A scientific look at Christmas stress
For many people, Christmas and New Year is a time of increased stress and anxiety.
Writing in a recent edition of New Scientist magazine, Robert Rowland Smith, who is described as both a philosopher and management consultant, suggests that at least part of the reason for this state of anxiety is because we are forced out or our normal routine.
We are “crammed in a Christmas tunnel”, he suggests, “a narrow passage between one year and the next”, and we are apprehensive that we may not make it through to the other side.
However, maybe these days, in an era of greater environmental awareness we are simply worried about increasing our so-called carbon footprint. Consider all the wrapping paper that simply goes to waste!
Whatever the reason, we do know that heartburn and indigestion are very much more common at this time of year. Of course, it’s most likely these symptoms are caused by just eating and drinking to excess.
A few years ago the respected US-based business magazine, Forbes, published an article titled “Ten Top Hangover Cures”. Some were more mythical than medical; they included concoctions such as extract of prickly pear, said to be able to help overcome nausea, loss of appetite and dry mouth; and tripe soup made from the lining of cow’s stomach with the addition of chilli, garlic and other seasonings.
More likely to be effective are the fluid and electrolyte replacement products. Because alcohol–containing drinks (wine, beer and so on), despite being liquid themselves, actually take water away from the parts of our body which need it most. Drinks containing caffeine such as coffee, tea or cola can do the same.
So, to help prevent morning-after headaches, alternate your alcoholic drinks with plenty of water. It can be helpful also to drink some Hydralyte or Gastrolyte or an isotonic sports drink before bed. It may not seem like the ideal beverage at the time, but it could prevent that really awful feeling the next day.
If that pain you feel needs a pain reliever, the products with paracetamol are probably the best bet; they’re less likely than aspirin to cause stomach upset. Try a couple of Panadol Clear and pray the noise of the fizz is not too loud for you!
After a rich meal our stomachs have to work harder and pump out extra acid to help digest the food and alcohol. The pain or discomfort that follows this exercise in overindulgence can also occur with stress (not just the Christmas kind), cigarette smoking, pregnancy and some medicines.
If heartburn is the main problem, you might get relief with a liquid antacid like Gaviscon; and a range of potent antacids in tablet form is also now available without prescription.
For more advice and information tailor-made to your need to cope with the after effects of the festive season, or morning after problems at anytime, ask at your pharmacy for one of the Self Care fact cards titled Headache and Heartburn and Indigestion.
They’re available from pharmacies around Australia which provide the Pharmaceutical Society’s Self Care health information. You can call 1300 369 772 for the nearest location, or log on to the Pharmaceutical Society’s website at www.psa.org.au and click on Self Care Pharmacy finder.
From all the Pharmacy Self Care Team we wish you a safe Christmas and very Happy 2010.