A hangover is a term used to describe a group of symptoms that can occur the day after consuming excessive amounts of alcohol.
Although coffee has long been recommended as a hangover remedy, there is little proof that it has any effect on reducing the effects of alcohol. There isn’t even a surefire way to get rid of a hangover right now. Although it is unlikely to offer significant relief, coffee may help with some symptoms.
After a night of drinking, however, you might still want to drink your morning coffee. See how coffee helps those who are recovering from hangovers in the following paragraphs.
What Is A Hangover?
When someone drinks too much, they get a hangover. It often occurs in the morning after a night of drinking.
The precise causes of hangovers remain a mystery to researchers. However, research indicates that biological factors, such as dehydration, gastrointestinal irritation, inflammation, chemical exposure, disrupted sleep, and mini-withdrawals, likely contribute to the symptoms. Some research also suggests that genetics may play a role.
The following are examples of hangover signs:
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Muscle aches
- Dizziness
- Increased blood pressure
- Weakness
- Headaches
- Increased thirst
- Sensitivity to light and sound
- Sweating
- Irritability
Individuals may experience a wide range of different hangover symptoms. Furthermore, different people will react differently to the same amount of alcohol, making it impossible to determine the exact amount of alcohol needed to induce hangover symptoms.
A person’s likelihood of developing hangover symptoms may also be increased by some types of alcohol. For instance, research indicates that congeners, which are present in dark-colored spirits such as bourbon, may worsen a hangover.
If a person notices worse symptoms after drinking wine, particularly white wine, it is possible that they have an intolerance to sulfites
Can Coffee Help With Hangovers?
So drinking coffee should be beneficial if you’re dehydrated, right? Not exactly.
Coffee also is a diuretic that makes you urinate more — which means, it’s not going to be much help refilling your depleted reserves. “The process of rehydration may be slowed down by coffee consumption, according to Dr. Roach.
Your hangover headache might not respond well to coffee’s caffeine. This could intensify the excruciating pounding in your head because caffeine constricts blood vessels and increases blood pressure.
Of course, you run the risk of experiencing a caffeine withdrawal headache if you’re used to getting your morning coffee fix and skipping it. So, if drinking coffee is a regular part of your routine, you might want to start with a small cup and avoid overdoing it, suggests Dr. Roach.
Possible Effects Of Drinking Coffee
Coffee Won’t Sober You Up
You won’t become more alert drinking coffee. The compounds in coffee won’t stop or lessen the effects of alcohol, whether you drink shots of espresso after cans of beer or a cold brew the following morning. As we discussed in our post “Three Ways That Caffeine Affects Your Brain,” the molecules in coffee, adenosine, adrenaline, and caffeine may make you feel more alert, but they don’t interact with the same receptors that alcohol does. If you drink enough coffee, you’ll be more alert, but you won’t be more prepared to drive.
Coffee Could Make Your Headache Worse
Your headache could get worse if you drink coffee. The caffeine that you might need to avoid in order to avoid a withdrawal headache would make your hangover headache worse. Blood vessels are made smaller by caffeine, which raises blood pressure. This would exacerbate any existing head-pounding.
Additionally, coffee is a diuretic, making it simple to become dehydrated. This further narrows your
blood vessels, increasing your blood pressure even more. These two factors together have the potential to transform a mild headache from a hangover into deep booms from a base drum.
Caffeine Might Prevent A Headache From Withdrawal
If you drink coffee on a regular basis, you might be mildly addicted to caffeine. Abstinence syndrome could make your hangover worse if you skip your morning cup of coffee. If you don’t consume some caffeine, the headache you already have from drinking might worsen.
Coffee only alleviates a hangover by preventing the effects of caffeine withdrawal from making them worse. However, in this case, coffee isn’t helping with the symptoms of a hangover. Simply put, it’s preventing additional symptoms from emerging that would exacerbate the already existing ones.
Other Effective Tips For A Hangover
The best way to prevent a hangover is to completely cut out alcohol, but not everyone wants to do that. If people do choose to drink, it is advisable that they drink in moderationTrusted Source.
By rehydrating, consuming wholesome food, and getting plenty of rest, people can attempt to manage and reduce their symptoms.
Another choice is to use home remedies. While coffee may not help, researchTrusted Source suggests that some natural substances may help with hangover symptoms. These may include:
- Kudzu
- Fructus evodiamine
- Korean pear
- Asparagus
- Ginger
- Water dropwort
- Pear cactus
- Ginseng
Although there is some evidence that these organic compounds may help with hangover symptoms, there hasn’t been much research done on the subject, so it’s still unclear.
These ingredients can be found in some beverages, including electrolyte drinks and some teas, which may offer some relief. But water is the most straightforward and efficient beverage for preventing hangovers.