However, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has found that Latinos are less likely to drink compared to non-Latino whites although if Latinos choose to drink, they usually drink in higher volumes.
According to the NIAAA, acculturation has a lot to do with drinking, especially among women. Traditionally, women do not drink as do men, but once they spend time in the United States and adapt to the culture, they begin drinking more.
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Keep in mind that heavy drinking does affect the central nervous system, including brain chemicals which lead to the not-so-sexy after affects: headaches, dizziness, nausea. These side affects of drinking send you to the bathroom to purge the poison, leaving you dehydrated which will lead to a morning of headaches, fatigue, cotton mouth, queasiness, and a weak immune system.
For those Latinos who do drink, there are a few key points to know when consuming alcohol; the myths and the truths behind them.
Women Feel The Affects Of Alcohol Faster
Because men have more water in their bodies, it helps to dilute the alcohol faster than in a woman’s body. The more women drink, the more alcohol builds up in the blood stream.
Only People Who Drink A Lot Get Hangovers
In reality, you don’t have to drink all that much to get a hangover. With just a few drinks, you can feel the affects of a hangover the next day. Drinking non-alcoholic drinks or water in between each alocoholic drink can help keep you hydrated and curb the amount of alcohol you drink as well as your hangover.
Keep It Clear
Among your alcoholic choices, stick to the clear stuff, like vodka and gin, or beer. Red wine contains tannins and can cause hangovers in some people. Malt liquors, like whiskey, tend to cause harsher hangovers.
Liquor Before Beer, You’re In The Clear!
Wrong. It’s always the amount of liquor you drink, not the order in which you drink them, that matters. A 12-ounce glass of beer, a five-ounce glass of wine and a 1.5 ounce shot have about the same amount of alcohol.
Eating Before Going Home
Eating after you’re already drunk isn’t going to do anything for your hangover. The food has to be consumed before you start throwing back the drinks. Also, keep in mind that fat slows down how fast your body absorbs alcohol.
Don’t Take Tylenol Before Bed
You’re better off taking pain killers when you wake up rather than before going to bed. Make sure to take something like ibuprophen. Don’t take acetaminophen, or Tylenol, after drinking because the combination can hurt your liver.
Alcohol Helps You Sleep
Nope. This is not true because of the fact that it affects the quality of sleep. You tend to wake up too soon and you don’t spend enough time as you should in the REM cycle of sleep. If you have been drinking heavily, a hangover might begin in the last part of your sleep cycle, making it uncomfortable to go back to sleep.
Just Have One The Next Day
More alcohol doesn’t do anything for you, except postpone the hangover. The worst symptoms hit when blood-alcohol levels drop to zero.
Coffee Solves All The Problems
Coffee might actually lead to worse hangovers because it can cause to more dehydration. It’s best to avoid anything with caffeine after a night of heavy drinking. Take down some water or Gatorade to counter dehydration or replace your electrolytes, especially if you threw up.
Alcohol Poisoning
Symptoms of alcohol poisoning include:
- Confusion, stupor
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Slow, irregular breathing
- Low body temperature, bluish skin
- It’s easy to blow off these symptoms as the price of partying hard, but if you see someone vomit multiple times or pass out after drinking heavily, there’s a risk of severe dehydration or brain damage. Call 911.