Hangovers are the result of drinking to much or to fast, or a combination of both. Basically, your body just cannot keep up with the amount of toxins that you are ingesting. The result is that about 8 hours later your body starts experiencing a mild toxic shock resulting in one beauty of a headache.

So, you are up and awake, you have a splitting headache, and your shift starts in 4 hours. What can you do?

1. Your body is dehydrated, so start hydrating and continue this through out the day. You should drink as much water as you can, preferably a half gallon every 1-2 hours. This will restore your fluids and help you flush your system.
2. Avoid the temptation to drink a pot of coffee as soon as you are up. Caffeine is a diuretic, just like alcohol, and will only prolong your bodies recovery.
3. Bloody Mary’s, V8 Juice, etc. Tomato based hangover remedies do actually work. They can aid in the restoration of amino acids, carbohydrates, and Vitamin C. A tall glass of one of these drinks is more than sufficient, then it’s back to drinking water.
4. Take a good multi-vitamin. Your body uses up a variety of vitamins in digesting all of that poison, especially vitamins B and C.
5. Avoid Tylenol. Acetaminophen has been known to cause liver damage when mixed with alcohol. Take Ibuprofen instead.
6. Avoid the temptation to take a little hair-of-the-dog. Consuming more alcohol will only delay the inevitable and the symptoms will be even worse the second time around.
7. Get some rest. If you can, try to get as much rest as possible. Most hangover headaches will subside after your fluids have been replenished and you have had a nice long sleep. Follow the above steps and go back to bed. Hopefully you planned ahead and do not have to deal with work today.

Hopefully these tips will help some of my fellow revelers. Now, if you will excuse me, I am going to finish this bottle of water and go back to bed.