People are soon going to be celebrating New Year’s Eve, and there’s a reasonable chance that it could result in something of a hangover. There are a number of methods of tackling this outcome – some involving raw eggs and chilli mixed up – but most will probably resort to painkillers.
However those seeking out the medicine cabinet are being warned that they could be doing themselves damage, the Express reports. Abbas Kanani, superintendent pharmacist of Chemist Click, advised taking ibuprofen instead of paracetamol to treat hangover headaches.
He explained: “Paracetamol can potentially interact with alcohol and increase the risk of liver damage. Overdosing on paracetamol is actually a leading cause of liver failure.”
The British Liver Trust says that “paracetamol in large amounts is toxic to the liver”. However, the NHS states that taking paracetamol after drinking a “moderate” amount of alcohol is generally safe. The British Liver Trust says that “paracetamol in large amounts is toxic to the liver”.
“Paracetamol should be used with caution if you have certain health conditions, such as liver problems,” the health body says.
Abbas said one of the main causes of a hangover is not having drunk enough water to replace fluids: “Symptoms of a hangover are generally caused by dehydration, which happens because alcohol is a diuretic.
“Drinking it can make you pee more than if you had the same amount of water.”
He advocated lining the stomach with the right food: “Try to eat a meal that includes carbohydrates, such as pasta or rice or fats before you begin because this will help to slow down your body’s absorption of alcohol.
“Fizzy drinks speed up the absorption of alcohol into your body”. This will also help to slow down how much you drink overall.
“The best time to rehydrate is before going to sleep after a drinking session”, he added.
Official Government guidance, is that men and women are advised not to drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis.
