Holiday health watch: Be merry, not sorry this Christmas

Too much eating, drinking increase risk of heart attacks, strokes

Every year during the Christmas season—the longest celebration in the country—health experts try to remind Filipinos to eat and drink in moderation to curb the increasing prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases, such as heart attacks, strokes and diabetes.

The Department of Health (DOH) has said that heart attacks and strokes peak from December to January, making the holiday festivities in the country “bad for the health” of Filipinos.

This advice from a health expert surely won’t spoil your Christmas: Forget the diet and eat whatever you want. But make sure you maintain your weight throughout the holiday season.

Dr. Sheryl Tugna, an endocrinologist, said resisting “temptations” spread out on the table during the Christmas season could be tough for Filipinos, especially those who are on a strict diet and a weight-loss regimen.

“Sticking to a diet to lose weight is very hard during the holiday season so what I can advise is weight maintenance,” Tugna said at a recent health forum in Quezon City, stressing the importance of keeping body weight in check all year round to avoid obesity, a risk factor for a plethora of debilitating diseases.

Lifestyle diseases

But she added that one must resume his diet or weight-loss program right after the holiday season.

Keeping a healthy weight is also essential in preventing obesity, a risk factor for diabetes—one of the top 10 causes of death in the Philippines, according to Tugna, an expert from the Philippine Society of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism.

Diabetes

In 2013 alone, there were 3.2 million Filipinos recorded with diabetes, accounting for 6.01 percent of the country’s 54.5 million adult population. Diabetes, if not controlled, can cause blindness, leg amputation, kidney dialysis and heart attack.

Tugna said Filipinos could avoid getting sick with diabetes or aggravating their condition, especially during the holiday season—when sugary and fat-laden foods are overflowing—by kicking the bad habit of smoking, avoiding alcohol, exercising and maintaining an appropriate weight.

Tugna advised that one must check one’s weight prior to all the merrymaking and partying. Whatever number appears on the weighing scale must be the same when one checks it again after the festivities, she added.

“Telling yourself ‘No’ is very hard during the holiday season but keeping things in moderation is a major key in being healthy during the holidays,” she said.

“If you overeat this Christmas season and you feel guilty about it, then stop being lazy—do some exercise,” Tugna said./Inquirer