After a night of heavy drinking, you may wake up feeling terrible with a headache, upset stomach, and fatigue. This common condition is known as a hangover, and many adults experience this at least once in their lifetimes. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the average hangover can last up to 24 hours or longer. So, what causes hangovers and hangover headaches, and what can you do to get some relief? We have some insightful information about the infamous hangover and how using a headache hat with cold therapy like Icekap Cool Cap can give you the relief you need to get back to feeling normal again.
Hangover Facts
Consuming too much alcohol often leads to a hangover, but there are several factors that contribute to the symptoms. Here are some of the reasons why you might experience a hangover.
Dehydration: Drinking alcohol can contribute to dehydration, especially if you're not drinking water in between consuming alcoholic beverages. Consuming alcohol may suppress the release of a hormone produced by the brain that sends signals to the kidneys. This hormone causes the kidneys to hold onto fluid. When you're dehydrated, you may urinate more frequently, thus losing excess fluids. This makes it even more difficult to deal with a hangover since you'll be extremely thirsty, tired, and likely to experience a severe headache or even a migraine.
Interrupted sleep: You will likely fall asleep pretty easily after a night of drinking, but your sleep will probably be much more "broken." You may also wake up earlier than you had hoped, contributing to feelings of tiredness and fatigue. Lack of sleep not only makes you grumpy, but it can also lead to headaches, too.
Stomach irritation: Alcohol directly affects the lining of the stomach and causes irritation. This is because alcohol encourages stomach acid to release, leading to problems like an upset stomach or nausea.
General inflammation: Alcohol can increase the level of inflammation in your body, making you feel worse during the day. Inflammation is a major contributing factor to pain, including migraines and general body pain.
Withdrawal: You don't have to be an alcoholic to experience alcohol withdrawal. After you drink, you start to feel more relaxed and happier. Once that buzz wears off, you could find that you're feeling even worse than you did before you started drinking. For some, this may lead to feelings of anxiety or mild, temporary depression until your body and brain "level out" again.
Keep in mind that every person is different, so you might not know what your personal alcohol threshold is to avoid a hangover. In most cases, if you end up getting drunk, it's highly likely that you will experience a hangover the next day.
The Hangover-Migraine Connection
Almost everyone experiences a headache during a hangover, but some people may experience intense migraines. A migraine is an extremely painful headache that can make you feel terrible for several hours or even for several days. So, what is the connection between having a hangover and getting a migraine? Some experts at the American Migraine Foundation believe that people who are already prone to migraines are much more vulnerable to dealing with one after a night of heavy drinking. Icekap Cool Cap is designed to help you reduce or even eliminate the symptoms of a hangover-related migraine. The specially designed ice pack for headache fits securely around the key parts of the head, providing you with cooling cryotherapy that should soothe your throbbing head.
Researchers are not quite sure how alcohol impacts people with migraines. Some people may experience a delayed alcohol-induced headache (or hangover headache), while others may experience severe migraine attacks. Alcohol may trigger a migraine within 30 minutes to up to three hours after consumption. The hangover headache is usually experienced the morning after you consume alcohol. Therefore, if you get a severe headache shortly after drinking, then you may be dealing with a migraine rather than a traditional hangover headache. Even a small amount of alcohol may trigger a migraine attack. If you know that drinking alcohol causes your migraines to get worse, then avoiding it altogether is usually the best form of prevention.
How to Reduce Migraines While Drinking
It's virtually impossible to keep alcohol from triggering migraines. However, paying close attention to how much you drink may reduce the impact overall. Here are some other ways that you can minimize the impact of an alcohol-related migraine headache.
- Always drink in moderation and try to consume two or fewer drinks per day for men and one drink or fewer per day for women.
- Ask someone to hold you accountable and monitor your alcohol intake.
- Keep a glass of water or other non-alcoholic beverage with you at all times to keep you hydrated and to help you consume less alcohol.
- Sip your alcohol slowly, and stay hydrated by switching to water in-between sips.
- One study found that zinc and niacin may help the body metabolize alcohol, potentially reducing the effects of a hangover.
Hangover Relief Methods
If you're suffering from a hangover, there are some things that you can do to get relief. Here are some tips that may help you lessen the effects of a hangover and a hangover-related migraine.
- You may want to try "hair of the dog," which is drinking more alcohol the next day. Doing so may trigger certain receptors and sedatives to help you feel calmer and better overall. However, it's important to note that this method is not a cure-all and won't stop the cycle of hangovers if you enjoy drinking regularly.
- Apply an ice hat like Icekap Cool Cap to help you get relief from headache symptoms. This specially designed migraine hat fits comfortably around your head and contains medical-grade gels that stay cool for up to two hours so you can get some pain relief.
- Drink plenty of fluids, preferably water, the day after you drink. Consuming water will help to rehydrate your body, and some experts believe that drinking plenty of fluids is one of the best ways to get over a hangover as quickly as possible.
- Eat lots of carbohydrates. Drinking has the potential to lower your blood sugar. It's very important to keep your blood sugar levels balanced by eating healthy carbohydrates and other foods to avoid "the shakes."
- In addition to using the Icekap Cool Cap, you can also take a pain reliever when you're dealing with a hangover. Make sure you avoid taking aspirin or Tylenol, which may irritate your stomach and contribute to liver issues.
From staying hydrated to using a helpful product like the Cool Cap from Icekap, you can minimize the symptoms of a hangover. Icekap intends to help you get fast relief from migraines and headaches of all kinds thanks to our effective cold therapy cap. Please see our testimonials to find out how Icekap has helped many other customers with a variety of symptoms for effective hot and cold therapy relief.
Disclaimer:
This blog post is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical or healthcare advice. While we aim to provide helpful and accurate information on hangovers and potential relief methods, individual responses to alcohol and hangover remedies can vary greatly. The "hair of the dog" method, which involves consuming more alcohol to alleviate hangover symptoms, is controversial and could potentially exacerbate symptoms or lead to other health issues. It is always recommended to drink responsibly and within the recommended limits to minimize the risk of hangovers and other health complications.
The information pertaining to the Icekap product in this post is based on the product's available information and user testimonials. We encourage readers to conduct their research and consult with a healthcare provider if they have any concerns or medical conditions that may be affected by the use of this product or any other hangover relief methods discussed herein.
Before starting any new treatment or therapy, please consult with a healthcare provider. Remember, no blog post or advice can replace the guidance and expertise of a healthcare provider. Drink responsibly and take care of your health.
References:
https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/hangovers
https://americanmigrainefoundation.org/resource-library/alcohol-and-migraine/#:~:text=Induced%20Migraine%20vs.-,Delayed%20Alcohol%2DInduced%20Headache,%2Dinduced%20headache%20(DAIH).
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6780234/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hangovers/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20373015