Hangover Cures-Do They Work?

I know occasionally when you don't have the kids you might go on a date with your spouse or your friends and have a few too many cocktails.  Then the next day when you wake up to the headache and the pain you turn to your cures.  Do they work?  Here's a list of those cures that work and those that make your hangover worse.

#1.)  Hair of the Dog. Having another drink when you wake up DOES seem to make you feel slightly better.  But only for a little while.  The whole reason you feel bad in the first place is because you drank an amount of alcohol that's literally toxic.

--So adding more to your system makes your hangover last longer, and can even result in a worse hangover the next day.

#2.)  Sports Drinks. It's ridiculous, but scientists still don't completely understand what causes a hangover.  They DO know that dehydration plays a major role, so sports drinks can definitely help, but not because of the electrolytes.

--They help because sports drinks are mostly water.

#3.)  A Greasy Breakfast. A lot of people swear by this, but there's no scientific evidence that eating greasy food helps a hangover.  Doctors suggest eating stuff that's easier to digest, like toast or cereal, because the calories get into your system faster.

--According to the author of "The Doctor's Hangover Handbook", no specific foods can cure a hangover.  But for some people, honey helps.

#4.)  Exercise. It CAN help, but let's be honest . . . If you're hungover, you're not going to the gym.  But if you DO, make sure you drink plenty of water so you don't get even more dehydrated.

#5.)  Alka-Seltzer. This year is the 80th anniversary of Alka-Seltzer, and people have been using it as a hangover remedy for almost as long.  In 2001, the company even introduced a Morning Relief version specifically for hangovers.

--The baking soda in it CAN help settle an upset stomach.  But some of the other ingredients like aspirin and citric acid can irritate your stomach after a night of drinking.

#6.)  Hangover Pills. A few popular ones are called Chaser, PreToxx, and RU 21.  But at least eight separate studies have shown they don't work.  And at the very best, they only help with a few symptoms.  Doctors say you're better off taking a multivitamin.

#7.)  Coffee. Caffeine restricts your blood vessels and ups your blood pressure, which can make you feel worse.  But if you drink coffee every single morning, you should drink it when you have a hangover too.

--If you don't, your body might go into caffeine withdrawal, which will give you an even bigger headache than you already have.

#8.)  Pain Killers. They work, but they can also damage your body if you're a heavy drinker.  Alcohol can damage the lining of your stomach, and you'll do even more damage if you take aspirin or ibuprofen after a big night out.

--And Tylenol is risky for heavy drinkers because it can mess with your liver.

#9.)  A Steam Bath. If anyone's ever told you that you can "sweat out" your hangover, they're wrong.  It's just a myth . . . and a dangerous one.  When you're hungover, the heat of a sauna can cause a drastic drop in blood pressure, or an abnormal heart beat.

--Unfortunately the only thing that can COMPLETELY cure a hangover is time.

(Health.com)