Hangover symptoms can range from a splitting headache to nausea and vomiting, and these are usually a consequence of dehydration.
The reason alcohol causes dehydration is because alcohol acts as a diuretic, increasing your urine output.
Appearing on ITV’s This Morning, Dr Chris advised the best way to make a hangover less severe.
Among his tips were avoiding certain colour drinks.
He advised: “Darker drinks will give you a worse hangover.”
Darker drinks include dark liquors like brandy and bourbon, dark beer and red wine.
The reason for this is because darker drinks contain congeners, and the problem with these is they break down into a more toxic chemical – formaldehyde.
Other tips Dr Chris outlined included:
- Drink water in-between drinks
- Drink in moderation and pace yourself
- Drinking half a pint of water before getting into bed, along with a couple of paracetamol
- Sleep for as long as you can the following morning
- Opt for sweet cereal with milk and a banana
- Say no to the hair of the dog
Milk thistle supplements are believed to help treat liver problems and hangovers
But Dr Chris said: “An alcohol research group has looked at all these cures, and there is no evidence that herbal supplements will work.”
With the festive season in full swing, many people may find their alcohol consumption has increased.
But drinking alcohol consistently can have huge effects on a person’s body and health.
The body is more than equipped to cope with the odd binge, but anything more than this, especially for prolonged periods, can have serious effects, according to Dr Andrew Thornber, chief medical officer at Now Patient.
He said: “Drinking long-term can increase the risk of cancer of the liver, mouth, throat, voice box, oesophagus, colon, and rectum.
“Even a few drinks a week is linked with an increased risk of breast cancer in women.”
Dr Thornber lists six health problems prolonged drinking is linked to:
Heart
Dr Thornber said: “Heavy drinking can cause high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and in very severe cases, sudden death from heart failure.
Weight gain
Alcohol is calorific and high in sugar, and if you drink every day for a month the impact on your waist line will be visible, warned Dr Thornber.
He added: “Excess weight gain can lead to diabetes and high blood pressure – amongst numerous other health related conditions.”
Sexual health
Being drunk increases the chance of having unsafe sex. Dr Thornber explained: “This can lead to sexually transmitted infections (STIs) or unplanned pregnancy.”
Kidneys
Alcohol is a diuretic, which causes the kidneys to produce more urine, says Dr Thornber.
He added: “This, alone or with vomiting, can lead to dehydration and dangerously low levels of sodium, potassium and other minerals and salts.”
Pancreas
“Just one single session of heavy alcohol use can lead to dangerously low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia),” said Dr Thornber. “So more than that can put huge pressure on the pancreas.”
Lack of vitamin B
Absorption of vitamin B12 from beef, dairy and eggs can be particularly affected by alcohol, and signs of deficiency include tiredness, breathlessness, headaches, pale skin and heart palpitations.
Dr Thornber explained: “A lack of vitamin B12 can lead to build-up of a compound called homocysteine, which in the long term could lead to heart attack and stroke.”