Doctors say: this helps and doesn't help against a hangover

To be honest, I am less bothered by this curfew, and that is the only positive thing I can mention about being home by 9 PM: no hangovers. Because I just drink less. Usually, my craving for drinks only starts after nine, and I'm not really a solo drinker. So that does help with waking up fit, because I can do without that headache... headache. Because I think that's even worse than toothache, I believe.

But yes, I know of course that when this curfew is lifted, I can find myself at the bar, because then I have no brakes again. Nowadays, I often take ORS before I go to sleep (if I've been drinking), and I can tell you: those things really work. Your hangover isn't non-existent with it, but I can deal with it a lot better.

Time to consult the experts, the doctors. Is there anything that helps against a hangover? “There is no single remedy that can cure a full hangover,” says Dr. David Aizenberg. Okay, that's a shame, but I kind of expected that. There must be something that can ease the misery a bit, right?

Well, not really. HAHA. Their million-dollar tip is: if you want to ease your hangover... You should drink less. No shit, Sherlock. I could have thought of that myself, but I know myself and I have no brakes, so after a few drinks, I forget this. Next tip? Drink enough water in between. Okay, check, that can be arranged.

What the doctors mainly convey is that most ‘anti-hangover tips’ are actually just bullshit. And that's a good sign for me. Those sporty types, who say that exercising helps because ‘you sweat it out’? WRONG. I find that very good news because with a hangover, I can't get going, and that's a good thing. By exercising, you start to sweat, and that's not a good sign if you're already dehydrated from the alcohol.

But — and this is less good — a trip to McDonald's is also not recommended. Even if you're craving fatty and unhealthy food, you might as well go for the healthy option. Alcohol irritates your stomach, and that Big Mac won't make your stomach any happier.

So, going to sleep with some aspirin? Nope, unless you set an alarm in the middle of your sleep. Ibuprofen works for only four to six hours, and there's a good chance you'll sleep longer than that, so the effect will have worn off by the time you wake up. But a glass of water next to your bed and some ibuprofen beside it, that's definitely a smart plan.

Well, learned enough, right? Time for a glass of wine.

Source: HLN