Amitabh Sharma
Features Coordinator

December invokes a different feeling, festivities, and splashes of colour, joy, happiness, endless stream of parties...food and drinks. It is a time to make merry and enjoy but after the parties are over and the day has dawned how many wake up with the world revolving like a merry-go-round. "People tend to overindulge," says Dr. Hame Persaud, a general practitioner and author of ‘Renewed You’.

“The most common symptoms are stomach upsets from too much alcohol or excess spicy food,” he says. “This leads to headaches and sleepless nights, the habit of going to bed late during this season may disturb sleep patterns,” Dr. Persaud cautions.
Who would want to start the New Year with the world spinning around? Dr. Persaud, who is a stress management consultant, has some simple suggestions, which would ensure a healthy and a positive start to the New Year.

• Get back on track - indulge in small exercise programmes like brisk walking, skipping, warm up exercises building upto 30 minutes by the end of the week.



• Eat sensibly - Ensure that you have three balanced meals in a day. If have to go to parties, choose wisely, not too much starch and not too much protein, try to have vegetables and fruits.

There are workdays in between the holidays, keep your energy levels to the optimum during that period. “ When at work flush out the toxins by having one glass of water every two hours,” he suggests. “Also cut out on excessive soft drinks.”

Try to sleep and wake up on a regular time. “ Try to stretch out and shut yourself from paper work, e-mails, cellphones,” he says. “Try and avoid radio and television, vibrations of light and sound irritate the healing of your nerves.”

If getting sleep is a luxury during these days, then try to get those naps or shut eye in a peaceful area before going back to work. “You may need 5- 10 minutes mid-morning or mid-afternoon nap to get back to maximum performance,” Dr. Persaud says.

It would be advisable to see your doctor if you have an upset stomach or gastritis - this could be due to alcohol or spicy food.

If you are having a persistent headache, don’t blame it on too much partying. “This is a time, when 5 to 10 lbs are added,” says Dr. Persaud.

Those who have extra pounds on their mid-riff, middle-aged men should be careful; this is when hypertension, diabetes and hyper cholesterol are uncovered. Get a general body check up done, this would help in identifying any problems and taking a correctional course.

Dr. Persaud also advises to develop positive changes; “be happy and don't get bogged down by negatives,” he advises. “Laughter is a medicine that helps to rejuvenate the body.”

Rejoice in the true festive spirit - let it not be just once a year phenomenon, “say your daily prayers, do exercise or meditation and read spiritual texts,” he says. “Remember the past is a cancelled cheque; the future is a promisary note; but the present is a gift.' Enjoy your health and your profession to the fullest.

amitabh.sharma@gleanerjm.com