Hangover

Have you ever had a headache, a headache, a racing heart or nausea after drinking alcohol? Yes ? Then you've probably already experienced the "hangover" phenomenon, also known as the "morning after the night before".

A " hangover " is a period of discomfort characterized by the following symptoms: disturbed sleep patterns (falling asleep quickly, waking up very early), feeling thirsty, headaches, dizziness, moodiness, irritability and nervousness, irritation of the esophagus, stomach, nausea, vomiting (accompanied by blood in severe cases), amnesia (forgetting what happened after drinking), slowed reflexes, tremors, acetone (acidic) odor from breath and body. In severe cases, hangovers are accompanied by heart palpitations and, in extreme cases, can lead to coma. There are several possible causes for these symptoms: dehydration, disruption of the sleep cycle, destruction of vitamin C, a drop in blood sugar levels, an imbalance in the body's mineral salts (calcium, potassium, phosphorus), acidosis (the body's pH becomes more acidic), irritation of the esophagus, certain components in fusel oils.. Headaches may be caused by a toxic substance (acetaldehyde) released during the breakdown of alcohol in the bloodstream, by additives present in certain products, or by impurities found in distilled spirits.

Here are a few practical tips to avoid this phenomenon:

• drink plenty of fluids to rehydrate,
• avoid acidic meals and drinks,
• avoid coffee, whose diuretic effect accentuates dehydration,
• take vitamin C and antacids if necessary
• avoid salty foods (potato chips, peanuts, etc.) when you're out drinking, as consuming alcohol with salty foods accelerates the dehydration process
• avoid smoky places, as the combined effect of smoke and alcohol abuse is inadvisable, since both contain acetaldehyde, which has a particularly toxic effect on the liver, and contributes to the hangover phenomenon
• avoid mixing alcohol and medication, as antidepressants, neuroleptics or sedatives can worsen hangovers when combined with alcohol.