It is the best of times, it is the worst of times--for health risks. The holiday can be a perfect storm of risks that meld together and wreak havoc on your body, mind, and soul. Here are a few to be aware of while you're hustling through the malls, gorging yourself for the third time this week on puffed god-knows-what, etc.
1. Heart attack: Hate to start off with this heart-stopper, but it's true. People are stressed out more this season, shopping-till-dropping, eating heavier higher-fat meals, and drinking more alcohol--not to mention the sudden drop in temperature. As well, there are many who will ignore chest pain and other symptoms for fear of "spoiling the festivities" with a trip to the ER, or mistake a heart attack for indigestion. It may be the holidays, but you've still got a body you're responsible for. Do your best to moderate your eating and consumption of alcohol. If you exercise, try to stay consistent. And keep your stress down by realizing that much of the holiday 'spirit' is market forces pressuring you to charge more to your credit card.
2. Feelings of low self-worth: There are studies that suggest that people who 'network' incessantly actually feel worse about themselves than those who seek real relationships. Business parties and corporate affairs can push one into a lot of negative self-talk. Don't lose yourself over the business party. Stay true to who you are. If you need to build relationships as part of your job, try to do so authentically--you'll feel better about yourself.
3. Tree-fires: Natural trees are a cause of fire (duh), with the safest being a flame-resistant artificial one--with the trade off, of course, being off-gassing for evergreen-scented kindling. Keep an eye on the tree. Turn the lights off at night before going to bed--really...the odd person driving at 2am will not miss the rush of holiday spirit that your fire-hazzard tree in the window may or may not invoke.
4. Shopping till dropping: Really? Is it worth it? It's common for shoppers to put greater strain on their bodies than other times of the year, not only walking through countless malls--often while on the great meal-replacement: coffee--but also carrying numerous heavy bags of stuff from store to store and mall to vehicle. Malls are designed to evoke this kind of frenzied behaviour--it's how they make their money. Being present for yourself in the heat of shopping, and knowing when to hold and know when to fold, will help you avoid this risk.
5. Tragic toboggans: Sledding and other playful activities can be damaging to your body and lead to inconvenient injuries. If you're over the age of 40, and live a fairly sedentary lifestyle, it might not be such a good idea to chase your kids up and down a hill just because you're feeling a little tipsy from too much Zinfandel at dinner. Take it easy. Sometimes it's good just to park it at the top of the hill and push your kids down. If you decide to sled, take it slow. Again, be mindful of your body and how you're feeling. It's better to end the toboggan rides early than have them end you.
6. Food Poisoning: Undercooked turkey and spoiled egg nog are common causes of post-holiday meal trips to the ER for food poisoning. Turkeys should be thawed in the refrigerator, not on the kitchen counter where bacteria can build up. Also, it's best to stuff the turkey lighter than fuller, the latter of which can cause the turkey to undercook. And don't leave the egg nog, coffee cream, and other dairy products sitting around for more than two hours.
7. Toy stabbings: No, I'm not talking about your son getting into your new Bear Grylls survival knife and thinking it's a toy--though if you get one, don't leave it sitting out on the coffee table! I'm talking about trips to the hospital every year by people who have cut and stabbed and punctured themselves trying to pry toys out of the hard plastic packaging things come in these days. There has to be a better way to package product than made out of the kind of plastic that turns razor sharp when cut. Till then, go slow, and use a good pair of scissors.
8. Parking lot rage: You're in a time crunch, and you know exactly what part of the mall has that store in which the perfect gift for your loved one lies in waiting. A parking spot just opens up and you shoot for it--just as another vehicle who just came up tries to sidewind you and cut in. What do you do? Fight for it, or suck up your pride and keep going? There's a lot of pressure in parking lots this season; and for the most part, it's not the fault of drivers, but the way that parking lots are actually designed: holding less cars than people the mall can hold, extra-small parking spaces to cut down on cost, etc. If you remember you're just in a system created by unscrupulous developers, you might avoid getting out of your car to get into an altercation with the guy who bumped your spot.
Above all else, take care of yourself and those around you. This is a time of giving, but it's supposed to in a spirit of joy and peace toward our fellow human beings--including yourself.
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