How are you ringing in the new year? Are you going to a party? Are you planning on drinking? Are you going to dance the night away? If so, you may wake up on January 1st with not only a hangover from drinking too much, but also from dancing too much.
You may already know that feeling you get from an alcohol-induced hangover – a pounding head, upset stomach, grogginess and general overall achiness. However, a dancing hangover can leave you with sore feet, ankles, knees, hips and back. You may also have redness, tenderness to the touch and inflammation in these areas, as well as difficulty walking or wearing shoes the next day.
If you want to start the New Year out on the right foot (literally), then follow these tips for combating both types of hangovers.
- Advance Preparation. Eat before you start drinking since a full stomach can help slow the rate of alcohol absorption. While new party shoes may look cute, they may not feel so great after dancing for awhile. Wear shoes that fit properly (refer to our Shoe Fit Guide for information on how to properly fit your shoes to your individual feet). If you suffer from bunions, corns, arch pain or other foot conditions, you may want to wear custom orthotics like ezWalker® Performance Insoles. ezWalker® insoles are biomechanically designed to realign your body by providing your feet with a proper foundation in your shoes. They also help reduce or eliminate foot pain.
- Don’t Overdo It. Practice moderation in both drinking and dancing. Space your drinks. Drink slowly, allowing your body time to handle the alcohol. Sit out some songs and rest your feet.
- Drink Lots of Water. Alcohol dehydrates your body of fluids. Also, dancing can make you sweat more, causing dehydration as well. Dehydration can lead to a headache, poor concentration and fatigue. Therefore, alternate a glass of water with every alcoholic beverage you drink. Also drink a glass of water or two before you go to bed once you’re home, and drink several glasses of water throughout the course of the day on New Year’s Day. Water helps to reduce fatigue, prevent muscle cramps, and speed up your recovery time.
- Exercise Caution when Taking Pain Relievers. While aspirin, ibuprofen or acetaminophen (Tylenol) can help relieve head pain and body aches, if you are a heavy drinker, it’s best to avoid acetaminophen. Alcohol and acetaminophen don’t metabolize well together and can cause serious liver damage. Plus aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen can irritate the lining of the stomach.
- Take Your Vitamins and Minerals. Since alcohol is a diuretic, you can lose a lot of vitamins and nutrients from drinking. Studies show that vitamin A, vitamin B complex (including B1 – thiamine, B2 – riboflavin, folic acid, B6 and B12), vitamin C, calcium, potassium, zinc, and magnesium can help reduce muscle aches and cramps and repair damaged muscle tissue. Plus, a lot of people swear vitamin B complex and vitamin C can help combat a hangover.
- Perform Stretching or Mild Exercises. If you can manage it, stretch your feet or legs or perform a mild exercise like walking to help relieve sore muscles, boost your mood and help rid your body of the toxins from too much alcohol.
- Get Plenty of Rest. The best cure for a hangover and sore muscles is time and rest to heal. So close the curtains, pull up the comforter over your head and go to sleep.
Hopefully by following these tips, you’ll have a great New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. For more information on ezWalker Performance Insoles, visit our website. No matter what type of shoes you wear, there is an ezWalker to help you maintain all-day comfort and pain relief. So order yours today! You got nothing to lose but your pain.
Because … when your feet feel good, you feel good.
