Holiday health caveats
>> Saturday, January 7, 2023
WELLNEWS
Victor
Dumaguing MD
CAVEAT, Latin word for warning; or as most of our readers would want it, a gentle reminder or even a sincere concern about health issues that may and for some, will arise after the Holidays. With the Philippines having the dubious reputation of having the longest Christmas celebration which starts its excited countdown September l, the spiritual dimension of the solemn occasion is drowned by the festive manifestations; auditory –carols, songs, concerts; visual- lanterns and parols bright with their mesmerizing dance of colorful lights competing with the burst of reds, pinks of poinsettias as well as the glowing yellow of sunflowers.
Let’s not forget the varied artistic and even unique recreation of the stable where Baby Jesus was born as well as Christmas trees of various heights and colors aside from the regulatory green embraced by blinking little bulbs, and whose branches are dripping with varied interesting items like ribbons, foil, faux snowflakes and mistletoe, and of course, boxes at the foot or base of the tree containing the gifts for every member of the family.
Well and good, after all, Christmas, at least for Christians, is the happiest season of the year.
However, from a clinical perspective, after all, this column is about wellness and optimum health for everyone, it is the gustatory overload and excesses that are prevalent during the Yuletide season that is a big concern among our dedicated health providers.
With the kind indulgence of my editor and you our dear readers, allow me to share my basic knowledge that among the Abrahamic religions, Christianity seems to be the most permissive in terms of consumption of gustatory delights. For one, Islam prohibits alcohol of any kind, while my Jewish doctor friends share they are allowed “controlled alcohol drinking preferably whiskey, although a few swears that “wine is the drink in heaven.”
I hope the CDCP won’t castigate me if I say that Roman Catholic Filipinos have no restrictions in terms of their choice- although in reasonable amount- of alcoholic drinks during the Holidays, with a few having just. a modest sip, while others would rather enjoy a bacchanalian gulp. In fairness, the more prayerful braved the cold mornings to complete the 9 simbang gabi warmed after wards by favorite puto bungbong and bibingka downed by a big mug or cup of hearty hot tsokolate.
Your columnist has coined a diagnosis of “Holiday amnesia” referring to a few faithful who selectively forget that gluttony is one of the venial sins among practicing Roman Catholics, so that there’s no guilt feelings whatsoever when they give in to their craving or yearning for that crispy lechon or crispy pata or lechon kawali which obviously are all from pork, which is not consumed by followers of Islam and Judaism.
So where does all these drinking and eating done in careless abandon lead to?
At the risk or being branded as “spoilsport or KJ” your columnist sincerely would just elucidate certain health issues to pay attention, if, with my fervent hope and prayer they do not occur, they do happen, please take them seriously.
Some heart attacks-myocardial infarction or MI-are sudden and intense- but most of them may start slowly. Please take note of the following: most heart attacks involved discomfort in the center of the chest, that last for more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. It can manifest like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, tightness of the chest, fullness or real constricting pain.
Other symptoms include discomfort or even pain in one or both arms, back, neck jaw or stomach(epigastric pain) Shortness of breath may occur with or without chest discomfort. Some patients may experience breaking out in cold sweat, lightheadedness and nausea. If someone- especially those known to have co-morbidities like hypertension, diabetes, overweight or obesity or middle-aged and above, male (although postmenopausal women have the same risk as men by then- don’t wait longer than five minutes before calling for help or bringing the patient to the Emergency Room
Stroke warning signs- also called “brain attack” include sudden numbness of weakness of the face, arm, legs especially on one of the body, also sudden confusion or trouble speaking with slurred speech, visual problems, loss of balance and coordination,,, dizziness, sudden severe headache with no known cause , it is important to take immediate action.
That said, our loved ones and members of the family should monitor the daily activities of our elders whose advancing age put them at greater risk although much younger folks may also be affected especially those with the so-called “lifestyle illnesses associated with smoking and chronic alcoholism. Have a Happy Healthy New Year
CAVEAT, Latin word for warning; or as most of our readers would want it, a gentle reminder or even a sincere concern about health issues that may and for some, will arise after the Holidays. With the Philippines having the dubious reputation of having the longest Christmas celebration which starts its excited countdown September l, the spiritual dimension of the solemn occasion is drowned by the festive manifestations; auditory –carols, songs, concerts; visual- lanterns and parols bright with their mesmerizing dance of colorful lights competing with the burst of reds, pinks of poinsettias as well as the glowing yellow of sunflowers.
Let’s not forget the varied artistic and even unique recreation of the stable where Baby Jesus was born as well as Christmas trees of various heights and colors aside from the regulatory green embraced by blinking little bulbs, and whose branches are dripping with varied interesting items like ribbons, foil, faux snowflakes and mistletoe, and of course, boxes at the foot or base of the tree containing the gifts for every member of the family.
Well and good, after all, Christmas, at least for Christians, is the happiest season of the year.
However, from a clinical perspective, after all, this column is about wellness and optimum health for everyone, it is the gustatory overload and excesses that are prevalent during the Yuletide season that is a big concern among our dedicated health providers.
With the kind indulgence of my editor and you our dear readers, allow me to share my basic knowledge that among the Abrahamic religions, Christianity seems to be the most permissive in terms of consumption of gustatory delights. For one, Islam prohibits alcohol of any kind, while my Jewish doctor friends share they are allowed “controlled alcohol drinking preferably whiskey, although a few swears that “wine is the drink in heaven.”
I hope the CDCP won’t castigate me if I say that Roman Catholic Filipinos have no restrictions in terms of their choice- although in reasonable amount- of alcoholic drinks during the Holidays, with a few having just. a modest sip, while others would rather enjoy a bacchanalian gulp. In fairness, the more prayerful braved the cold mornings to complete the 9 simbang gabi warmed after wards by favorite puto bungbong and bibingka downed by a big mug or cup of hearty hot tsokolate.
Your columnist has coined a diagnosis of “Holiday amnesia” referring to a few faithful who selectively forget that gluttony is one of the venial sins among practicing Roman Catholics, so that there’s no guilt feelings whatsoever when they give in to their craving or yearning for that crispy lechon or crispy pata or lechon kawali which obviously are all from pork, which is not consumed by followers of Islam and Judaism.
So where does all these drinking and eating done in careless abandon lead to?
At the risk or being branded as “spoilsport or KJ” your columnist sincerely would just elucidate certain health issues to pay attention, if, with my fervent hope and prayer they do not occur, they do happen, please take them seriously.
Some heart attacks-myocardial infarction or MI-are sudden and intense- but most of them may start slowly. Please take note of the following: most heart attacks involved discomfort in the center of the chest, that last for more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back. It can manifest like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, tightness of the chest, fullness or real constricting pain.
Other symptoms include discomfort or even pain in one or both arms, back, neck jaw or stomach(epigastric pain) Shortness of breath may occur with or without chest discomfort. Some patients may experience breaking out in cold sweat, lightheadedness and nausea. If someone- especially those known to have co-morbidities like hypertension, diabetes, overweight or obesity or middle-aged and above, male (although postmenopausal women have the same risk as men by then- don’t wait longer than five minutes before calling for help or bringing the patient to the Emergency Room
Stroke warning signs- also called “brain attack” include sudden numbness of weakness of the face, arm, legs especially on one of the body, also sudden confusion or trouble speaking with slurred speech, visual problems, loss of balance and coordination,,, dizziness, sudden severe headache with no known cause , it is important to take immediate action.
That said, our loved ones and members of the family should monitor the daily activities of our elders whose advancing age put them at greater risk although much younger folks may also be affected especially those with the so-called “lifestyle illnesses associated with smoking and chronic alcoholism. Have a Happy Healthy New Year
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