How many drinks you can consume before getting a hangover
A medical professional has pinpointed the number of alcoholic drinks it takes before a hangover is likely to kick in the next day.
Speaking about consumption patterns, the GP warned that it doesn’t take long for alcohol to impair the nervous system and brain and noted how there were however limits that were best to consider should people want to avoid feeling awful the next day.
db recently looked into how new evidence had revealed how hangovers are caused by inflammation rather than dehydration as commonly thought with the discovery having led to a ‘cure’ that could make day-after headaches a thing of the past. However, there have long been heralded many techniques to assist in a speedy recovery from over-drinking, with eggs being suggested as a good option for the day after, while others have had their suggestions removed from the internet following ASA investigations into their claims.
According to a recent poll conducted by YouGov, around 82% of people in the UK say they drink. Plus, according to reports, data from 2022 has shown how 6% of British adults have an alcoholic drink every day, while another 4% drink five or six days a week.
One in seven (14%) drink on three or four days out of the week, 23% drink alcohol on one or two days, while one in three (33%) insist they have alcohol less often (but do still drink).
According to the findings, respondents were quick to state that while they were all aware that drinking too much alcohol can sometimes have a negative impact upon health, they still conceded it was a popular social habit and part of their repertoire.
Last year, a study suggested that people with ‘long Covid’ could be more likely to suffer from extreme hangovers due to the virus and inflammation in the body weakening the blood-brain barrier and potentially leading to more severe effects due to alcohol being able to enter the brain.
Describing the more immediate effects that alcohol has upon the body, Doctor Bhavini Shah, who is a GP at Lloyds Pharmacy, revealed in a report via the Mirror: “One or two units of alcohol increases the heart rate, expands blood vessels, and gives a slight ‘buzz’ which commonly makes people feel more sociable or talkative.”
Shah explained how one unit equals 10ml or eight grams of pure alcohol, which is around the amount of alcohol the average adult can process in an hour.
This means that the number of units in a drink is based on the volume of the drink, as well as its alcoholic strength (or ABV).
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Shah pointed out that “after four to six units, alcohol begins to impact your nervous system, decreasing reaction time and affecting areas of the brain associated with decision making, resulting in poorer judgement and potentially more reckless behaviour.”
She then revealed that at around eight units is where the average person can expect to acquire a hangover for the following day.
According to Shah, this is equal to around four pints of low-strength cider or beer or the equivalent of four standard glasses of wine (175ml).
Shah revealed: “After eight units, your vision and sleep will be affected and you will have consumed more alcohol than your liver can process in one night, resulting in a hangover.”
Considering this, Shah warned: “And after 10 units, your coordination will be highly impaired and you can expect symptoms of nausea, diarrhoea, and vomiting, as well as dehydration and headaches.”
Despite these claims, most consumers understand that drinking eight or more units of alcohol is considered to be “binge drinking” for men and six or more is considered a binge for women. According to the NHS, adults should not be drinking more than 14 units a week on a regular basis. The NHS has even gone so far as to advise: “Spread your drinking over three or more days if you regularly drink as much as 14 units a week.”
Assessing the evidence to hand as well as the health guidance, Shah added: “After 12 units, you are at great risk of alcohol poisoning.”
Despite the over-consumption warnings, Shah did also note how everyone is different and “your body will metabolise alcohol at its own rate and there is not much evidence that you can speed up this natural process” but also admitted that there are steps people can take to reduce the symptoms of a hangover.
She suggested: “Going to sleep is a good way to let your body naturally remove alcohol from your system by itself. Drinking water is also essential as it will prevent the dehydrating effects of the alcohol and reduce the impact of headaches. You should also try to eat bland foods as these will increase your blood sugar without upsetting your stomach.”
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