Q: So just how does a barman cope with a hangover? A: With a large Bloody Mary
There's the pounding headache, the queasy stomach and that hard-to-shift feeling of tiredness throughout the day.
Yes, we've all been there and swore never ever to drink again. It just isn't worth the pain and the nausea, we tell ourselves.
Hangovers act as warnings from the body that we've overindulged in alcohol. But the problem is that they only seem to deter us from drinking in the short term, and the dreaded hangover is sure to strike again at some point in the near future.
To save you some hangover misery, we asked four experts to share their recommendations for the morning after a big night out.
THE PHARMACIST Colette Jackman is a pharmacist at Medwell Pharmacy in Tuam, Co Galway.
"One of the main effects of drinking alcohol is that the body loses electrolytes, salts and potassium. That's why people often get a craving for salty foods the morning after.
"They should try to drink something with lots of sugar or else eat something with a bit of salt in it.
"Dehydration causes nausea and headaches, so drinking plenty of water is a good idea. You can also use a rehydration sachet like Dioralyte and make it up into a drink. Another product called Motilium is good for sick stomachs.
"Painkillers can help with a hangover, but the only thing to watch out for is that paracetamol and alcohol don't mix very well. Aspirin and ibuprofen can be hard on the stomach at times. The best advice would be to ask your pharmacist which product would be best, bearing in mind the extent of the hangover.
"To minimise the effects of alcohol during your night out, you could use a product called LifeLine, which contains charcoal to help soak up toxins in the stomach.
"You take the capsules within an hour of your first drink. The only thing is that people might think they're then invincible but they should stick to their normal drinks and not go overboard."
THE GP Dr Jim MacCarthy is a GP in Clondalkin, Dublin.
"The obvious key to avoiding a hangover is to moderate your alcohol intake in the first place," he says.
"But if you have had a few drinks, try to remember to drink a glass of water before going to bed. When you wake up the next morning, make sure you take in plenty of fluids and keep it up during the day.
"Rest is very important when coping with a hangover, so try to stay in bed if it's at all possible. You should be aware that your alcohol levels might still be high the morning after, so don't drive and don't operate machinery. Many people don't realise that the alcohol is still in their system. You need to allow time for your body to recover and get back to normal."
THE BARMAN Matt Jupe is bar manager at the newly opened Dylan hotel in Dublin.
"When you wake up with a hangover, orange juice can be a bit too acidic for your system but tomato juice can help settle your stomach and it also has lots of vitamins.
"Usually, customers with a hangover will ask for a Bloody Mary in the morning. It has tomato juice, Tabasco sauce, Worcester sauce, vodka, lemon juice and celery.
"We can also make up a Bloody Mary Martini, which is the same drink but includes cucumber gin and a garnish of carrot. Or if you prefer, you can have a Bloody Mary without the alcohol.
"Another good drink for a hangover is soda water with Angostura Bitters, as it helps to settle the stomach.
"When it comes to the hair of the dog, it's only advised if you're planning to keep drinking the following day. Most people can't face lots of alcohol so they might prefer something like a passion fruit Cosmopolitan.
"My best advice for a hangover is to stay in bed if you can and have a smoothie after a few hours. I'd definitely go for a fry-up - if my stomach was feeling up to it!"
THE NUTRITIONIST Aveen Bannon is a consultant dietitian with the Dublin Nutrition Centre.
"The nausea from a hangover is generally caused by dehydration and low blood sugar so you should try to keep your blood sugar up by drinking some juice and having a carbohydrate-based breakfast.
"This means eating cereal, porridge or wholegrain toast. Eating a banana will also give you a slow release of energy as you recover from the hangover.
"You should drink water but be careful not to drink too much on its own. Otherwise, it will sit in your stomach and make you feel unwell again.
"It's better to drink something with some sugar content, as it will be more quickly absorbed into your system. Coffee is probably the worst thing you could drink, as it will dehydrate you further.
"Don't try and gorge yourself with a fry-up. The body naturally craves fatty foods after a hangover but it can make you feel a lot worse. There also isn't any truth that eating burnt toast can help you feel better - it may very well make you sick!"
- Lisa Jewell
