1 00:00:02,200 --> 00:00:04,120 Speaker 1: From the newsroom and news. 2 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:04,600 Speaker 2: Still come to me. 3 00:00:06,360 --> 00:00:07,920 Speaker 1: Today. There. I'm Andrew Bucklow. 4 00:00:08,039 --> 00:00:10,480 Speaker 3: We have got so many interesting stories online for you 5 00:00:10,560 --> 00:00:12,719 Speaker 3: right now at news dot com dot Au. There's one 6 00:00:12,760 --> 00:00:15,760 Speaker 3: on Pete Evans, you know, the former My Kitchen Rules judge. 7 00:00:15,920 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 3: He says he's been rubbing shoulders with Donald Trump. How 8 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:21,800 Speaker 3: random is that? Make sure you check that story out. 9 00:00:21,800 --> 00:00:24,880 Speaker 3: There's also one on Malcolm Turnbull. He's been making headlines 10 00:00:24,920 --> 00:00:28,360 Speaker 3: once again. This time our former Prime minister has trashed 11 00:00:28,400 --> 00:00:30,960 Speaker 3: the Orcust deal. That's the deal that will see Australia 12 00:00:31,000 --> 00:00:33,200 Speaker 3: by a few nuclear submarines from the US. 13 00:00:33,720 --> 00:00:38,360 Speaker 4: Orcus is a terrible deal. It is so unfair to Australia. 14 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:41,520 Speaker 4: So people say, does will Donald Trump like it? Well, 15 00:00:41,520 --> 00:00:43,480 Speaker 4: of course he'd like it. It's such a bad deal 16 00:00:43,520 --> 00:00:46,720 Speaker 4: for us. He only thinking he'd be back of his mind. 17 00:00:46,720 --> 00:00:49,000 Speaker 4: He'll be thinking, who are these dumb guys that agreed 18 00:00:49,040 --> 00:00:49,560 Speaker 4: to this deal? 19 00:00:49,680 --> 00:00:51,680 Speaker 3: He does not hold back old Malcolm, does he are? 20 00:00:51,720 --> 00:00:53,760 Speaker 3: But let's put politics to one side, because that is 21 00:00:53,800 --> 00:00:55,800 Speaker 3: not what we're going to focus on in this episode. 22 00:00:55,840 --> 00:00:59,640 Speaker 3: What we are focusing on is hangover cures. Why you 23 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 3: are because I caught a bus into work this morning 24 00:01:02,680 --> 00:01:04,759 Speaker 3: and I went past an Irish pub in the city 25 00:01:05,000 --> 00:01:08,560 Speaker 3: and it was still packed with people celebrating Saint Patrick's Day. 26 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:11,120 Speaker 3: How wild is that there are going to be some 27 00:01:11,280 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 3: very sore heads today or tomorrow whenever they go to bed. 28 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,360 Speaker 3: So I thought, why not chat to an expert about 29 00:01:17,360 --> 00:01:19,640 Speaker 3: how to lessen the impact of hangovers? 30 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 1: That's coming up in just a moment. 31 00:01:23,360 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 3: Allow me to introduce Professor Merlin Thomas. He is an 32 00:01:26,319 --> 00:01:30,160 Speaker 3: internationally recognized clinician and scientist from Monash University and he 33 00:01:30,240 --> 00:01:32,160 Speaker 3: joins me. Now, thank you so much for Chattingtonews dot 34 00:01:32,200 --> 00:01:32,919 Speaker 3: com dot au. 35 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:34,280 Speaker 5: Thanks having on your show. 36 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:37,039 Speaker 3: No pressure, but I am hoping that this interview is 37 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:38,640 Speaker 3: going to change my life and I'm never going to 38 00:01:38,720 --> 00:01:40,399 Speaker 3: have to deal with a hangover ever again. 39 00:01:40,440 --> 00:01:42,240 Speaker 1: So as I said, no pressure, okay. 40 00:01:42,640 --> 00:01:44,919 Speaker 5: Well you you would be one of the lucky ones. 41 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 2: I mean, at least at least three out of every 42 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:50,840 Speaker 2: four people that drink alcohol, even if they do it 43 00:01:50,920 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 2: on a very rare occasion, will develop a hangover. There's 44 00:01:54,800 --> 00:01:57,960 Speaker 2: only about a quarter that don't for reasons that we 45 00:01:58,000 --> 00:02:00,840 Speaker 2: don't understand. But I'm sorry, there's not going to be 46 00:02:00,880 --> 00:02:02,840 Speaker 2: a cure that's coming out of this interview. Let me 47 00:02:02,880 --> 00:02:04,240 Speaker 2: just put you straight. 48 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:04,800 Speaker 5: Right and eye that. 49 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:07,320 Speaker 3: Okay, well that is disappointing, but you know what, We're 50 00:02:07,320 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 3: gonna continue with the interview anyway. I thought i'd start 51 00:02:10,040 --> 00:02:12,040 Speaker 3: by just mentioning some things that I do that my 52 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:14,320 Speaker 3: friends do to try and cure hangovers, and you can 53 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:16,600 Speaker 3: let me know if they're good ideas, bad ideas, or 54 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:17,760 Speaker 3: just completely pointless. 55 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:21,040 Speaker 2: Okay, okay, but I think the real reason that you 56 00:02:21,080 --> 00:02:23,120 Speaker 2: get a hangover is because you drunk alcohol. 57 00:02:23,320 --> 00:02:26,680 Speaker 3: Right, Well, that's gonna continue happening and that's not gonna stop. 58 00:02:26,760 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 5: Well that's the. 59 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:30,000 Speaker 2: Cause, right, you know, and the amount that you drink 60 00:02:30,080 --> 00:02:33,520 Speaker 2: is the most likely predictor of developing hangovers. So so 61 00:02:33,720 --> 00:02:35,680 Speaker 2: I mean, honestly, let me just put you, put you 62 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:37,600 Speaker 2: straight the reason that you get it, and if you 63 00:02:37,639 --> 00:02:40,240 Speaker 2: don't want to get a hangover, don't drink. I mean, 64 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:42,080 Speaker 2: the thing is that I mean, hangover is not going 65 00:02:42,160 --> 00:02:44,720 Speaker 2: to kill you, but you've got to remember that it's 66 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:48,120 Speaker 2: a reminder that alcohol certainly can. And so every time 67 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:50,480 Speaker 2: you get the hangover, you go, this is not good 68 00:02:50,560 --> 00:02:50,840 Speaker 2: for me. 69 00:02:50,960 --> 00:02:54,440 Speaker 3: Yeah, okay, you are the voice of reason. I know 70 00:02:54,600 --> 00:02:56,960 Speaker 3: I should tone down the alcohol, but listen, a lot 71 00:02:57,000 --> 00:02:59,920 Speaker 3: of people, particularly those who had Saint Patrick's Day so 72 00:03:00,000 --> 00:03:02,839 Speaker 3: alebrations yesterday, they're probably still feeling it. So I'm sure 73 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:05,680 Speaker 3: you've got some advice that can help us. The first 74 00:03:05,680 --> 00:03:08,239 Speaker 3: thing I want to talk about. I have this Korean 75 00:03:08,360 --> 00:03:12,080 Speaker 3: pair Jews that I drink before I go out drinking. 76 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:14,399 Speaker 3: It claims to help reduce the toxin that you build 77 00:03:14,440 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 3: up when you can trume alcohol. 78 00:03:15,840 --> 00:03:18,560 Speaker 1: Any idea of this stuff actually works well. 79 00:03:18,600 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 2: Actually, there's been a lot of star studies using a 80 00:03:21,240 --> 00:03:26,040 Speaker 2: lot of the Asian herbs and vitamins, in particular the 81 00:03:27,280 --> 00:03:31,720 Speaker 2: Asian what's called oriental raisin tree kind of Japonica, which 82 00:03:31,760 --> 00:03:34,720 Speaker 2: is they did a trial of mixing that with soju, 83 00:03:34,800 --> 00:03:38,200 Speaker 2: a very famous Korean drink, and actually those that drank 84 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:42,000 Speaker 2: with it had fewer symptoms, not not no symptoms, no cure, 85 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,400 Speaker 2: but fewer symptoms, and there were some rationales for that. 86 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:47,880 Speaker 2: There have been some studies also with a number of 87 00:03:48,200 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 2: different Asian compounds. The truth is that most of these 88 00:03:52,200 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 2: so called flavonoids or plant derived antioxidants do have some 89 00:03:57,920 --> 00:04:02,160 Speaker 2: effect with respect getting rid of some of the symptoms 90 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,080 Speaker 2: and certainly some of the stress on your body. But 91 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:09,040 Speaker 2: in no way can they be considered a cure, and 92 00:04:09,120 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 2: in no way do they. I mean, the symptoms are, 93 00:04:12,440 --> 00:04:16,000 Speaker 2: for example, maybe about ten to fifteen percent less, but 94 00:04:16,080 --> 00:04:16,800 Speaker 2: that's about it. 95 00:04:16,839 --> 00:04:18,080 Speaker 5: That's all you're going to get from it. 96 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 2: So go ahead and do those things if you feel 97 00:04:20,960 --> 00:04:23,880 Speaker 2: that you want to spend that extra money. But taking 98 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:26,160 Speaker 2: a less less to drink would probably be much a 99 00:04:26,200 --> 00:04:27,720 Speaker 2: quicker solute, you. 100 00:04:27,680 --> 00:04:30,800 Speaker 3: Know, ten percent better in the next morning. I'll take that, Okay, 101 00:04:31,760 --> 00:04:33,880 Speaker 3: I'll move on to number two. When I get home 102 00:04:33,880 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 3: from a night of drinking, I tend to have a 103 00:04:35,520 --> 00:04:39,240 Speaker 3: couple of rehydration tablets. They're often filled with electrolytes and minerals. 104 00:04:39,320 --> 00:04:41,560 Speaker 3: Now are they going to help cure my hangover the 105 00:04:41,600 --> 00:04:42,039 Speaker 3: next day? 106 00:04:42,560 --> 00:04:46,880 Speaker 2: Well, in Australia the number one hangover cure if you like. 107 00:04:47,279 --> 00:04:49,159 Speaker 2: If you look at all the products they're available for 108 00:04:49,200 --> 00:04:53,960 Speaker 2: hangover cures, most of them are salt, sodium and potassium 109 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:58,120 Speaker 2: or electrolytes and fluid. Most of them are drinks. So 110 00:04:58,480 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 2: in fact you're doing what most people doing. That problem 111 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:07,200 Speaker 2: is that alcohol generally when you take it, if you 112 00:05:07,240 --> 00:05:10,440 Speaker 2: imagine a glass of beer, a glass of beer is 113 00:05:11,000 --> 00:05:14,440 Speaker 2: ninety six percent water and four percent alcohol, which turns 114 00:05:14,440 --> 00:05:16,080 Speaker 2: into the same amount of water when it gets your 115 00:05:16,080 --> 00:05:19,719 Speaker 2: liver anyway, So imagine drinking that much in water, and 116 00:05:19,760 --> 00:05:22,359 Speaker 2: then with the effect on the alcohol on your kidneys, 117 00:05:22,440 --> 00:05:25,000 Speaker 2: you'd lose half as much again in terms of fluid. 118 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:28,640 Speaker 2: So if you drunk, you know, five or six drinks 119 00:05:29,040 --> 00:05:33,040 Speaker 2: a night without keeping up, certainly you could be down 120 00:05:33,360 --> 00:05:36,520 Speaker 2: a significant amount of fluid. One of the reasons that 121 00:05:36,560 --> 00:05:41,360 Speaker 2: you might feel like rubbish the next morning, it certainly 122 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:44,920 Speaker 2: might be that you are dehydrated. Now that's different from 123 00:05:44,920 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 2: a hangover, So even if you don't get dehydrated, you 124 00:05:47,839 --> 00:05:50,280 Speaker 2: can still get a hangover. But one of the symptoms 125 00:05:50,279 --> 00:05:53,120 Speaker 2: that many people feel the next morning, those dry eyes 126 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:57,839 Speaker 2: that scratch your skin, is dehydration. But beware, because there's 127 00:05:57,839 --> 00:06:00,280 Speaker 2: alcohol is still in your system. If you drink lots 128 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 2: of fluid and electrolyte, one of the things that will 129 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,360 Speaker 2: happen is that you'll probably be peeing through the night. 130 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:09,240 Speaker 2: And the best thing for a hangover is a good 131 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 2: night's sleep, and so if you so, if you disrupt 132 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:13,840 Speaker 2: your sleep by having to get up in the middle 133 00:06:13,839 --> 00:06:16,320 Speaker 2: of the night and pee all the time, actually you'll 134 00:06:16,320 --> 00:06:19,240 Speaker 2: feel even more hungover the next morning. So so just 135 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:22,479 Speaker 2: so just beware drinking through the drinking, you know, large 136 00:06:22,520 --> 00:06:24,640 Speaker 2: amounts when you get home to prevent home hangover is 137 00:06:24,680 --> 00:06:26,480 Speaker 2: probably just going to make you get up and disrupt 138 00:06:26,480 --> 00:06:28,640 Speaker 2: your sleep because you've got a full bladder. So you 139 00:06:28,640 --> 00:06:30,479 Speaker 2: know when I tell people that, you know, the most 140 00:06:30,480 --> 00:06:32,800 Speaker 2: important thing about to cure a hangover is that if 141 00:06:32,839 --> 00:06:35,839 Speaker 2: you wake up with a hangover, go back to sleep right, 142 00:06:35,880 --> 00:06:39,279 Speaker 2: you know, and in fact that that does work because 143 00:06:39,480 --> 00:06:42,440 Speaker 2: one of the ideas about the symptoms of hangover is 144 00:06:42,480 --> 00:06:46,520 Speaker 2: that you experience a lot of the same sort of distress. 145 00:06:46,560 --> 00:06:49,280 Speaker 5: Also, it's as jet lag. 146 00:06:49,080 --> 00:06:51,119 Speaker 2: When you've been on long distance flight, when your sleep 147 00:06:51,160 --> 00:06:56,400 Speaker 2: rhythms are disrupted, and alcohol's major effects on your dream sleep, 148 00:06:56,920 --> 00:06:59,680 Speaker 2: as many people will experience, so that you don't dream 149 00:06:59,680 --> 00:07:01,320 Speaker 2: in the beginning, and then you try and catch up 150 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 2: at the end by having these really amazing vivid dreams 151 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 2: just before you have to go to work. But the 152 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:07,599 Speaker 2: problem is that if you don't have time for that, 153 00:07:07,640 --> 00:07:09,760 Speaker 2: if your arm goes off and you haven't been able 154 00:07:09,840 --> 00:07:12,600 Speaker 2: to catch up, you sort of wake up half awake, 155 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:13,760 Speaker 2: and you know. 156 00:07:13,720 --> 00:07:15,120 Speaker 5: It's not so good. 157 00:07:15,400 --> 00:07:19,360 Speaker 2: The best solution for a hangover is actually if you 158 00:07:19,400 --> 00:07:21,560 Speaker 2: can do it, and if it's a holiday like New 159 00:07:21,600 --> 00:07:24,320 Speaker 2: Year's Eve, is actually going back to sleep and sleeping 160 00:07:24,400 --> 00:07:27,040 Speaker 2: it off, because sleeping it off actually you'll be able 161 00:07:27,040 --> 00:07:28,720 Speaker 2: to wake up, refresh and whatever. 162 00:07:29,240 --> 00:07:31,640 Speaker 5: Not sleeping it off means that you've got a risk 163 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:35,000 Speaker 5: not only of presenteeism. 164 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:36,200 Speaker 2: As it's called, which is turning up and work and 165 00:07:36,240 --> 00:07:40,320 Speaker 2: being a basket case, but actually your driving and your 166 00:07:40,360 --> 00:07:44,320 Speaker 2: other cognitive experiences are really poor. So for example, driving 167 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 2: with a hangover is worse than driving at point eight 168 00:07:47,280 --> 00:07:50,320 Speaker 2: alcohol in terms of accidents, which is why, which is 169 00:07:50,320 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 2: why there so many accidents on Monday morning. Always hung over, 170 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:55,440 Speaker 2: half asleep people driving on the roads, no wonder, there's 171 00:07:55,440 --> 00:07:58,640 Speaker 2: so many problems. Hangovers are a dangerous thing. You know, 172 00:07:58,760 --> 00:08:01,360 Speaker 2: you know how you feel like rubbish, but actually your brain, 173 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 2: your brain works like rubbish as well, And so this 174 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 2: is why you know, everyone treats alcohol with dark glasses 175 00:08:08,600 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 2: and coffee to try and wake themselves up, but also 176 00:08:12,080 --> 00:08:14,560 Speaker 2: to try and get their brain thinking maybe. 177 00:08:14,280 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 5: It's okay, I'm still asleep. I've got the light. The 178 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:19,280 Speaker 5: light's covering my eyes. So you know, those things work 179 00:08:19,360 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 5: for the symptoms. 180 00:08:20,160 --> 00:08:24,040 Speaker 2: But like the Asian chemicals, the effects are, you know, 181 00:08:24,200 --> 00:08:25,840 Speaker 2: just trying to mitigate the symptoms. 182 00:08:25,840 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 5: They are not a cure. 183 00:08:27,800 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 3: What I'm hearing there, what I took from all of 184 00:08:29,800 --> 00:08:32,280 Speaker 3: that is just basically, we're an adult nappy to bed 185 00:08:32,360 --> 00:08:33,680 Speaker 3: so that I don't have to get up and go 186 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:35,200 Speaker 3: to the bathroom every five minutes. 187 00:08:36,000 --> 00:08:38,520 Speaker 2: I don't think that that's friendly for anyone at all. 188 00:08:40,160 --> 00:08:42,280 Speaker 3: Stick around in just a moment, the professor will tell 189 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:50,800 Speaker 3: us if the hair of the dog actually works. Welcome back, 190 00:08:50,800 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 3: I'm chatting to Professor Merlin Thomas. Now, Professor, my mate's 191 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:56,400 Speaker 3: quite often turned to the hair of the dog to 192 00:08:56,440 --> 00:08:57,400 Speaker 3: try and be a hangover. 193 00:08:57,480 --> 00:08:58,520 Speaker 1: Does it actually work? 194 00:08:59,120 --> 00:09:01,840 Speaker 5: A lot of people have considered that over the time. 195 00:09:01,920 --> 00:09:08,000 Speaker 2: The Italians call it ricchiamano for if I if I've 196 00:09:08,280 --> 00:09:09,600 Speaker 2: made a mess of that, I'm sorry. 197 00:09:09,840 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 5: The English people call it hair of the dog. 198 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:14,800 Speaker 2: The idea of that is it's a sympathetic thing, and 199 00:09:14,840 --> 00:09:17,400 Speaker 2: so the if the hair of the dog that bits you, 200 00:09:17,480 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 2: in other words, the alcohol, by taking that it means 201 00:09:20,520 --> 00:09:23,640 Speaker 2: that it makes it go away. In Scandinavia they call 202 00:09:23,679 --> 00:09:26,679 Speaker 2: it the repair beer, and in Germany they call it 203 00:09:26,720 --> 00:09:29,600 Speaker 2: the counter beer, as in not as in the county 204 00:09:29,679 --> 00:09:33,240 Speaker 2: buy it from but as in to counteract, so so 205 00:09:33,400 --> 00:09:37,120 Speaker 2: you're you're not alone in thinking that that this this 206 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:40,760 Speaker 2: might help you at all. But actually it works really 207 00:09:40,800 --> 00:09:44,520 Speaker 2: well for alcohol withdrawal, taking drinking more alcohol, and which 208 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:46,240 Speaker 2: is why people when they drink, you know it goes 209 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:48,600 Speaker 2: away as you know that's okay, But actually it doesn't 210 00:09:48,600 --> 00:09:53,720 Speaker 2: work at all for a hangover, very significantly and just 211 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:56,000 Speaker 2: ends up making you more dehydrated and being more So 212 00:09:56,240 --> 00:09:58,720 Speaker 2: I wouldn't recommend the Hair of the Dog or the 213 00:09:58,760 --> 00:10:03,000 Speaker 2: recovery beer unless it's a social occasion in which you 214 00:10:03,040 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 2: want to start the party up all over again, in 215 00:10:06,200 --> 00:10:09,040 Speaker 2: which case probably having it with a good breakfast is 216 00:10:09,440 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 2: also another thing that people use for the next morning, 217 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,719 Speaker 2: that big fatty breakfast with lots of bacon and eggs 218 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:16,439 Speaker 2: or whatever. 219 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:18,880 Speaker 5: That's another thing often people use for hangover. 220 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:21,880 Speaker 2: Most of that potentially trying to wake the brain up, 221 00:10:22,040 --> 00:10:24,520 Speaker 2: so when your brain feels that it's eating a big meal, 222 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:26,679 Speaker 2: suddenly it goes, oh, it must be daytime, and that 223 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:30,800 Speaker 2: can sometimes clump people in the same way with black 224 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:33,120 Speaker 2: coffee and other kinds of things, it can try and help. 225 00:10:32,920 --> 00:10:34,400 Speaker 5: Get over that sleeplessness. 226 00:10:34,440 --> 00:10:38,880 Speaker 2: So the same thing happens when often after a jet lag, 227 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:41,520 Speaker 2: you know, either you have a meal, or you go 228 00:10:41,920 --> 00:10:44,400 Speaker 2: outside in the sun or you have a coffee to 229 00:10:44,400 --> 00:10:46,840 Speaker 2: try and get yourself back into the zone. So your 230 00:10:46,840 --> 00:10:49,000 Speaker 2: brain goes, oh, it's daytime, I should be awaken. So 231 00:10:49,040 --> 00:10:51,920 Speaker 2: that takes some of that haze of your on your 232 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:54,600 Speaker 2: body away, and so some people use that, but it's 233 00:10:54,640 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 2: a symptomatic effect. 234 00:10:56,480 --> 00:10:57,520 Speaker 5: It's certainly no cure. 235 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:01,560 Speaker 3: So what are your top tips then, Professor Merlin Thomas, 236 00:11:01,600 --> 00:11:03,960 Speaker 3: how can we try and lessen the effects of those 237 00:11:04,000 --> 00:11:07,480 Speaker 3: hangovers the day after you've mentioned try and go back 238 00:11:07,480 --> 00:11:07,880 Speaker 3: to sleep. 239 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:10,440 Speaker 1: If we have that luxury, what else should we be doing? 240 00:11:11,840 --> 00:11:15,920 Speaker 2: Really, the best thing apart from getting a good night's 241 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:19,800 Speaker 2: sleep is to understand that alcohol is really a test 242 00:11:19,880 --> 00:11:21,880 Speaker 2: for you. It's a test of self control and self 243 00:11:21,880 --> 00:11:23,360 Speaker 2: awareness for those who. 244 00:11:23,160 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 5: Can pass the test. 245 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,559 Speaker 2: The clarities, of course, that alcohol is one of life's pleasures, 246 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 2: enjoyed by two thirds of Australians would drink sometimes and 247 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 2: the two thirds of those two thirds would drink on 248 00:11:34,360 --> 00:11:35,320 Speaker 2: a regular basis. 249 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:37,920 Speaker 5: You know, but those are Alcohol is great. 250 00:11:38,000 --> 00:11:40,000 Speaker 2: But the problem is that the stick is also real, 251 00:11:40,240 --> 00:11:42,560 Speaker 2: and that the hangover should remind us that what we're 252 00:11:42,600 --> 00:11:45,240 Speaker 2: doing is really affecting our health, and though a hangover 253 00:11:45,240 --> 00:11:47,680 Speaker 2: one kill us, it's probably a reminder that alcohol certainly 254 00:11:47,720 --> 00:11:51,200 Speaker 2: can and that we should think more carefully about our choices, 255 00:11:51,840 --> 00:11:54,400 Speaker 2: particularly in around the amount that we drink and the 256 00:11:54,400 --> 00:11:57,559 Speaker 2: frequency that we drink, and the opportunity value is to 257 00:11:57,640 --> 00:12:00,360 Speaker 2: use alcohol in a positive way to use it. And an 258 00:12:00,400 --> 00:12:03,280 Speaker 2: example of this is that they took a group of 259 00:12:03,280 --> 00:12:06,200 Speaker 2: accountants once and they set them a problem that required 260 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 2: lateral thinking, and they gave one group of accountants water 261 00:12:10,720 --> 00:12:14,360 Speaker 2: as control. One group of accountants got coffee. In fact, 262 00:12:14,440 --> 00:12:17,280 Speaker 2: they concentrated much better with the coffee, but they did 263 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,280 Speaker 2: much worse on the lateral thinking point of view. But 264 00:12:20,360 --> 00:12:22,319 Speaker 2: they gave them the alcohol, and they were certainly more 265 00:12:22,360 --> 00:12:26,319 Speaker 2: creative and actually solved the problem more often with a little. 266 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:26,840 Speaker 5: Bit of alcohol. 267 00:12:27,000 --> 00:12:30,280 Speaker 2: So alcohol can actually bring out your creative side as 268 00:12:30,280 --> 00:12:32,679 Speaker 2: you stand at the bar next to that beautiful woman. 269 00:12:32,480 --> 00:12:34,160 Speaker 5: Or and you want to talk to them. 270 00:12:34,320 --> 00:12:37,680 Speaker 2: A little alcohol, a little lubrication actually is a very 271 00:12:38,080 --> 00:12:40,840 Speaker 2: can be a very positive thing, but as a step 272 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:43,760 Speaker 2: too far, sometimes it makes us a little too lubricated, 273 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:46,600 Speaker 2: a little dancing on tables, and the consequences they hang 274 00:12:46,640 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 2: over the next morning. 275 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:50,760 Speaker 5: So, although there are cures, or although there are. 276 00:12:50,720 --> 00:12:53,120 Speaker 2: Ways, we have to find a way to move alcohol 277 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:56,440 Speaker 2: into our lives in a positive way, and their hangover 278 00:12:56,600 --> 00:12:59,320 Speaker 2: is a good reminder that perhaps what we're doing. 279 00:12:59,160 --> 00:13:00,640 Speaker 5: Is not so positive after all. 280 00:13:01,240 --> 00:13:02,559 Speaker 1: Okay, well, I get that. 281 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:06,080 Speaker 3: You know. Hangovers are kind of an indication that perhaps 282 00:13:06,080 --> 00:13:09,559 Speaker 3: we've pushed it too far. So we should all drink moderately. 283 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:12,079 Speaker 3: We should try and get sleep after a big night 284 00:13:12,120 --> 00:13:14,440 Speaker 3: if we can. Is there anything else you think you 285 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:17,760 Speaker 3: can recommend to our listeners just to try and lessen 286 00:13:17,840 --> 00:13:20,480 Speaker 3: the impact of those hangovers. 287 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:24,079 Speaker 2: A really good pair of sunglasses always helps the next morning. 288 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:26,559 Speaker 5: You've seen all those movies. They're wanting around Vegas with 289 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:27,440 Speaker 5: those sunglasses on. 290 00:13:29,160 --> 00:13:31,480 Speaker 2: Again, they've done a trial, and actually it's really it 291 00:13:31,520 --> 00:13:35,080 Speaker 2: does help the headache and all those things. There is 292 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:38,000 Speaker 2: also one other thing, just out of interest, that it 293 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:42,720 Speaker 2: does seem that people who are regularly undertake vigorous physical exercise, 294 00:13:43,960 --> 00:13:47,600 Speaker 2: that their symptoms of hangovers are a little bit less 295 00:13:47,760 --> 00:13:50,000 Speaker 2: than those do only do a modertor or no amounts 296 00:13:50,000 --> 00:13:51,079 Speaker 2: of physical activity. 297 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:55,760 Speaker 5: Now, it may be more about the who than the what. 298 00:13:55,880 --> 00:13:59,280 Speaker 2: In other words, the people who undertake physical exercise probably 299 00:13:59,320 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 2: may be more you know, aware of their alcohol intake 300 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:03,440 Speaker 2: and more courses than whatever. 301 00:14:03,520 --> 00:14:05,200 Speaker 5: But there's this. 302 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:10,439 Speaker 2: Increasing links between other behaviors and in particular physical activity 303 00:14:10,480 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 2: and the ability to sleep well. 304 00:14:12,640 --> 00:14:14,079 Speaker 5: So those people who sleep. 305 00:14:13,960 --> 00:14:17,160 Speaker 2: Very well in terms of you know, really good sleep patterns, 306 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:20,040 Speaker 2: really dark rooms, making sure that they get their sleep 307 00:14:20,040 --> 00:14:21,960 Speaker 2: and wake up at the same time that their bodies 308 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:24,600 Speaker 2: used to a rhythm, So helping work with that and 309 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:26,680 Speaker 2: even if you drink, stick to that rhythm. If your 310 00:14:26,680 --> 00:14:28,960 Speaker 2: body is just get awake, go awake, if you fight 311 00:14:29,000 --> 00:14:31,400 Speaker 2: against the rhythm trying to like jet lag, then you 312 00:14:31,560 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 2: feel a bit kind of clunky and not quite clear. 313 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:37,880 Speaker 5: And that's that's what the hangover almost certainly is. 314 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:40,720 Speaker 3: I've heard of drinking fit before, but this is good. 315 00:14:40,760 --> 00:14:42,520 Speaker 3: You're saying that I can go to the gym, get 316 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 3: fit and maybe to help the hangover. 317 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:44,920 Speaker 1: So that's what I'm going to do. 318 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:46,960 Speaker 3: I'm going to go end this interview right now and 319 00:14:47,000 --> 00:14:50,840 Speaker 3: go run on the treadmill. Professor Merlin Thomas from Monash University. 320 00:14:50,880 --> 00:14:52,960 Speaker 3: It has been an absolute delight to chat to you, 321 00:14:53,520 --> 00:14:56,160 Speaker 3: my pleasure. I hope you found some of those tips helpful. 322 00:14:56,200 --> 00:14:58,160 Speaker 3: Thank you so much for listening to today's episode, and 323 00:14:58,160 --> 00:14:59,400 Speaker 3: I'll chat to you again tomorrow. 324 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 1: Unless so you know two Hungover, follow 325 00:15:03,440 --> 00:15:07,080 Speaker 2: Or subscribe to from the newsroom wherever you get your podcasts.