Preventing and treating St. Patrick’s Day hangovers

Millions of Americans and thousands on the Delmarva Peninsula will celebrate what has become the fourth-biggest drinking holiday of the calendar year.  Saturday morning, many of those party-goers will be treating symptoms from the "Brown Bottle Flu." 

According to a study, 76 percent of us wake up with some variation of a hangover after a drinking session.

Luckily there are ways you can prevent falling victim.

David Ford, medical professional with Your Doc's In, in Salisbury, says the best prevention, aside from not drinking, is to drink as much water as alcohol you consume.

"If you just had like a glass of water with you, and you were sipping that as much as what you were drinking, then you are going to be in a lot better shape.  Yea, you're going to be in the bathroom more, but you're not going to wake up with a hangover, or as much of one."

Another tip Ford gave was to make sure you know your drinks alcohol content.  Some, especially younger, adults might confuse the amount of beer they drink with the amount of alcohol they are ingesting.

"Understand that there are some beers out there that now have 11 and 12 percent alcohol content, a lot of these craft breweries.  (Some think) one of those beers is equivalent to a regular Bud Light.  So, 'oh I had three beers.'  No, you just had a 12-pack."

On her way to a local convenience store, Corrisa Purnell said if you can avoid drinking, do it.  But if you choose to drink, "I suggest you eat first, then drink.  A lot of water."

Her suggestion to eat first is a wise idea, as food helps to slow the rate that your body absorbs alcohol.

Other tips to avoid the spins involve avoiding mixing different types of alcohol, and drink lighter colored beverages.

If you wake up groggy, local resident and casual drinker Caitlyn Fantini and medical professionals agree.

"I usually drink about a bottle of water, take some Advil, and drink some Gatorade, and I'll usually be fine within an hour or so."

There are foods to help reinvigorate you.  Get your healthy dose of Vitamin A and B, along with Zinc and Potassium.  Eggs, lean meats such as fish and chicken, asparagus, and yellow and orange colored veggies such as sweet potatoes work best to inject you with the nutrients you may have lost.

"Just not getting too lit is really the trick here," Ford concluded.