If you’re reading this article on how to cure a hangover headache fast, chances are you’re suffering with one – and it’s no fun!
We’ve probably all woken up after a really great evening of alcohol indulgence, nursing what feels like the worst headache we’ve ever had (since the last one!)
In those moments, when your head is pounding and you are regretting that last round of drinks, it feels like nothing will help!
Well, if you want to know how to cure a hangover headache fast, you’re in luck!
We’re going to tell you how to cure your hangover headache, and how to relieve other hangover symptoms too!
What causes a hangover?
Before we look at how to cure a hangover headache, let’s look at what causes it!
Of course, we know that the main culprit is alcohol, or perhaps the over consumption of alcohol! But what exactly is it that bring on that particularly terrible headache?
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Well, there are actually a number of factors that contribute to your hangover head, so let’s take a look at them!
Dehydration
Yes, dehydration is perhaps the most obvious cause of the hangover headache, but why?
Unfortunately, for us, alcohol works as a diuretic, which means it makes you urinate more frequently, and unsurprisingly the alcohol you’re drinking doesn’t leave you any better hydrated.
In addition to that, when we are out drinking in a pub or a club, we are much less likely to be drinking water in-between our pints and spirits!
This combination leaves our bodies incredibly dehydrated, which explains the awful hangover and dry throat the morning after!
Sleep deprivation
You might be under the impression that you sleep well after a few drinks, but you’re likely to be wrong!
Alcohol does tend to make you fall asleep faster, but unfortunately the quality of the sleep is likely to be poor.
Why? Well, firstly, alcohol interferes with our hormone levels, and it is our hormone levels that regulate our body clocks. In fact, that’s why sometimes a really bad hangover can leave you feeling jet-lagged!
Secondly – and this goes back to the dehydration and diuretic side of alcohol consumption – you can often wake up intermittently through the night after drinking due to dehydration, or the need to use the toilet!
Blood sugar levels
During a night of heavy drinking, you are likely consuming more sugar than you’re actually aware of. Unfortunately, this may also be one of your hangover headache triggers.
Do you order your vodka with coke or lemonade? If so, you’re probably consuming a lot of excess sugar, particularly if you’re having more than a couple!
Not to worry though, there are plenty of low-calorie and low-sugar drinks available, like gin and slimline tonic!
How many calories are in gin and slimline tonic?
Ok, so we know what causes our headache, but how do you cure a hangover headache fast?
Read on and find out!
How to cure a hangover headache fast
If you’ve ever suffered from a hangover, you’ll already know that there is no easy way to relieve a hangover headache. In fact, sometimes it can even cause you to feel other symptoms of a hangover including dizziness and even nausea!
Well, fear not! We’re going to look at how to cure your hangover headache, and give you some easy, and hopefully fast – natural remedies!
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Rehydrate
Perhaps an obvious remedy, but a particularly important one!
If the main cause of a hangover is dehydration, the best thing you can do is rehydrate your body. Make sure you are drinking plenty of water, but, more importantly, take on water little and often.
If you think the solution is to drink an entire pint of water in one go, it’s probably not. In actual fact, you might end up feeling worse, or to be more specific, nauseous!
Eat nutritious food
If you’re suffering from a hangover headache, you might be craving nutrients, particularly if you drank on an empty stomach the night before!
Whilst your instinct might tell you a greasy fry up is what you’re craving, it probably won’t make you feel any better!
Yes, you might not want to hear it, but the cure for your hangover headache is likely going to be complex carbohydrates such as fruit or vegetables.
Smoothies are a great choice for those hungover mornings – if you have the energy to make one! If you do go for the smoothie, make sure to include fruits such as bananas for potassium or blueberries for the antioxidants!
Try a sports drink
If you’ve ever been told to buy a bottle of Lucozade to cure a hangover, then you might already know that electrolytes might be the cure to your hangover headache!
In actual fact, any sports drink with added electrolytes might end up curing your headache – and fast!
Why? Because the frequent urination brought on by alcohol doesn’t just mean you are losing fluids, you are also losing electrolytes.
The effects of this usually present as dizziness and nausea, and often heighten the pain of your hangover headache!
Of course, if you have no sports drinks in the house the day of your hangover, the fresh air as you walk to the shop might also provide some relief from your hangover headache!
Now that we know how to cure a hangover headache, how can we avoid getting one in the first place?
Well, we’re going to give you some tips on how to avoid a hangover!
Tips to avoid a hangover
As we all know, curing a hangover isn’t always easy, and coping with one certainly isn’t any fun. Of course, we could just avoid a hangover altogether and save ourselves the pain, right?
So, we’re going to tell you how to avoid getting a hangover headache!
Drink in moderation
Of course, this is an obvious one, but the only real way to avoid a hangover is to not drink alcohol to excess!
Of course, if you are going to have more than a couple of drinks, try and stick to drinks that aren’t high in congeners.
Congeners are chemical by-products that are added to alcohol during production and are thought to increase the effects of a hangover the following day. Luckily, certain alcohols are low in congeners, including vodka and beer!
Drinks that are higher in congeners? Well, try to avoid whisky, rum, and red wine!
Don’t drink on an empty stomach
Making sure you line your stomach before drinking alcohol will certainly help you avoid the dreaded hangover headache.
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Pablo Merchán Montes via Unsplash
Make the time to eat a full meal before you go out drinking including plenty of nutritious foods such as vegetables and carbohydrates! You’ll thank yourself the next day!
Stay hydrated
It might not be at the front of your mind during a day or night of drinking but staying hydrated will certainly reduce your chance of waking up with a hangover.
In fact, if you want to avoid using the hangover headache cures, order a glass of water in between drinks, you’ll definitely be glad you did!
Another option to stay hydrated, is to order a non-alcoholic beer! Alcohol-free beer has become increasingly popular in recent times, as it tastes exactly like regular beer but comes without the risk of a hangover!
Does non-alcoholic beer dehydrate you?
Of course, we know that excessive drinking will always leave our bodies with some unpleasant side effects. Luckily, we also know ways in which we can avoid them, so hopefully you won’t have to try our cure for a hangover headache!
Have you tried any natural hangover remedies – and did they work? Tell us in the comments below!
