During the holidays, many people take a holiday from good health as well. As a result, more people end up in the emergency room for reasons that often relate to too much food and drink. Here are some of the reports from emergency room doctors on why people end up in the hospital.
Eating too much salt and sugar
Holidays foods are loaded with salt and sugar. Too much salt can lead to gastritis, pancreatitis and congestive heart failure. Foods high in salt and sugar can be particularly dangerous for people with heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure. Doctors recommend that people watch their carbohydrates or foods with too much sugar and use sugar substitutes.
Drinking too much
Overindulgence in drink leads to hypertension and can increase your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Too much alcohol is also a cause for many car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, alcohol-impaired driving fatalities account for almost a third of all annual fatalities, and most occur during the holidays.
Lack of exercise
Many people put their diet and their exercise program on hold until after the holidays. As many as 41 percent slack off their exercise, and about 9 percent stop it altogether.
Stress
About 40 percent of Americans admit to increased stress from shopping, 48 percent work on the holidays, and another 16 percent work during the holidays. Their complaints include more stress and less energy.
What doctors recommend
Doctors recommend that people stick to their normal eating habits as much as possible, continue to exercise as much as possible, pace their activities, eat in moderation, stay on their medication, and watch what they eat during the holidays. This will not only help keep them out of the emergency room but also feeling better during and after the holidays.
Source: www.AffordableHealthInsurance.org
