SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV) — There is a chance that you may be experiencing "football hangover" the morning after the Super Bowl, and you aren't alone.
Parties rang out in millions of homes on Sunday night, and scores of football fans are suffering the morning-after consequences of too many sips of something cheerful. In fact, the day after the Big Game is unceremoniously designated as "National Football Hangover Day".
The Cleveland Clinic characterizes hangovers as "very common in people who consume too much alcohol." Their research study found that about 75% of people who drank excessively the night before reported hangover symptoms.
The most common symptoms of a hangover are:
- Depression, anxiety or irritability.
- Disturbed sleep.
- Dizziness and vertigo (a sensation of moving when you’re not).
- Fatigue and weakness.
- Headache, red eyes and sensitivity to light and sound.
- Increased blood pressure.
- Rapid heartbeat.
- Muscle aches and weakness.
- Nausea, vomiting and stomach pain.
- Excessive sweating (diaphoresis).
- Extreme thirst (polydipsia).
- Essential tremor (shaking).
So, what to do about that sick feeling after a night of celebration?
Unfortunately, there is no immediate cure for hangover besides time. Even if that means calling out of work the next day.
The Mayo Clinic offers some treatment tips as you try to regain your footing.
- Fill your water bottle. Sip water or fruit juice to prevent dehydration. Resist any temptation to treat your hangover with more alcohol. It'll only make you feel worse.
- Have a snack. Bland foods, such as toast and crackers, may boost your blood sugar and settle your stomach. Bouillon soup can help replace lost salt and potassium.
- Take a pain reliever. A standard dose of a pain reliever you can buy without a prescription may ease a headache. But be careful about using these medicines with alcohol. Aspirin and ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) can irritate your stomach. The combination of alcohol and acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) can cause serious liver damage.
- Go back to bed. If you sleep long enough, your hangover may be gone when you awaken.
Traveling while experiencing hangover is ill-advised, as consciousness is still impeded upon. Also discouraged is the "hair of the dog" technique, which includes consuming small gulps of alcohol the morning after a night of heavy drinking.
And of course, responsible drinking is encouraged in any event, and driving under the influence is a dangerous crime.