AFTER one incredible night of fun, starting last night and lasting well into the wee hours of today, many of us will have to cope with a dreaded hangover for the rest of today, and possibly tomorrow. The word itself conjures terrible memories of waking up with a piercing headache and cold sweat, and of wanting to heave up our insides.
Not a pretty picture, yet we don’t think of this as we order tequilas as if they are going out of style.
The following are symptoms of a hangover; hopefully you won’t be suffering from all of them at the same time. If you do, call in sick, lock out everyone if you must, and go back to bed. The most common symptoms include: Dry mouth, tiredness, headache, nausea, weakness, anxiety, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and sensitivity to light and noise.

Sleep tight!
At this point in time, rest is your best friend; it will give your body time to recover. It is best to stay in bed while you replenish your body with fruit juice and water.
Avoid caffeine, since it will continue to dehydrate you, creating the opposite effect of what you want right now. Drink orange juice for vitamin C, drink a sports drink like Gatorade or PowerAde, and eat mineral-rich foods like pickles or canned fish.
Other useful tips include taking a shower, switching between cold and hot water, and getting exercise.
One useful source cautions that the side effects of aspirin, Tylenol and Ibuprofen can be magnified when alcohol is in your system, so even though it may be the first thing you reach for, it is best to avoid those pharmaceuticals to kill the pain of the hangover. For example, continues the source, aspirin is a blood thinner, just like alcohol, and can intensify the effects of the alcohol already in your system; and Tylenol (or acetaminophen) can increase the damage to your liver as well as cause stomach bleeding. So be cautious when going for the quick relief.

Prevention
Prevention is better than cure, and if you don’t have the willpower to limit your drinking to below hangover level, or if you don’t yet know your limit, at least take some measures to minimize the effects of the hangover.
One friend I have swears by drinking a lot of water before, during and after drinking. An infrequent drinker who is prone to hangovers, I tried this on a Boxing Day outing with friends and it seemed to help.
One tip that I picked up through research is taking a Vitamin B tablet along with lots of water.  Some find charcoal tablets helpful, as the charcoal helps TO ABSORB the alcohol.
And whatever you do, do not consume alcohol on an empty stomach.