FRIDAY, Dec. 31, 2004 (HealthDayNews) -- For millions of Americans, the first day of 2005 will be a lot less thrilling than the last night of 2004, as ice packs and aspirin replace party hats and beer.
It doesn't have to be that way, according to one expert.
"One of the biggest problems with avoiding and treating hangover is recognizing the misconceptions," said Dr. Marc Siegel, an internist and clinical professor of medicine at the New York University School of Medicine.
He believes the best remedy -- and preventive -- for a hangover is also the simplest: Drink lots of water.
"Remember, the main cause of hangover is dehydration -- alcohol is a really powerful diuretic, and people get much more dried out when they drink than they may realize," Siegel said. "So the most important thing to do -- before and after a hangover -- is to drink water."
Smart partygoers ideally alternate one glass of water for every drink consumed, providing their body with extra fluid to compensate for what's been lost. "Some kind of electrolyte solution, such as Gatorade, might be good, too," Siegel suggested.
And remember, what you imbibe may be as important as how much you imbibe when it comes to hangover.
"While all alcohol can cause hangover, wine tends to cause more headache," Siegel said. "Also any drink with lots of sugar in it -- that has a dehydrating effect separate from the alcohol."
Despite the best precautions, a hangover can still rear its aching head come sunrise. Siegel advised that, besides drinking copious amounts of water, the following remedies may help:
Then there are more dubious hangover "cures," some of which might do more harm than good:
In the end, he said, the best way to treat hangover is to avoid getting one in the first place. That means pacing yourself when it comes to drinking, and consuming lots of water. "Water is great, too, because it flushes out the kidneys," Siegel said, "increasing the rate at which toxins are gotten rid of."
More information
Get a primer on hangovers from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.