How To Reduce a Hangover?
Discover quick and natural remedies to reduce hangover symptoms like headache, nausea, and fatigue. Bounce back fast with hydration tips, foods, and recovery hacks.
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Last updated on 3rd Jul, 2025
We’ve all been there, waking up after a night of drinking with a pounding headache, nausea, and fatigue. Hangovers can be miserable, but the good news is that there are ways to reduce their severity or even prevent them altogether. If you’ve ever wondered how to feel better after drinking, this guide will help you understand hangovers and provide practical tips to minimise their effects.
What Causes a Hangover?
A hangover is your body’s reaction to drinking too much alcohol. Alcohol affects your body in several ways, leading to unpleasant symptoms such as:
Dehydration: Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it makes you urinate more, leading to fluid loss.
Inflammation: Alcohol irritates your stomach lining and triggers an immune response, causing fatigue and body aches.
Toxins: When your liver breaks down alcohol, it produces acetaldehyde, a toxic substance that contributes to nausea and headaches.
Low Blood Sugar: Alcohol interferes with glucose production, leaving you feeling weak and shaky.
Common Hangover Symptoms
Hangover symptoms vary but often include:
Headache
Fatigue
Nausea or vomiting
Dizziness
Sensitivity to light and sound
Muscle aches
Irritability
Consult Top General Physician
How to Prevent a Hangover?
The best way to avoid a hangover is to drink in moderation or avoid alcohol altogether. However, if you choose to drink, these tips can help reduce the severity of a hangover:
1. Stay Hydrated
Alcohol dehydrates you, so drink plenty of water before, during, and after drinking alcohol. A good rule is to have one glass of water for every alcoholic drink.
2. Eat Before Drinking
Having food in your stomach slows down alcohol absorption. Opt for a balanced meal with proteins, healthy fats, and carbs before drinking.
3. Choose Your Drinks Wisely
Dark liquors like whisky and red wine contain more congeners (toxic byproducts of fermentation), which worsen hangovers. Clear drinks like vodka or gin may be gentler on your system.
4. Pace Yourself
Your liver can process about one standard drink per hour. Drinking too quickly overwhelms your body, increasing hangover risks.
5. Avoid Carbonated Mixers
Bubbly drinks like soda speed up alcohol absorption, making you feel drunk faster. Stick to still water or juice as mixers.
6. Get Enough Sleep
Alcohol disrupts sleep quality, making you feel exhausted the next day. Try to get a full night’s rest after drinking.
How to Cure a Hangover Faster?
If you’re already dealing with a hangover, these remedies can help you recover faster:
1. Rehydrate with Electrolytes
Drink water, coconut water, or an electrolyte solution to replenish lost fluids and minerals.
2. Eat Light, Nutritious Foods
Bananas, toast, and broth-based soups can settle your stomach and restore energy. Avoid greasy foods, as they may worsen nausea.
3. Take Pain Relievers (Carefully)
Over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen can help with headaches, but avoid acetaminophen (paracetamol), as it can strain your liver when mixed with alcohol.
4. Rest and Relax
Your body needs time to recover. Rest in a quiet, dark room if you’re sensitive to light and sound.
5. Try Ginger or Peppermint Tea
These natural remedies can ease nausea and soothe an upset stomach.
When to Seek Medical Help?
Most hangovers go away within 24 hours, but excessive drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning, which is life-threatening. Seek immediate medical help if you or someone else experiences:
Confusion or unconsciousness
Vomiting that won’t stop
Slow or irregular breathing
Seizures
Conclusion
While hangovers are unpleasant, they’re often preventable with mindful drinking habits. Staying hydrated, eating well, and pacing yourself can make a big difference. If you frequently experience severe hangovers, it may be worth evaluating your drinking habits or consulting a healthcare professional.
Consult Top General Physician
Consult Top General Physician
Dr. Rajib Ghose
General Physician/ Internal Medicine Specialist
25 Years • MBBS
East Midnapore
VIVEKANANDA SEBA SADAN, East Midnapore
Dr. Vishal Kumar H
General Physician/ Internal Medicine Specialist
8 Years • MBBS, master class in critical care medicine, Advanced Post Graduate Diploma in Non Invasive Cardiology, certificate course in Cardiovascular Disease & Stroke, Certificate course in Common Mental Disorder
Bengaluru
Apollo Clinic, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru
Dr. Sougata Kumar
General Practitioner
8 Years • MBBS
East Midnapore
VIVEKANANDA SEBA SADAN, East Midnapore
Dr. Ahmad Ather Ali
General Physician/ Internal Medicine Specialist
4 Years • MBBS
Manikonda Jagir
Apollo Clinic, Manikonda, Manikonda Jagir
(25+ Patients)
Dr. Abhishek Ranjan
General Practitioner
4 Years • MBBS
Kolkata
VDC Clinic, Kolkata
Consult Top General Physician
Dr. Rajib Ghose
General Physician/ Internal Medicine Specialist
25 Years • MBBS
East Midnapore
VIVEKANANDA SEBA SADAN, East Midnapore
Dr. Vishal Kumar H
General Physician/ Internal Medicine Specialist
8 Years • MBBS, master class in critical care medicine, Advanced Post Graduate Diploma in Non Invasive Cardiology, certificate course in Cardiovascular Disease & Stroke, Certificate course in Common Mental Disorder
Bengaluru
Apollo Clinic, Basavanagudi, Bengaluru
Dr. Sougata Kumar
General Practitioner
8 Years • MBBS
East Midnapore
VIVEKANANDA SEBA SADAN, East Midnapore
Dr. Ahmad Ather Ali
General Physician/ Internal Medicine Specialist
4 Years • MBBS
Manikonda Jagir
Apollo Clinic, Manikonda, Manikonda Jagir
(25+ Patients)
Dr. Abhishek Ranjan
General Practitioner
4 Years • MBBS
Kolkata
VDC Clinic, Kolkata