Healing the holiday hangover
 The hangover, formally known as veisalgia -- from the Norwegian word for "uneasiness following debauchery" and the Greek word for "pain" -- can be an extremely unpleasant reminder that you had a little too much holiday cheer the night before.
Christine L. Lay, a doctor with The Headache Institute in New York City, told CTV.ca why a hangover happens, and shared tips on how to get through the Christmas season drinking -- and still being merry.
How hangovers happen
According to Lay, researchers don't know exactly why the killer hangover headache rears it's ugly head after a night of merriment. But they do have some theories. "Since alcohol has a dilating effect on blood vessels, this may contribute to the throbbing nature of the headache," says Lay. She also says other side effects of drinking, such as dehydration and hormone changes, also play a role.
"Alcohol inhibits a hormone in the brain, which results in frequent bathroom trips and dehydration," says Lay. "It also elevates pro-inflammatory chemicals (called prostaglandins) resulting in headache, nausea and often diarrhea."
When booze breaks down, it can also interrupt your sleep –which is often a key to rejuvenating after a night of festivities. "As the alcohol level peaks, people become tired and fall asleep. But as it drops and sugar is used up to break down the alcohol, sleep becomes disturbed, worsening the hangover symptoms," says Lay.
How loud the virtual jackhammers feel in your head is usually related to how many shots of Jack Daniels you had the night before. According to Lay light drinkers are often more vulnerable than heavy drinkers to the same amount of alcohol -- so if you don't consume a lot of liquor during the year, holiday spirits can be especially painful the morning after.
"Acetaldehyde, a byproduct of alcohol breakdown in the body often causes sweating, flushing of the skin, rapid heart rate and nausea," says Lay.
How to prevent the pain
Lay recommends these five tips to minimize holiday hangovers:
- Drink in moderation. If you find you're drinking too fast, try alternating alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
- Choose clearer, lighter-coloured drinks. They have a lower content of congeners, which give alcohol their flavour and aroma -- and are more likely to give you a post-party headache.
- Drink plenty of water, and some fruit juices, to help replace the liquid and sugar your body uses to breakdown alcohol.
- Eat while you drink. Christmas carbohydrates and greasy foods may be hard on the waistline, but they'll help slow down alcohol absorption in the body.
If you still get a headache, drink more water and take an anti-inflammatory pill, such as Advil. Caffeine can also help ease throbbing by constricting dilated blood vessels, but limit how much you have -- it also dehydrates you, slowing down your body's recovery process.
- Nicole Tomlinson
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