Cold, Flu, & Cough Health Center

Winter Health Woes­—Solved!

Hangovers

Why now? Hitting the party circuit can mean drinking more than usual. And downing too much alcohol causes dehydration, irritates the stomach, lowers blood sugar, and disrupts sleep-a recipe for next-day headaches, shakiness, nausea, and exhaustion.

What to do: Drink less. When you do indulge, limit yourself to two-and drink a glass of water in between to prevent dehydration and increase the time over which the alcohol is absorbed. If the damage is already done, pop an OTC painkiller such as Advil or Aleve before bed-with lots of water-to reduce hangover symptoms, says Robert Swift, M.D., a professor of psychiatry at Brown University. Queasy? Take Pepto-Bismol that night and in the morning. Then stay hydrated by drinking water. Also consider taking a walk: Exercise increases blood flow and oxygen intake, so you'll feel like yourself again faster.