Christmas is coming…
…here’s how to make sure your spirits remain high in all the right ways..
The festive season is now firmly upon us, and while it is, for the most part, a fun and happy time, it also brings with it a whole host of added pressures that can put a strain on our mental and physical health.
Dr Joanna Longstaffe, clinical director of the Independent General Practice – Wales’ first exclusively private GP practice – talks us through her ‘12 days of Christmas’ guide to making sure that you’re in tip top form to enjoy the festivities to the full.
“Christmas is a special time but it’s also a stressful time and many people find themselves totally burned out by the time the big day arrives”, says Jo.
“There are many things we can do in order to ensure we’re in the best possible position to deal with all the added pressures and come through in good spirits, and also, many things we should be mindful of as we embark on the roller coaster ride of buying, wrapping, entertaining and generally wearing ourselves out!”
Here are some hints and tips as to how you can best manage your festive health:
1. Firstly, try to ‘destress’. It is of course much easier said than done but make sure you take time out for yourself to relax and unwind. Stress can have such a negative impact – both on our physical and mental health. It really is important to put things into perspective and realise that it’s just not worth making yourself ill with the worry of who’s buying what for who or whether or not everyone will get along on Christmas Day. Certain things will always be out of your control so try and take a step back to reassess your priorities. Prepare as much as you can in advance and share the load with others by delegating responsibilities.
2. Focus on your fitness. It’s difficult at such a busy time but the fitter you are physically, the more capable you’ll be of coping with everything. Take time to exercise – even if it’s by hand delivering the last of your Christmas cards or taking a stroll after Christmas lunch. Even shopping is a form of exercise – it all counts!
3. Make yourself ‘immune’. Your immune system is your body’s defence system, protecting against colds and viruses and helping to fight infection. There are a number of simple things you can do to help it to help you. Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables, cut down on caffeinated drinks such as tea and coffee and swop for water and fruit juice. And if you smoke, make it your Christmas gift to yourself to give up!
4. Get a good night’s sleep. Tiredness can make you agitated, aggressive and moody – symptoms which will be even more exemplified at this busy time of year. Try to get at least a few early nights and really try to enjoy a restful sleep at the end of an activity filled day.
5. Be Alcohol Aware. It’s very difficult to completely avoid alcohol during the festive period and in moderation it should only make for a merry time – but be aware of your limits. Excess alcohol can not only make you feel rotten the next day but can lower inhibitions and lead you to do things you wouldn’t normally consider. You’re also more likely to have an accident or cause yourself an injury when drunk. Have a proper meal before you drink and make sure you drink plenty of water before you got to bed and the following day to help you rehydrate and limit the symptoms of a hangover. Eat food that will help you increase your blood sugar levels and if you’re really suffering, a painkiller, such as paracetamol should help with a headache or other symptoms.
6. Food for Thought. As with alcohol consumption, it’s very easy to over indulge on your food intake during the Christmas period leading to sluggishness and in the worst case scenario, depression over associated weight gain. As with the booze, try to limit what you’re eating to a sensible amount. This doesn’t mean denying yourself the usual festive treats but just think before you reach for that fourth mince pie!
7. Also food related is the huge rise in cases of people with food poisoning that already overstretched A&E departments have to deal with over Christmas. Be careful about how you store that left over buffet food and be especially cautious when it comes to re-heating any leftovers.
8. Safety first. Numbers of slips, trips and general accidents increase over Christmas – particularly in the home as there are so many extra things lying around just waiting to become a hazard. Think about how you’re storing items and try to keep objects that might form a trip risk tucked away. Be aware of additional cables from extension leads and Christmas tree lights for example. Have a first kit on hand for any superficial cuts and grazes but of course, if it seems more serious, a trip to the local hospital is the only option.
9. Small objects and small people. Be aware that young children are even more at risk when it comes to simple accidents, particularly if there are small objects left lying around, such as Christmas cracker prizes for example. It’s so easy to take your eye off youngsters for a minute when there’s a lot going on but be extra vigilant as to where the potential dangers may lie and if such a ‘foreign body’ does get swallowed or inquisitively stuck up a little one’s nose, make sure you respond quickly. A&E may again be the only option.
10. Drive Safely. There may be times over Christmas that you’re called upon to get behind the wheel but whatever the circumstances, don’t drink and drive – and this includes the morning after a heavy night. If there is a situation which requires a hospital visit, depending on the severity, either call an ambulance or take a taxi.
11. Share the goodwill. Spare a thought for those who might not be fortunate enough to have family with them to celebrate or older neighbours who might live alone – loneliness can really get people down, particularly when it seems as if everyone around is having a great time. Taking time to pop in with a gift or just the gift of time can go such a long way to making someone else’s Christmas that much better.
12. Know your numbers. Hopefully Christmas will come and go with only happy incidents to report but should you need medical advice or assistance during the holidays, make sure you’re prepared with all the relevant numbers. NHS Direct is a 24 hour 7 day a week service which provides advice on what to do if you’re feeling ill and not sure what to do. Call 0845 4647 or visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk. Some pharmacies will be open but many will shut on the main Bank Holidays. Local pharmacy opening hours can be found by visiting NHS Choices at www.nhs.uk.
GP surgeries will also be closed for the main Bank Holidays but will have an out of hours service covering these periods for emergencies. Call your surgery for details.
Likewise, dentists will leave an emergency contact number on their surgery answerphone.
