The Truth About Hangovers.
Taking the opportunity to enjoy time spent with family and friends may mean enjoying a few alcoholic drinks. Sometimes, that one drink may lead to one more, two more, or more. The responsible person knows they need to head home in a safe and legal manner. And many do, but it seems the day after could lead to some unpleasantness.
As many people have experienced, hangovers can be unpleasant the day after, or even downright painful. A hangover describes a set of symptoms which can happen as a result of drinking too much alcohol. Typical symptoms of a hangover include fatigue, thirst, weakness, a headache, nausea, stomach pain, muscle aches, vertigo, sensitivity to light and sound, different forms of anxiety, sweating, irritability, and increased blood pressure. However, a hangover can really vary from one person to another.
A number of factors can contribute to hangovers, which include mild dehydration, disrupted sleep, inflammation, gastrointestinal irritation and even a mini withdrawal, which may cause the individual to feel more restless and perhaps anxious than before they began drinking. Since people are so different, it can be difficult to predict how an abundant amount of drinks will cause someone to have a hangover. Any time people drink too much, there is a chance they could have a hangover the next day.
Hangovers can be both unsafe and painful at the same time. During someone’s hangover, it can affect their attention, decision-making, and coordination. Also, the ability to perform important tasks, such as operating machinery, driving, or caring for others can be seriously affected. Many people feel they have a remedy to avoid hangovers but they may just be a delusion. Here are a few of the common myths some people may have regarding hangovers, so let’s clear those up.
Myth: The order of drinks consumed will affect a hangover, as captured in the expression, “beer before liquor, never sicker.”
Fact: Generally speaking, the more alcohol someone drinks, the worse the hangover can be. This is true whether someone drinks beer, wine or any other form of alcohol.
Myth: Having an alcoholic drink in the morning after drinking the night before will help avoid having a hangover.
Fact: It could contribute to and extend the condition and other symptoms of the hangover.
Fact: The hangover may actually mean you are still impaired. Taking a chance to drive thinking that it’s only a hangover can affect many people, including you, the general public and your family.
No need to take chances by guessing if you just have a hangover or if you’re still impaired. Using a personal breathalyzer from Not Your Child Corp will let you know if you are still impaired the morning after. Time is the only cure for a hangover. Using a personal breathalyzer from Not Your Child Corp can give you that accurate reading before getting into your vehicle at any time of the day. And remember, “When you feel different, you drive different. Drive sober.”
Scott Marshall has spent over 30 years promoting road safety in many jurisdictions. He has been a road safety journalist since 2005. Scott was also an on-air judge on the Discovery Network’s Canada’s Worst Driver during their first 3 seasons on the air. Not YourChildCorp. is proud to have Scott @Safedriver as a frequent contributor, his insights are irreplaceable.
