caused by alcohol's impact on the inner ear system, particularly the vestibular system, which is responsible for maintaining balance. Alcohol also dehydrates the body, worsening the symptoms of the spins.
Drinking water helps to rehydrate your body and dilute the alcohol in your system. Alcohol is processed and removed by the liver, but this takes time, and in the meantime, the water will help to reduce the concentration of alcohol in your bloodstream. Water also helps to replenish the fluids lost due to dehydration, which can worsen the spinning sensation and associated symptoms.
To effectively use this remedy, it is recommended to alternate alcoholic drinks with a glass of water. This simple trick helps to maintain hydration and slow down the amount of alcohol entering your system. It is also beneficial to drink water before going to bed after a night of drinking. This proactive approach ensures your body has the fluids it needs to process the alcohol while you sleep, reducing the chances of experiencing the spins.
While drinking water is a helpful strategy, it is important to remember that the only way to truly stop the spins is to allow your body to filter out all the alcohol from your system. This natural process takes time, and in the meantime, staying hydrated with water can help alleviate the unpleasant spinning sensation and associated symptoms.
In addition to drinking water, there are other strategies to manage the spins, such as focusing on a fixed object to ground yourself, watching a calming TV show or movie to stimulate your brain, and deep breathing exercises to help you relax. Eating before and during drinking can also help slow the absorption of alcohol, reducing the likelihood of experiencing the spins.
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Focus on a fixed object to ground yourself and stop the spinning
The spins are an adverse reaction to intoxication, causing vertigo, nausea, and dizziness. It is caused by alcohol sending abnormal impulses to the brain, which tells it that the body is rotating, resulting in disorientation. While the only way to truly get rid of the spins is to wait for your body to filter out the alcohol from your system, there are ways to help alleviate the spinning sensation. Focusing on a fixed object is one such method.
When experiencing the spins, it is important to ground yourself by focusing on a fixed object, such as a light fixture or a book. This technique helps to stop the spinning sensation by providing a stable reference point for your brain. It acts as an anchor, giving your brain something solid and unmoving to focus on, which can help override the false sensation of spinning.
To enhance the effectiveness of this technique, try to find an object that is easily visible and within your line of sight. Ensure it is something that will not move or change position, as a stable, unmoving object is crucial for this method to be effective.
You can also combine this technique with deep breathing exercises. Focusing on your breath while maintaining your gaze on the fixed object can help calm your mind and body, further aiding in the reduction of the spinning sensation.
Additionally, it is important to remember that drinking plenty of water and getting enough sleep are also essential in helping your body recover from the effects of alcohol. While the spins can be unpleasant, these methods can help alleviate the discomfort and get you back to feeling like yourself.
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Take deep breaths to minimise the spins and lower your heart rate
The spins, or "the alcohol spins", is an adverse reaction to intoxication that causes a state of vertigo and nausea, making one feel as if they are spinning out of control. It is caused by alcohol wreaking havoc on the finely scaled inner workings of the ear, which is responsible for maintaining balance.
Taking deep breaths can help minimise the spins and lower your heart rate. Focusing on slow, deep breathing can help minimise the spins after drinking. Deep breaths can also help lower your heart rate, especially if you're panicking that the room is spinning. Taking slow, deep breaths while practising keeping one hand and one foot on a hard, flat surface can be very effective.
There are several breathing techniques that can help lower your heart rate. One such technique is diaphragmatic breathing, also known as belly breathing, which helps you breathe more deeply and feel more relaxed. To practice diaphragmatic breathing, sit or lie down with your knees bent and place one of your hands on your stomach so that you can feel it expand when you perform this exercise. As you inhale deeply, practise using your stomach to guide your deep breath instead of taking a more shallow breath into your chest. You should be able to feel the hand on your stomach move as you get deeper into your breath, whereas the hand on your chest should not be rising. Once you finish your deep breath, tighten your abdominal muscles and exhale slowly, feeling your hand on your belly gradually fall back to its original placement.
Another technique is the 4-7-8 method of breathing, which is a subtype of diaphragmatic breathing that focuses on counting your inhale, the pause before you exhale, and your exhale. To practice this exercise, first, inhale slowly for four seconds. Pause before you exhale, and hold your inhaled breath for seven seconds. Then, exhale slowly through your mouth, drawing out your exhale to last eight seconds.
Additionally, the 30-second breathing technique can be useful. For this, set a timer for 30 seconds and try to accomplish six deep breaths within this time frame. Focus more on the quality of your deep breaths rather than the number of breaths completed. Don't rush your breaths and focus on your inhales and exhales instead of rushing to reach a certain quantity.
Furthermore, you can try the Valsalva manoeuvre, which involves taking a deep breath and holding it by closing your windpipe at the throat. Bear down hard, as if you're straining for a bowel movement, for about 10 to 15 seconds. Then, release your breath and resume normal breathing.
It is important to note that while these breathing techniques can help minimise the spins and lower your heart rate, the only way to truly get rid of the spins is for your body to filter out all of the alcohol from your system.
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Eat before and during drinking to slow the absorption of alcohol
The spins, or "having the spins", is an adverse reaction to intoxication that causes a state of vertigo and nausea, ultimately making you feel like you're spinning out of control. It is most commonly associated with drunkenness or mixing alcohol with other psychoactive drugs such as cannabis.
While the only way to truly get rid of the spins is to wait for your body to filter out all the alcohol in your system, there are some things you can do to help slow down alcohol absorption and make the spinning feel less severe. Eating before and while drinking alcohol can help slow down the rate at which alcohol reaches your small intestine, which is where most alcohol is absorbed. This helps taper absorption to a pace that your body can more easily manage. Eating also increases the rate of alcohol elimination from the bloodstream by 25-45%.
It is recommended that you eat at least an hour before drinking if you plan on consuming more than one drink in a sitting. Eating protein-rich foods like eggs, Greek yogurt, or oats can help slow the emptying of your stomach and delay alcohol absorption. Bananas are another excellent snack to have before drinking, as they are high in fiber, which helps slow alcohol absorption, and potassium, which prevents electrolyte imbalances associated with drinking alcohol.
In addition to eating, drinking water can also help alleviate the spins by preventing dehydration, which can make symptoms worse. It is also important to drink in moderation to avoid getting the spins. Your body can process about one serving of alcohol per hour, and after a few drinks, you can start experiencing side effects such as slurred speech, double vision, and the spins.
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Avoid mixing alcohol types and drinking on an empty stomach
The spins, or the feeling of a spinning head, is an adverse reaction to intoxication that causes vertigo and nausea. It is often associated with drunkenness or mixing alcohol with other drugs. While the only way to truly get rid of the spins is to wait for your body to filter out the excess alcohol, there are ways to prevent and manage the condition.
Avoid Mixing Alcohol Types
Mixing alcohol types or drinking different spirits can lead to the spins. Switching from beer to wine, for example, may cause the dreaded spinning sensation. This is because alcohol affects the vestibular system, which is responsible for maintaining balance. When you drink, alcohol sends abnormal impulses to the brain, which then tells the body that it is rotating, resulting in disorientation. Mixing alcohol types can intensify this effect, causing dizziness and nausea.
Drink in Moderation
Excess alcohol consumption is the main cause of the spins. Drinking in moderation is, therefore, an effective way to prevent the condition. Pacing yourself and drinking within your limits can help reduce your chances of getting the spins. Drinking beverages containing more pure ethanol, such as gin and vodka, may also lessen the severity of hangover symptoms.
Eat Before Drinking
Drinking on an empty stomach can increase your chances of getting the spins. Eating before and while drinking can help slow down the absorption of alcohol into your bloodstream. High-fat proteins are particularly effective in slowing down alcohol absorption. Foods like crackers and cheese have the right levels of carbohydrates, fat, and protein to slow the emptying of your stomach.
Stay Hydrated
Dehydration caused by alcohol can worsen the symptoms of the spins. Staying hydrated by drinking water in between alcoholic drinks can help lessen the severity of the spins and reduce the chances of a hangover.
Wait Before Drinking Again
Giving your body at least two days to recover after a night of drinking can help prevent the spins and severe hangover symptoms. This break allows your liver to process and remove excess alcohol from your system.
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Frequently asked questions
The spins, or severe dizziness, is an adverse reaction to intoxication that causes a state of vertigo and nausea. It is most commonly associated with drunkenness or mixing alcohol with other psychoactive drugs such as cannabis.
Alcohol affects the vestibular system, which is responsible for maintaining balance. Alcohol sends abnormal impulses to the brain, which then tells the brain that the body is rotating, causing disorientation and making the eyes spin round to compensate.
To prevent the spins, it is important to monitor your alcohol intake and eat before drinking. Drinking beverages containing more pure ethanol such as gin and vodka may also help lessen hangover symptoms. It is also recommended to alternate alcoholic drinks with water to stay hydrated.
If you have the spins, it is recommended to drink lots of water and focus on a fixed object to ground yourself. Lying down on your back with one foot on the floor may also help you feel more grounded. Deep breathing can also help minimise the spins and lower your heart rate.
The spins will last until your body has filtered out all the alcohol in your system. Getting extra sleep can help your body process and remove excess alcohol.
