No Hangover Cure as New Year Ends: Experts Urge Hydration, Light Food, Rest

Overview

• Specialists reaffirm that recovery depends on steady fluids such as water, coconut water or oral rehydration solutions, plus light, easy-to-digest meals and sleep.
• Hangovers result from excess ethanol and dehydration rather than the order or variety of drinks, though mixing can obscure how much alcohol is consumed and raise total intake.
• Prevention focuses on eating before drinking, interspersing water between servings and avoiding binge patterns defined as four or more drinks for women and five or more for men on one occasion.
• Over-the-counter remedies, including Engov, only relieve symptoms like headache; experts advise caution with paracetamol and recommend avoiding anti-inflammatories due to gastrointestinal irritation and bleeding risk.
• Symptoms typically begin 6–8 hours after drinking stops and improve within roughly 8–24 hours, but urgent care is warranted for confusion, chest pain, breathing difficulty, persistent vomiting, fainting, seizures or any signs of bleeding.