Don’t Overdo It: Five Seasonal Ailments to Look Out for This Holiday
by Carolyn Lee Dec 6, 2021
The holidays are typically festive, fun, and a time to reconnect with family, friends, and loved ones. Many people usually focus on decorating, visiting others, and enjoying dinner parties.
As we get ready to celebrate, let us be mindful of a few holiday-related illnesses. From the flu to alcohol poisoning, we’re looking at a few common ailments and what we can do to avoid them.
The cold or flu: Having a cold or flu can dampen the holiday spirit. Headache, high fever, muscle aches, cough, sneezing, runny nose, or sore throat are common symptoms. Hugging, kissing, or close contact is typical during the holidays. However, the cold and flu can spread from droplets made when someone with the virus sneezes, coughs, or talks. Persons can also catch them by touching a contaminated surface or object; then touching their eyes, mouth, or nose.
Tip: Wear your mask and practice physical distancing of up to six feet. Wash your hands with soap regularly and avoid touching your face, especially your eyes, nose, and mouth.
Depression: Some persons may experience depression during the holidays. Depression can result from low self-esteem, neglect, abuse, stress, genetics, and poverty, among other factors. From grocery shopping to gift shopping, the holidays can be financially stressful. Also, having to juggle everyone’s expectations, needs, and wants can be psychologically taxing.
Tip: Know your triggers and say no to the things that cause stress or anxiety. Be kind to yourself. Ask for help if you need it.
Choking: Choking can cause coughing, and it can also block your airway. If the airway is completely blocked, it could result in death. Eating too quickly, drinking alcohol before or with meals, and not chewing food properly can cause choking. Meats, vegetables, fruits, hard candy, and cheese are some foods that can cause choking. Children are likely to choke on food, holiday decorations, or toys with small parts.
Tip: Eat food slowly and chew properly. Try to limit alcohol intake before and during meals. Keep toys and small objects that could become choking hazards away from children. Monitor children when they are eating.
Indigestion and Food Poisoning: Overeating can cause discomfort, nausea, indigestion, impair brain function, and promote excess body fat. With some dinner gatherings offering buffets, sometimes the food is left unrefrigerated for too long. Cross-contamination may also occur and can result in food poisoning.
Tip: Reheat food that has been out for too long. If the buffet looks messy, skip the meal. Pay attention to your allergies.
Alcohol Poisoning: Some persons drink heavily during the holidays, and it can lead to alcohol poisoning. Drinking a lot of alcohol in a short time can increase your risk for alcohol poisoning. It can also affect your judgment, which could lead to accidents on and off the road. Complications from alcohol poisoning include choking, severe dehydration, seizures, brain damage, and death.
Tip: Pace yourself and don’t go beyond your limit. Get a designated driver if you must travel to get home.
What other illness should you keep in mind this holiday?
We are still in a pandemic. Persons with COVID-19 may experience common symptoms like loss of taste or smell, fever, tiredness, and a cough. Difficulty breathing, confusion, chest pain, loss of speech or movement are also symptoms. Getting this virus during the holidays would kill your Christmas cheer, so be careful. Remember, even if you are vaccinated, you can contract the virus. Everyone should continue to practice COVID-19 safety measures.
Emergencies and accidents may still happen, so check our Find Yello listings if you need to find a doctor, hospital, or health practitioner near you. We wish you a healthy and safe holiday!