The 12 Maladies of Christmas

It’s the holiday season –- the time of year where families get together to share faith, meals and presents — along with germs, stress and indigestion.

As we wind down this year, here is a look at the “12 Maladies of Christmas,” in no particular order:

Asthma: Decking the halls with boughs of holly could just cause an asthma attack if you’re allergic or sensitive to certain smells. Dust from old holiday decorations, smoke from the fireplace, cold weather, strong holiday fragrances and added stress can all contribute to the likelihood you’ll be breathing heavy.

Overeating: This one goes almost without saying. Overindulging can be fun, but it can also wreak havoc on your body and your diet. Eating more can lead to indigestion, exhaustion, feelings of being out of control of your diet, and of course, weight gain.

Stress: We love our families …  at least most of us do. But for some reason, the holiday season seems to bring out the Scrooge in some people. There are the usual family stresses, plus the stress of travel, cold weather, cooking and entertaining, as well as anxiety about buying the right presents and keeping everyone happy.

Depression: Along with stress may come depression, but the two don’t have to be linked. The holidays can bring sad feelings for some people, often related to the loss of family members, the loss of relationships, lack of money, or any real or perceived negative situation. Even the relative happiness of people around them can be enough to trigger the holiday blues. Cold, nasty weather can cause Seasonal Affective Disorder – or “winter blues,” and for some people, it may be a true biochemical imbalance (clinical depression) at play.

Hangover: Along with big, festive get-togethers usually comes alcohol. Whether it’s eggnog laced with liquor, Irish coffee or even just a few beers during the big holiday football games, alcohol combined with lots of food can leave you feeling pretty terrible the next day

Injuries/Burns: The holidays are one of the few times it’s generally acceptable to climb on your roof, hang over the edge to put up lights, put giant trees inside or on top of your cars, and plunge frozen fowl into molten hot oil. Any one of these things can lead to a trip to the emergency room for sprains, strains, back pain or burns, but some of the most common injuries are falls from ladders and turkey frying mishaps.

Stomach problems: Sometimes, a little bit of holiday food can lead to a lot of GI discomfort. Raw eggs, undercooked meat and unknown food allergies can cause a blizzard in your belly, and lots of alcohol and even more overindulging generally doesn’t help either.

Heart attacks: People say the holidays can cause heartache, and they aren’t kidding. According to a study in Circulation, a journal published by the American Heart Association, Christmas Day is the number-one day of the year for heart attacks, followed by the day after Christmas and New Year’s Day. Why? Drinking, stress, cold weather, lack of oxygen if you sit near the fireplace, and overeating, among others.

Cold/Flu: The height of the holiday season is often the height of flu season, and as more people gather at your home, the potential for spreading the flu increases. Add to that lack of sleep, cold weather, and what scientists call “leisure sickness” – when you get sick on your time off– and you have a real recipe for a germy holiday.

Cold weather injuries:  Jack Frost nipping at your nose can be dangerous, especially during the holidays, which take place in the dead of winter. The weather outside can be frightful, particularly for people who travel to colder climates than they’re used to, kids who spend extra time outdoors playing with family members, and the elderly who may be out chopping down Christmas trees or taking pictures of the grandkids.

Sleep troubles:  Not sleeping well can make anybody turn into a Grinch, but when you add normal sleep troubles to changing time zones, jet lag, drinking and the stress that comes along with the holidays, you have a recipe for sleep disasters.

Car accidents: Holidays mean long road trips, over-loaded vehicles and drunk driving. You may be trying to make it home from Grandma’s before the holiday rush, but according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, two to three times more people die in alcohol-related crashes during Christmas and New Year’s than comparable periods the rest of the year, and 40% of traffic fatalities during the holidays involve a drunk driver, compared to 28% for the rest of December.

Credit: WebMD Health News