Thanksgiving, a cherished American holiday celebrated annually on the fourth Thursday of November, is generally accepted as the beginning of "the holiday season." Thanksgiving is synonymous with family gatherings, gratitude and feasting—traditions that continue to one degree or another through the first day of the new year. This season is also known as a time for skyrocketing numbers of visits to the emergency room as people overindulge in unhealthy foods, coupled with eating too much in general. While holiday accidents are definitely a factor in emergency room visit increases, consuming large meals that are centered around rich, calorie-dense foods and alcohol is also a major factor. These diet excesses are especially risky for people already dealing with an underlying health problem. A time for celebration... and visiting the emergency room One healthcare provider, AdventHealth, which operates 56 hospitals in nine states, reports their hospitals typically see a 26% overall increase in emergency visits in the weeks leading up to Christmas and New Year’s. Meanwhile, according to data from American Hospital Association, North Dakota is the state in which a resident is most likely to visit the emergency room over Thanksgiving—followed by Louisiana, then West Virginia. The CDC, acutely aware of the holiday health challenge, also lists ways to mitigate emergency room visits due to both accidents and diet choices. Acute pancreatitis, triggered by overeating and excessive alcohol, is a prominent health condition that becomes more prevalent during the holidays. Similarly, for individuals with preexisting conditions such as diabetes or heart disease, the high sodium and fat content of traditional holiday meals can exacerbate symptoms, leading to health crises. Cardiac events are another concern. Studies have shown that the incidence of heart attacks increases during the holiday season, with Thanksgiving often marking the start of a high-risk period. This phenomenon, sometimes called “holiday heart syndrome,” results from overindulgence combined with holiday stress. Emergency departments prepare for these surges, allocating extra resources to handle the increased patient volume. Study finds good digestion is not just a holiday problem As significant as the holiday health challenge is, what might surprise most people is that even in normal times—before the holidays begin—one in seven Americans already suffer weekly bloating. According to research published in the journal Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology in 2023, a survey of almost 89,000 Americans found almost 14 percent of respondents experienced bloating during the previous seven days. People who experience bloating can feel swollen or tight in the abdomen. Patients may also feel a rumbling, hear their stomach making noises, or pass gas more often. The researchers conducting the survey, based at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, noted that bloating is often caused by diet choices, such as overeating, carbonated beverages and high dairy consumption; however, it can also be caused by normal biology, such as menstruation. Of even greater concern is the bloating that is the result of a more serious underlying condition, such as irritable bowel syndrome, carbohydrate enzyme deficiency, or chronic constipation. These underlying conditions are, themselves, often linked to poor diet choices. The Cedars-Sinai Medical Center survey is important because it helps highlight the fact that America has a poor digestion epidemic even during the normal part of the year—so the holidays are just magnifying an existing problem. It's a clear sign that everyone needs to be cognizant of the increased health risks, even though it is a time for family and celebration. People with existing conditions should be especially careful not to overdue it. What you can do Health experts insist you can still enjoy the holiday season if you do things in moderation. If you over-indulge at a party, make the next meal healthier—with plenty of raw foods and fiber. Get regular exercise throughout the holidays. Maintain your sleep schedule. Drink plenty of water. And take Optimal 1 • Digest-A-Meal to help process the extra intake of fat and sugar!Click the banner ad below to learn more. Sources for this article include: Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology, MedLearn Publishing, CDC.gov, NewsBreak.com. Â
