Dry throat? Sickly stomach? Pounding head? Feeling of general awfulness? That'll be the hangover kicking in. Here Dr Sophie Galloway explains the real reasons why we crave chips and get morning-after paranoia when the Big H strikes
10am – Feeling fine
Just woken up and feel... well, on top of the world actually! Okay, so I left my make-up on for bed and hold on, is that kebab sauce on my pillow?? Either way, I'm full of beans and ready to take on 2010. Right after I call the girls for a de-brief of last night's events. This is going to be hilarious!
Dr Sophie says: “Quite frankly, you're still drunk. It’s most likely your body is still trying to process all that alcohol and it's nasty after-effects have yet to take hold. Prepare yourself, the worst is yet to come. ”
11am - Sore Head
Okay, who let that woodpecker inside my skull? And why won't he just calm the hell down?!
Dr Sophie says: “Alcohol causes the blood vessels in the brain to dilate which results in the throbbing feeling you feel. The dehydration only makes this feeling worse.”
12pm - Nausea
It's all I can do to avoid being sick in my lap. Oh dear. Think happy thoughts, think happy thoughts. DO NOT think of those 3am Sambuca shots.
Dr Sophie says: “This is due to several reasons. Firstly alcohol is an irritant on our stomach lining causing symptoms of nausea and heartburn, and secondly nausea is a by product of the inevitable headache and dehydration.
1pm – Did I really say that?
The memories of the night before are coming back to haunt me. Bet in sketchy, half-formed images of table dancing, stranger snogging and, oh no, did I tell my boss what I REALLY thought of her outfit? There are only two solutions: Facebook and de-tag.
Dr Sophie says: “Alcohol has a profound effect on the brain and these effects continue for a while as the body slowly detoxifies itself. This coupled with tiredness, hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and whatever you actually did get up to whilst drunk, can all affect the way you view yourself and others the next day.”
2pm – Hot sweats
I haven't moved for three hours but I'm perspiring as though I've just run 10k. and I'm freeeeezing. Oh no, hang on, I'm actually hot. Boiling in fact.
Dr Sophie says: “Alcohol will interfere with the production of hormones that control the 24-hour body clock, leading to body temperature being abnormally high.”
3pm – The shakes
I can't make it from bed to sofa without looking like I'm doing my best Ozzy Osbourne impression. Worse still, I can't lift the coffee to my lips without spilling it. When will this EVER end?
Dr Sophie says: “This is mainly due to the rebound hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) that alcohol causes. It should clear up with a good meal.”
>4pm – Hunger strikes
Now that I don't feel sick, I feel hungry. Actually, starving. Hopefully there's still some turkey leftovers in the fridge. And maybe a mince pie. Or a family-sized packet of nachos. Scrap that, somebody pass me the Quality Street tin.
Dr Sophie says: "The hypoglycaemia can make us hungry as the body tries to right itself. But also, we tend to chose to drink in place of eating whilst on a night out, and that coupled with all that energetic dancing you did last night means that our body needs to refuel."
5pm – Sad and blue
Now I'm not only hungover, paranoid and bloated, I also want to cry
Dr Sophie says: “Alcohol affects the brain and affects its processing and production of various hormones. This coupled with the tiredness, dehydration and headache (not to mention what ever we got up to the night before) means that we are prone to mood swings, specifically depression.”
6pm – So sleepy
Never have I been so glad to see my bed. the upside of all this must be that I can look forward to my best night's sleep ever, right?
Dr Sophie says: “Yes, actually. Apart from staying out all night and not getting enough sleep, the sleep you do get after drinking is often not the normal restful type of sleep we need. Alcohol acts as both a stimulant and a depressant on the brain and although we may pass out, we do not get the normal sleep cycle that enables us to feel refreshed rather than knackered after a big night out.”
By tomorrow we all feel back to normal and ready to start an amazing 2010, and before you know it we’ll be reaching across the bar for that third glass of wine. But before you get started, here are Dr Sophie’s top five tips on how to avoid a hangover:
- Eat well before you start your night of drinking
- Snack during the night if you can (but avoid salty foods as this just makes dehydration worse)
- Stick to one type of drink all night (that means no shots after a night of wine)
- Try and drink some water between each drink. This will not only dilute the alcohol but make you pace yourself so you are not so drunk at the end of the night (it will make the night a bit cheaper too)
- Before you go to bed, drink a large glass of water along with a pre emptive painkiller such as paracetamol or ibuprofen.
Happily (or sadly) I won’t need those tips for a little while I’ve decided to give up booze for the whole of January (yes that’s a whole 31 evenings without my ritual glass of wine – I must be mad)! Keep posted for my blog on the trials and tribulations of a month without alcohol starting soon…
