Biggest Health Issues Doctors See During the Holidays

The holidays are the most wonderful time of the year. It is a time that we get to enjoy time with family and friends, celebrate, to be thankful for what we have. It is also a great opportunity to appreciate our health. During the holiday season, there is a heightened risk of compromising our health for various reasons. These are some of the biggest health issues doctors see during the holidays and tips to avoid in which people should be aware of. Overeating and weight gain. With all the holiday cookies, eggnog, and left-over food, it is easy to overeat and pack on the pounds. And unfortunately, having self-control is easier said than done. Why do we over eat and why does it make us feel so uncomfortable? Physically, we overeat because we can. Our stomach can actually stretch to volume of one liter. When we eat large meals, our stomachs stretch to its limit which squeezes the organ against others. This makes the abdomen feel full. The stomach and intestines also fill with gases which only adds that uncomfortable swollen feeling. And every time we swallow, we also ingest air -- even more so when drinking soda or beer. This fills more space in the stomach than the liquid that was actually ingested. Mentally, people may over eat to cope with negative emotions, while others may have a binge eating disorder. When you have eaten enough our brains send a hormonal message known as leptin that we are full. When we are consuming foods that are high calories, this can makes us feel ...
Source: Healthy Living - The Huffington Post - Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news