With all of the holiday parties, house guests, and office happy hours, there's a risk you'll drink a little too much one of these nights. That can make for a difficult morning. Of course, we're talking about the dreadful hangover. Everyone has their solution for resolving the issue. Maybe it's a chilly shower and a cup of black coffee. Perhaps it's simply returning to sleep for a few hours. You've probably heard about a variety of hangover remedies. A common misconception is that a rigorous workout will help you sweat out a hangover. Although lifting weights or swimming laps after overindulging may help alleviate your guilt, there is no concrete evidence that exercising out after drinking can help you feel more human faster. You could be better off simply resting and hydrating during the day.
Can you, therefore, sweat out your hangover to recover faster? Many people swear by it, whether it's going for a morning run or spending 20 minutes in the hot tub. Is it, indeed, effective? Fortunately, some of the world's most brilliant brains have pondered the same question. The British Journal of Sports Medicine investigated the relationship between physical activity and alcohol use in terms of health and death. The findings demonstrated that exercising at the recommended physical activity level — at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week — mitigates some of the hazards and negative effects of alcohol. That isn't the same as healing your current hangover, but exercise has shown promise in combating some of the overall harm caused by drinking.
"No compelling evidence exists to show that any conventional or complementary intervention is useful for preventing or treating alcohol hangover," according to a BMJ article published through the National Institutes of Health. This includes anecdotal classics such as raw egg yolks, over-the-counter hangover cures, dog hair, and, yes, exercise. "The most effective strategy to avoid the symptoms of an alcohol-induced hangover is to practise abstinence or moderation," it says.
Before you go to the gym, understand the hazards and potential benefits of working out while hungover:
Dehydration:
Alcohol is a stimulant, which means it causes the body to lose more water than it takes in (through urination and perspiration). Many hangover symptoms, such as dry mouth, headaches, and nausea, are commonly caused by this. Exercising and sweating might dehydrate you even more. You may be able to work out later in the day if you can drink enough to feel better, but don't use exercise as a cure. It may simply make you feel worse if you are dehydrated.
Brain Fog:
One of the adverse effects of excessive drinking is difficulty concentrating. When lifting weights or performing cardio on a machine, you're much more likely to harm yourself or someone else simply because you're distracted.
Discomfort and Anxiety:
Drinking excessively imposes stress on the body, making everything more difficult, including exercise. Your body requires time to mend, rehydrate, and recover from a hangover. A rigorous workout before you've healed can put your body under even more strain. In other words, working out when you're already feeling lousy isn't going to help.
However, if your hangover symptoms are moderate, a brisk workout may aid in your recovery. Movement can help relieve stress by increasing blood flow, releasing endorphins, and relaxing tight muscles and joints. After all, physical activity produces "feel-good" chemicals and hormones that enhance energy and mood. Keep in mind that doing exercise will not help your body absorb alcohol faster. Any advantages of exercise are related to symptom alleviation rather than "curing" the hangover.
Can you, therefore, sweat out your hangover to recover faster? Many people swear by it, whether it's going for a morning run or spending 20 minutes in the hot tub. Is it, indeed, effective?
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