The 16 greatest health risks you face at Christmas

Pay attention to these diseases, injuries and mental health problems this Christmas.


Ah, the holidays - a festive era filled with celebrations, families and friends, and ... hidden health risks. The most wonderful time of the year also comes with diseases, injuries andMENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. Fortunately, knowing what you need to look for during the Christmas season can help, so we talked with several experts to discover the most important health risks we face every Christmas.

1
Injuries related to decoration

broken ornaments under a christmas tree
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Christmas lights are a nice addition to your holiday decorations. But should people really be on scales in winter hanging lights in hard-to-reach places? Probably not. According toBarbara Bergin, MD, an orthopedic surgeon in Austin, Texas, it is likely that tens of thousands of people undergo injuries every year while doing this task, although many are not reported.

"ThePeople who finish by hand In many cases, sustained catastrophic injuries: fractured femographs, back, neck and head injury. Many die, "she says. To avoid these types of accidents, it urges people to practice the safety of the ladder, which includes scales resting on unstable surfaces, wearing robust shoes and no alcohol before hanging the lights. Bergin suggests recruiting a professional to manage. This aspect of your decorations.

And it's not just the lights that are problematic: many people find themselves in the E.R. because of the injuries related to Christmas trees. A 2019 study published inAdvances of integrative medicine found that nearly 23,000 people were estimated to be injured by Christmas trees or stands.

2
Christmas tree syndrome

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Christmas trees pose more dangers than you realized! If you have had itchy, aqueous eyes, a nose flowing and fatigue around the holidays and having a tree living at home, you can deal with a mold allergy known as syndrome of Christmas tree. A 2011 study published in theAnnals of allergy, asthma and immunology Found that 53 different types of molds were present on 28 samples of Christmas trees, of which 70% were potentially harmful and could trigger allergic reactions such as sneezing, wheezing and coughing. If someone from your household gets sick around the tree, it may be time to go artificial.

3
Electrical shocks

Person plugging in Christmas lights
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Yes, Christmas lights are pretty and festive, but they canAlso give you all the shock-literally. This usually occurs when setting up or Christmas decorations. Connecting in a defective chain could result in severe shock or burns on the skin. For example, in 2016, a man from Boston supported burns on his feet after being touched by20,000 volts of electricity while putting the lights of Christmas.

4
Colds and other contagious diseases

Cold woman warming up with a cup of coffee and a blanket
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Part of the Christmas season is to be surrounded by family and friends, as well as their children. In addition, there is everything that embracing and kissing and getting closer to the people you can only see once a year. Basically, it's a Bonanza Germ.

"Cold and the current flu is widespread by direct contact with the virus that is spread by other infected persons, "saysLisa Ballehr, Do, a radiologist and a doctor of functional medicine. "Avoid touching your face without firstwash one's hands. "

5
Eat too much

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Holiday holidays often have some kind of buffet where customers can help with a variety of festive treats. There may also be a meal sitting at the top of that. You could even have several games to attend the same night. In other words: good gogo.

"The overminization of traditional food can cause an increased level of obesity that can lead to harmful effects as acardiovascular event, Acute stroke and a long list of health conditions, "saysSASHINI VU, MD, a general practitioner atPhD student. In the short term, too much eating can also mean a bad case of indigestion. To avoid this, seen, recommends eating andDrink with moderation.

6
Seasonal emotional disorder

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Seasonal emotional disorderAlso called sad, is a type of depression that occurs when the seasons change. It is sometimes called "winter depression" because the symptoms usually appear during the end of autumn or the beginning of the winter, according toGeny Zapata, Psyd, a clinical psychologist at Adventist Health White Memorial. In other words, it strikes just in time for Christmas.

"We say it's" seasonal "because the usual models of mood changes tend to happen at the same time every year," she says. "Some of the possible causes of seasonal emotional disorder may include changes in melatonin levels or a decrease in serotonin, a neurotransmitter that may affect the mood, sometimes due to sunlight." The holidays can already be a difficult time for some people and those with enormous mental health challenges.

7
Depression

Man is sad and looking out the window in the winter
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It's not just seasonal emotional disorders: the holiday blues are real. "Many people tend to experience moreDepression and anxiety With the beginning of Thanksgiving extending in Christmas and the New Year, "explainsSoma mandal, MD, an internal and women's health specialist at New Jersey Summit Medical Group. "The factors that can play are the unique status, the loss of a loved one and the life away from his family."

The stigmatization of mental illnesses can make problems of anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and othersMental illnesses around the holidays even worse, saysFrank Chen, MD, a psychiatrist in Houston, Texas. "Some stigma to note include a weakness hypothesis and that people diagnosed with mental illness are unable to manage life stressors. These stigma often affect the interests, will and the ability to access A support." Chen also highlights that many self-medication attempts from alcohol or other substances during the holiday season, because "it is often more acceptable to go to an alcohol store than a health supplier mental ".

8
Traveler's diarrhea

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There is a lot of hatred for holiday trips, but traveler's diarrhea must be quite high on the list. "During the holidays like Christmas, it's easy enough to eat too much, take something contaminated or eating foods that you are intolerant. This can lead to traveler's diarrhea - the passage of frequent coward stool," saysOmiet Charles-Davies, MD, a doctor who also directs the travel blogTravel efficiency.

And as embarrassing as possible, especially when you stay in another person's house and that you are facing a toilet location, it's easy enough to treat. Charles-Davies recommends taking an oral rehydration solution that can be purchased on a powdered form. If the diarrhea continues, you should see a doctor.

9
Increased risk of cardiac attack

Older man holding his heart in pain on Christmas
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Of course, it may be the holiday season, but according to Mandal, the holidays are also once forIncreased cardiac crises. In fact, an observation study published in 2018 in theBritish Journal of Medicine Wanted data of more than 280,000 people in Sweden from 1998 to 2013 and found that a higher incidence of heart attacks has occurred around the holiday season.

Not only that, but according to a study of 2004 published in the newspaperTraffic, people tend to delay treatment during the holidays. Mandal says that the risk factors known for a heart attack include diabetes, hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol and age. It also notes that the overminization of high foods and food and high stress probably played a major role in cardiovascular problems during the holidays.

10
Anxiety

white woman looking anxiously at computer with family in the background on christmas
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Even if you have not been diagnosed with clinical anxiety,The holiday season has a way to make people especially worried. Between forced joy, seeing friends and family members, you can also avoid, the high cost of the trip and the purchase of gifts, and the pressure so that everything seems perfect, Christmas is a stress minefield.

"Stress is a natural phenomenon - a certain degree of anxiety propels us to stay alive and motivating the action," says Chen. "But the holidays can bring with them certain pressures that could be overwhelming and exhausting, like prove the success or development of family members, get just good gifts, decoration and hunting social commitments. These are examples. Normal stressors, even awaited behind what we all hope for a merry Christmas every year. "

11
Food poisoning

Older Man with Hand Over his Mouth Because of Nausea Surprising Symptoms
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The festivities mean food and food can sometimes make you sick. In fact, theCenters for Disaster Control and Prevention (CDC) Problems Annual Information on how to avoid intoxicating food during your vacation gathering.

The main guilty during the holidays is food that is too long without being refrigerated. According to the CDC, bacteria can develop rapidly between 40 degrees Fahrenheit and 140 degrees Fahrenheit-otherwise known as "danger zone". To avoid raising sick people, keep hot and cold cold foods. Then refrigerate or freeze perishable food within two hours of the portion.

12
Deep cuts

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When you think about it, Christmas preparations involve several tasks that can lead people to cut. These can include food height during cooking, packaging or opening gifts (paper cuts are not a joke!) And cuts of a broken ornament. TheConsumer Product Safety Committee (CPSC) reports that the cuts were the most common holiday injuries in 2016,counting at 18% Doctor and emergency visits. Be careful with this knife!

13
Smoke inhalation and burns

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Between flammable Christmas trees, lit candles and chestnuts roasting on an open fire, there are many inhalation opportunities for smoke and burns during the holiday season. AThe dry tree can easily catch fire, which means that if you have a real, you must check its water level daily. TheCPSC Reports that during the months of November and December, between 2012 and 2014, Christmas trees accounted for 100 fires, 10 deaths and 20 wounds treated in the emergency room.

14
Smother

A child with a toy in their mouth
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With all the activities and excitement of Christmas, do not forget that there are many opportunities for foreign people. For children, suffocation risks include small toy parts they receive as gifts, vacation decorations and foods, especially candies.

To avoid the risk of choking to the toy, keep this rule with this ruleCPR single In mind: "If it is small enough to hold in a mouth of the infant or young child, it is tried too small to allow them to have." Examples of these small objects include elements found in miniature dolls or figurines, which can block a child's respiratory tract. The greatest risk of suffocation for adults is food, especially hot dogs, popcorn, peanuts, hard candies, fruits, vegetables, meats and cheese, according to simple CPR.

15
Fall on the ice

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In some parts of the country, Christmas means cold weather with frigadic temperatures, snow and ice. The snow is boring, but the ice can be downright dangerous if you drag it. While anyone who can fall on the ice, he is particularly dangerous for the elderly, according to theMAYO Clinic. Indeed, they are more risky of a fall and are more likely to undergo serious injury, such as bone fractures, compared to younger.

"Falls in the elderly can be threatening life, because their brain is not as responsive to healing, and they can develop other complications once hospitalized for a brain injury", ","Jeremy L. Fogelson, MD, a neurosurgete toMAYO Clinic notedin a report. So keep an eye on everyone this winter, especially the more mature members of your family.

16
Beuveries

Friends taking shots during the Christmas holiday season
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For many people, the holidays would not be complete without a glass of chicken milk ... or many. Although everything is perfect for enjoying adult drinks in a responsible way, everyone does not do it. According toNational Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), potential problems with the consumer frenzy include intoxication on alcohol, driving while intoxicated, getting into fights and a host of other bad decisions.

The NIAAA also notes that, although it may seem that the effects of alcohol are worn, they probably last much longer than you think. "The truth is that alcohol continues to affect the brain and body long after the last drink," says NIAAA. "Even after someone stops drinking, alcohol in the stomach and intestine continues to enter the bloodstream, causing a judgment and coordination altered for hours." Do not use the holidays as an excuse to apologize.


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