Digestive disturbance

During the holidays, we tend to eat a lot while mixing a wide variety of foods. This causes the digestive system to "overload": the gallbladder is stretched, the pancreas is active more than normal, and peristalsis is accelerated. A feeling of heaviness and bloating in the abdomen appears. Due to flatulence, there are pulling pains throughout the abdomen.

What to do: Take enzymes or antacids and lie down, as food is digested for 1-2 hours. After this, the intestinal colic will go away.

Exacerbation of chronic diseases of the gastrointestinal tract

Due to poor diet as well as abuse of alcohol and carbonated drinks, chronic diseases of the intestines are exacerbated. Be alert for the following: Pancreatitis is manifested by pulling pains, colic, abdominal bloating, and excessive gas.

Chronic colitis will make itself known by pulling pains in the right (inflammation of the cecum) or left (inflammation of the sigmoid colon) half of the abdomen.

Cholecystitis (inflammatory lesion of the gallbladder) is accompanied by pain in the right subcostal region that radiates to the right arm and clavicle, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and flatulence.

What to do: It is necessary to eat dietary foods for a few days. Take enzyme preparations that will improve the work of the pancreas. Antispasmodics will relieve the pain of stomach colic. If abdominal bloating and pain do not go away, it is worth doing an ultrasound and taking tests.

Food poisoning

This often happens due to the consumption of spoiled products. At first, the stomach twists, and subsequent symptoms include nausea, vomiting, labor pains, diarrhea, and chills with severe poisoning. Additionally, the temperature can reach 102 degrees F, and there can be pain in the joints and muscles as well as signs of intoxication.

What to do: Drink more fluids, take enterosorbents, and do not eat for 1-2 days.

Thermal burn

Thermal burns can be caused by steam, boiling water, red-hot surfaces, fire and firecrackers. A mild burn will cause redness, swelling, pain and a burning sensation. If the burn is more severe, it will cause open wounds and blisters filled with clear liquid.

What to do: It depends on the nature of the burn, but there are general rules:

• Remove everything that comes in contact with the affected body surface (shoes, clothing, jewelry, etc.). Make sure not to tear off anything that is in contact with the affected area!
• Cool the burn site with cold running water for 7-10 minutes, which will help to reduce pain and swelling. Chemical burns caused by quicklime must not be soaked!
• Treat the healthy skin around the burn with an antiseptic. Cover the affected area with a clean cloth or bandage
• Give the victim painkillers and antihistamines. Give water to drink.

Frostbite

Symptoms of frostbite include loss of sensation, tingling, whitening of the skin (1st degree), blisters with transparent or bloody contents (2nd degree), then tissue death.

What to do: Warm the damaged area by breathing in warm water, increasing its temperature from 68-104 degrees F, drink warm tea, and make a heat-insulating bandage of several layers of cloth, gauze, or absorbent cotton.

Do not massage the area, use warmers, take a hot bath, drink alcohol, or rub the affected area with snow or alcohol.

Alcohol poisoning

Once in the body, ethyl alcohol is broken down by enzymes. There is a toxic product acetaldehyde, which is converted into acetic acid. Then it is removed from the body, breaking down into carbon dioxide and water. The whole process is accompanied by the well-known side effects of intoxication, which is followed by a hangover.

What to do: Remove all traces of alcohol in the body, and restore the acid-base balance by doing the following:

• Induce vomiting if there is still alcohol in the stomach.
• Get out into the fresh air.
• Wash your face with cold water, take a contrast or cool shower.
• Massage the earlobes and feet.
• Take enterosorbents to cleanse the gastrointestinal tract.
• Drink plenty of mineral non-carbonated water.
• Drink vitamins C, which normalizes metabolic processes and liver function.

In men, the effect of one alcoholic drink wears off in about 1.5 hours. In women, it takes longer.

"Holiday Heart Syndrome"

This is the name given to arrhythmias that often occur the morning after holiday feasts and alcohol consumption. Ethanol changes the diameter of blood vessels, and its breakdown product acetaldehyde damages the heart muscle. Redistribution of fluid causes blood clotting, increasing the risk of blood clots–and therefore, heart attack or stroke. There are interruptions in the work of the heart, rapid pulse, and pain behind the sternum.

What to do: It is best not to delay–call an ambulance. To avoid the "holiday syndrome," you need to drink less, no matter how boring it may seem.

29 December 2023