Top 12 Most Common Illnesses During the Lunar New Year - Causes and Remedies

Causes: Sudden changes in weather along with cold, damp conditions create an environment for bacteria to thrive, leading to illnesses such as the flu, fever, bronchitis, and sinus infections.

Treatment:

• Drink warm ginger slices with sugar water and consume plenty of chicken soup to reduce fever and alleviate symptoms.
• You can also use ginseng to aid in healing and recovery.
• Resting thoroughly is important to avoid physical exhaustion.

Prevention:

• Dress warmly in cold weather, avoid sharing towels with others, and cover your mouth when coughing or sneezing.
• Maintain proper hygiene, especially for your nose and throat.
• Eat spices like ginger and garlic that help fight colds.

Causes:

Foods such as leftover rice cakes, spicy dishes, sour foods, and alcohol during the Lunar New Year are not ideal for people with a history of stomach issues. Additionally, irregular eating habits, cold weather, and staying up late are all factors that can trigger stomach pain.

Treatment:

• Option 1: Drink juice made from 3-4 fresh papayas before meals.
• Option 2: Peel raw potatoes, extract the juice, boil it, and drink 1 tablespoon 3 times a day for 3-4 weeks for noticeable relief.
• Option 3: Honey and fresh turmeric are also effective in treating stomach problems.

If symptoms persist after trying these remedies, it's advisable to visit a doctor for further examination and advice.

Prevention:

• Maintain regular and healthy eating habits.
• Avoid spicy, sour foods, alcohol, cigarettes, and coffee.
• Ensure proper sleep and avoid staying up too late.

Causes:

The common dishes during the Lunar New Year, rich in protein and fats, combined with unhealthy lifestyle habits, pose a risk for those with high blood pressure. Additionally, the stress and excitement of the holiday season can trigger a spike in blood pressure for many individuals.

Treatment:

For those with dangerously high blood pressure, doctors may prescribe specialized medication to control the condition.

Prevention:

• Maintain a calm and balanced state of mind. Avoid excessive alcohol and harmful stimulants.
• Eat a balanced diet, with low salt, plenty of vegetables, and minimal animal fats.
• Exercise daily and engage in sports to keep the body fit and healthy.
• Always have your blood pressure medication ready and regularly monitor your blood pressure if you have a history of the condition.

Causes:

For people with diabetes, many traditional New Year foods like candies, dried fruits, sugary drinks, and alcohol can cause a sudden spike in blood sugar levels.

Treatment:

There are natural remedies that can help manage diabetes effectively:

• Option 1: Use vinegar with salad or drink it directly before meals to assist with metabolism and regulate blood glucose levels.
• Option 2: The sap from banana tree trunks: Cut the tree horizontally, create a small hole, and seal it with plastic to prevent insects. After two hours, drink the released sap. This method is very effective and safe. However, if the condition is severe, it's important to follow your doctor's prescribed medication.

Prevention:

• Avoid excessive protein, alcohol, stimulants, and sugary foods.
• Maintain a balanced diet and proper rest.

Causes: During the New Year, you’re usually busier than usual with tasks such as shopping, preparing offerings, cleaning the house, buying food, cooking, making feasts, lighting incense, and visiting family. The irregularities in eating, resting, and daily activities, as well as the increased consumption of alcohol, coffee, sugary drinks, sweets, and the heightened noise levels, often lead to tiredness, headaches, and a feeling of heaviness in the head.

Treatment:

• Try traditional remedies like drinking mugwort tea or applying mugwort leaves mixed with salt to the forehead and crown of the head.
• Massage the head, forehead, and temples with menthol ointment, and tap gently for relief.
• Take pain relievers containing paracetamol.
• If these methods don’t work, consult a doctor for further advice.

Prevention:

• Stay hydrated: Dehydration is often the cause of headaches, especially if your diet includes a lot of caffeine or sugar, which can exacerbate dehydration.
• Deep breathing: When a headache strikes, pause all activities, focus on deep breathing. If you're anxious, shallow breathing can reduce oxygen supply, narrowing blood vessels and worsening the headache.
• Relax and massage: Tension from fatigue can trigger headaches. Practice massaging areas prone to tension, such as the neck, shoulders, and back before bed to promote a good night’s sleep and prevent stress-induced headaches.
• Avoid strong scents: Many people are allergic to certain odors, with headaches being one of the most common reactions.
• Stay away from loud noises: Especially avoid piercing sounds like loud music or drums, which can trigger headaches, particularly during festive times like the New Year.

Excessive snacking on sweets, candies, and other festive treats, combined with heavy alcohol consumption during the New Year, can lead to liver diseases, particularly fatty liver disease. Anyone who drinks excessively, even just for a week during the holidays, can develop fatty liver, where the liver becomes swollen due to excess fat and water.

Causes:

Consuming excessive alcohol, indulging in sweets, and following a diet high in protein and fats can overwhelm the liver. This increases the risk of conditions such as fatty liver, hepatitis, and other liver complications, and if left untreated, the consequences can be severe.

Consequences of Fatty Liver:

• Liver function impairment: Fatty liver can impair liver function and impact other organs, potentially leading to serious diseases.
• Progression to cirrhosis and liver cancer: The most alarming consequence of fatty liver is cirrhosis, which can lead to complications like ascites, gastrointestinal bleeding, hepatic coma, and eventually liver cancer. Studies show that 70% of cirrhosis cases can progress to liver cancer, making fatty liver a pre-cancerous condition. Those with type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance, and obesity are at higher risk of developing liver cancer.
• Decline in other organ functions: Chronic fatty liver can cause appetite loss, weaken the immune system, and make the body more susceptible to other illnesses.
• Impact on neurological and vascular functions: Fatty liver can reduce the synthesis of phospholipids and lipoproteins in the liver, which over time can affect the nervous system and blood vessels, leading to memory loss and arteriosclerosis.

Prevention: Limit alcohol consumption during the New Year. Don’t drink excessively during toasts. Always remember that you should not exceed 2 glasses of alcohol per day to protect your liver health.

During the New Year, many people try new foods, which can sometimes trigger allergic reactions, ranging from mild to severe. Therefore, during this festive season—filled with trips and grand feasts—it's important to eat wisely and recognize the early signs of food allergies.

Additionally, as spring arrives, the weather becomes warmer and more humid, and decorations like potted plants and flowers can release pollen, leading to conjunctivitis and allergic rhinitis. During the New Year period, people tend to spend more time outdoors, where pollution and dust can irritate the eyes and nose. The more humid the weather, the worse the air quality becomes, worsening allergic conditions.

Prevention:

• Avoid eating unfamiliar foods.
• Stick to healthy, unprocessed foods.
• Always check the ingredient labels on food packaging.
• If you experience discomfort in your eyes, avoid rubbing them. Use specialized eye drops or artificial tears to flush out the allergens, and then consult an ophthalmologist for timely treatment.
• When going outside, wear a mask and protective sunglasses to shield from dust and sun exposure.

During the New Year, we often wear jewelry, perfumes, and visit various places with friends and family. This can put a lot of strain on your skin if it's not properly cared for. Common skin conditions during this time include contact dermatitis, which typically results in swelling, redness, and itching, and it usually appears in areas that come into contact with irritants, allergens, or the sun.

The holiday season also involves late nights, early mornings, and irregular eating habits, all of which can accelerate skin aging. You may notice wrinkles, dark spots, or even an increased risk of skin cancer.

Therefore, it’s important not to forget to follow a skincare routine during the New Year and always wear a mask when going outside to protect your skin.

During the festive atmosphere of the New Year, individuals with chronic conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, peptic ulcers, and gout often forget to adhere to their usual health precautions, leading to a spike in emergency visits to hospitals. To prevent this, it is crucial for those with chronic illnesses to strictly follow their daily routines and restrictions.

Specifically, avoid alcohol, smoking, and ensure adequate rest. Seek medical attention immediately if symptoms like headaches or dizziness appear. It's also wise to have essential medications, such as antihypertensive drugs, diuretics, and diabetes medication, on hand for any emergencies.

Diarrhea is a common issue during the New Year holidays, leading to frequent bowel movements accompanied by abdominal pain, fever, and dehydration.

Causes:
During the holiday season, people often consume incompatible foods or spoiled, contaminated dishes, along with excessive alcohol. Such eating habits create a favorable environment for viruses that cause illness to invade the body. Additionally, emotional stress or blood infections can also contribute to diarrhea.

Treatment:

• For mild cases: Home care can be sufficient, including drinking oral rehydration solutions (ORS), saltwater porridge, rice water, or warm boiled water.
• For severe cases: If diarrhea persists for 2-3 days, immediate medical attention is required to prevent complications.

Prevention: Eat fully cooked food, avoid combining incompatible dishes, wash hands with antibacterial soap before and after meals, limit alcohol consumption, and maintain a relaxed mindset.

Causes:
The New Year holiday often disrupts our eating habits, such as irregular meals or sleeping right after eating, which can lead to bloating. Common symptoms include a full feeling in the stomach, indigestion, a hard and painful abdomen, acid reflux, nausea, and fatigue.

Treatment:
There are several effective home remedies for bloating:

• Method 1: Mix 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 tablespoon of ginger juice, and 1 tablespoon of honey in a cup of warm water and drink after meals.
• Method 2: Add 2-3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a cup of warm water and drink after each meal.
• Method 3: Use a hot compress or towel around your abdomen, massage in a clockwise direction, and apply some warm oil to reduce discomfort.

If these methods do not alleviate the discomfort, you should consult a pharmacy for further advice.

Prevention:

• Limit foods high in fat and sweets. Eat slowly and chew thoroughly to help the stomach digest more efficiently and keep you feeling full longer.
• Drink plenty of water to flush out toxins from unhealthy foods.
• Reduce alcohol consumption as it can harm the digestive system and lower immunity.
• Engage in regular physical activity, as it stimulates digestion and helps the stomach function better. Avoid lying down immediately after eating.

Constipation can be an uncomfortable and troublesome condition, especially during the holidays. Its symptoms include discomfort, painful bowel movements, rectal bleeding, fatigue, irritability, and weight loss. If left untreated, it can lead to more severe conditions like anal fissures, hemorrhoids, colitis, increased risk of colon cancer, appendicitis, and prolapsed colon.

Causes:
Poor diet, excessive protein intake, lack of fiber, sedentary lifestyle, and unhealthy bathroom habits are common factors that increase the likelihood of constipation.

Treatment:

• Medication: Laxatives like Folax and Duphalac or enemas are commonly prescribed, but they should be used cautiously to avoid complications.
• Natural Remedies: Foods like malabar spinach, sweet potatoes, and amaranth can help alleviate constipation naturally, especially in mild cases.

Prevention:

• Stay Hydrated: Drinking 2 liters of water daily, especially in the morning, helps flush out toxins and prevent constipation.
• Eat More Fiber: Incorporate plenty of fruits, vegetables, seeds, and whole grains like rice, corn, and potatoes into your diet.