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5 Things You Must Know About Hangovers

1. Know what medicines work and what doesn't. A lot of hangover sufferers tend to grab the nearest pain medication they can find as soon as they wake up. This is never a good idea. Tylenol for instance - also known as acetaminophen - can do some, if not a lot of, damage to your liver when your body is still digesting alcohol. It is good practice to stay away from drugs when you're nursing a hangover but - should you need to be in top form due to a job interview or something equally important - ibuprofen can be a good aid. Take one an hour before you're supposed to be in your important meeting, but make sure to not start a habit out of it.

2. Get perked up but with the right stuff. Most people turn to coffee when they need to get a little mental and physical push. While this is a good idea when you just need the caffeine due to a late night on the job, it is not a good way to go when you feel exhausted because of too much alcohol the previous evening. Alcohol is a diuretic and one of the main reasons why you're feeling the way you do when you're hungover is that your body is dehydrated. Don't exacerbate your situation by drinking another diuretic like coffee. If you insist on getting a bit of perk, go for just one good strong cup of coffee or tea, but make up for it by drinking lots and lots of water throughout the day.

3. Hair of the dog does not work. Drinking alcohol the day you're suffering a hangover might have been a popular idea before, but you should be old enough to know better. First, this practice promotes drinking in the day which we all know is where all good drunks get their start. Also, fighting dehydration with a diuretic (as already mentioned) will just make you feel even worse.

4. Rest. If this is possible in your case, then go for it. Don't fight the nausea and headache with some grueling hours on the treadmill or on a stationary bike. Activities that will sweat you out should be eliminated from your immediate schedule since you need to replenish the liquid that alcohol sapped out of your body, not waste any more of it. Take a nice shower and a few hours off to give your body time to detox.

5. Take preventive measures when you can. You don't have to just endure a hangover. Of course, the best way to go about not having a hangover is just saying no to alcohol, but if you should say yes, there are some things you can do to prevent getting a massive hangover the next day. One is eating before drinking. The food in your stomach will help absorb the alcohol, and the best choices are food that takes some time to digest. Another good way is matching each shot or glass of alcohol you drink with an equal amount of water. This will help keep you hydrated, which will help lessen the headaches come the morning.