it’s the lunar new year holiday During the holidays, the emergency room is full of people. There are many people who get stomach upset from overeating generous meals, and the number of people who get into traffic accidents while driving for a long time is also increasing. People who celebrate holidays abroad should be careful not to contract various infectious diseases. In addition, children who live apart from their parents can take advantage of this time to check on their parents’ health.
○ ‘Leisurely driving’ should be kept in mind
During the holidays, traffic accidents increase as the number of vehicles such as homecoming tourists increases. Severe road congestion increases driver fatigue, and long-term driving reduces concentration, leading to an increase in fatal accidents. Therefore, you should take a break of at least 10 minutes at least once every two hours.
Lack of oxygen in the room can cause drowsiness. Since the inside of the vehicle is always in a state of lack of oxygen, it is necessary to ventilate frequently. It is good to use the ventilation function when turning on the heating system and open the windows frequently. Major accidents are mostly caused by drinking and drowsiness. If you feel drowsy while driving, it is better to change the driver or get some sleep.
Many of the patients who visit the emergency room during the holidays suffer from overeating or drinking too much. Excessive drinking and overeating not only increase the risk of stomach upset, but also obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and hyperlipidemia. In particular, it takes a lot of time to digest foods that are cooked or baked in oil, such as before meals and japchae, which are mainly eaten during holidays. Oh Joo-hyun, professor of gastroenterology at Nowon Eulji University Hospital, emphasized, “During holidays, symptoms of indigestion are easy to appear due to overeating, late-night snacking, and reduced activity.” .
○Be aware of endemic diseases when traveling abroad
Some people go on overseas trips during the Lunar New Year holidays. The most important thing to be aware of when traveling abroad is endemic diseases. Exposure to unfamiliar environments during travel can lower immunity. If you contract an endemic disease, you may show more severe symptoms than the locals. You need to get a quick diagnosis and treatment, but it may not be possible. The longer the response is delayed, the worse the symptoms become.
If you travel to Southeast Asia, be aware of malaria and dengue fever. Dengue fever is accompanied by symptoms such as sudden high fever, headache, muscle and joint pain. There is no special prevention method other than not being bitten by mosquitoes, so be careful.
When going out, use mosquito repellent or wear long clothes. It is also helpful to take malaria prophylaxis before travel to prevent malaria infection.
○ Take good care of your parents’ health
During the Lunar New Year holidays, we spend more time with our families. Take a good look at your parents’ health. This is because symptoms that are lightly overlooked as part of the aging process can be a sign of a serious disease. Muscle mass in old age is an essential factor for maintaining health. Lee Soo-chan, representative director of Himchan Hospital, advised, “If muscle strength decreases, joint sensation decreases and cartilage cell recovery weakens.”
Eating enough protein foods helps maintain muscle mass. You should also take enough vegetables that are rich in vitamins and minerals. You should drink as much water as possible. Many elderly people skip meals because they cannot chew their food well because of pain in their teeth or gums. When the tissues around the teeth become inflamed, the gums and the bones that support the teeth are destroyed. To prevent this, you should brush your teeth thoroughly every day after eating.
Elderly people who have experienced a fall within the last 6 months should be careful to avoid additional fractures. When moving heavy items, use a wheeled shopping cart. It is best to refrain from walking down the street with objects in both hands. Drinking too much alcohol in old age is likely to cause arrhythmia, cognitive decline, malnutrition, osteoporosis, falls, and depression. Smoking affects bronchial and lung health. The risk of lung cancer, esophageal cancer, bladder cancer, or larynx cancer is twice as high.
You should also look for symptoms of heart disease. Kwon Hyeon-cheol, director of the Cardiocerebrovascular Hospital at Samsung Seoul Hospital, pointed out, “If you feel a squeezing chest pain during exercise or stress, you should suspect angina pectoris or myocardial infarction.” However, 25% of patients with acute myocardial infarction do not complain of chest pain. Elderly or diabetic patients complain of symptoms such as severe weakness, sudden shortness of breath, and low blood pressure instead. If you have these symptoms, you should see a doctor right away.
Reporter Kim Jong-un/Lee Ji-hyun [email protected]
