What should I do if my stomach feels uncomfortable after drinking alcohol?

After drinking alcohol, some patients may develop gastric mucosal injury, or experience intoxication due to excessive alcohol absorption, leading to neurological changes. This can cause significant discomfort—including gastric pain, nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, and heartburn. So, how can we alleviate these unpleasant symptoms following alcohol consumption? First, it is essential to drink alcohol in moderation and avoid drinking on an empty stomach, thereby preventing gastric mucosal injury before it occurs.

Second, if a person has already consumed a large amount of alcohol and feels unwell, they may drink warm water. For patients without diabetes, adding a small amount of honey to the warm water—or consuming warm rice porridge—can help facilitate alcohol metabolism and excretion, increase urine output, lower blood alcohol concentration, and thus minimize alcohol-induced damage.

In cases of severe intoxication—such as persistent, severe vomiting or hematemesis (vomiting blood)—immediate medical attention at a hospital is critical. Prompt hemostatic treatment can be administered to prevent life-threatening complications. Additionally, intravenous fluid therapy can help reduce systemic alcohol levels and mitigate alcohol-induced damage to vital organs, particularly the liver.