New Delhi: It is indeed difficult to be mindful of healthy habits when one is celebrating the occasion with family and friends. But doctors say precaution now will go a long way in ensuring good health afterwards. Neglecting one’s diet, medicine and mental health are common ills found on festival days. But there is a way to keep a check on all of this. We spoke with cardiologists and gut specialists to get a lowdown on how one can be mindful when celebrations is on their mind.
The first thing that Dr Nimrat Khanna, a cardiac surgeon in Mohali, said was to monitor pre-festival symptoms. “Get your tests in order a week before festivities. Crucial out of the many tests is the Complete Blood Count test which will tell you if there is an inflammation in the body that you must pay attention to. Diabetes test comes a close second. If the sugar is awry, this is a good sign to cut-off sweets during celebrations. Blood pressure check should be a regular activity but it is a must to keep a close watch on the ups and downs during this time,” he said.
Only a handful of people are aware of the necessity of getting the tests done prior to the festivities. “It is unfortunate that people think only post festival detox will suffice to cleanse the system. One needs to prepare the body ahead of the onslaught,” adds Dr Khanna. Cardiologists agree that pre-checkup is the key to wellbeing.
Why pre-check ups is key to good health
There are some tests that need to be done regularly for the upkeep of health but there are a few that need to be done pre and post festivities. While the blood tests and the routine liver, urine and kidney tests should be pre-scheduled for one week before any big celebration, cardiologists feel is it also the right time to get a stress test and an ECG done for your heart. But there is a rider to this advice. “Get the cardiac tests done only if you have had previous history of heart problems. Or if notice new symptoms like feeling tired or restless,” warns Dr Ajit Tandon, a former cardiologist with Medanta in Gurugram.
Dr Tandon said an ECG is not to be confused as a must-do test but only to be done if symptoms arise or under guidance of a medical expert. However, an endocrinologist says gut-related issues need to be tested at least a fortnight prior to any big festival. “Thyroid tests are also a must before the beginning of any festival period. In fact, one must undergo thyroid and basic gut tests before the advent of any big celebration,” suggests Dr Rekha Sharma, from Fortis hospitals Noida.
The thyroid tests will give you a better insight into the diet to follow during celebrations. The same holds for those suffering from unbelievably high cholesterol levels. “The cholesterol high needs to be monitored throughout the festival period with a proper diet check. For instance, avoid oily foods or excessive spicy foods during the period to keep the Bad LDL in check even when you are surrounded with goodies,” adds Dr Sharma.
One also needs to keep a close watch on acidity and GERD issues. Any inflammation in the body should be avoided because this can create other issues that won’t go away easily.
Get allergy tested too
If you are allergic to dust and smoke particles, make sure to take precautions ahead of any festivities. Daily gargling with an antiseptic will make sure that infections are kept at bay. One should also take up breathing exercises a week before the festival season so as to keep nasal passage clear and well hydrated.
Maintaining nasal hygiene is a must for every season but before Diwali it becomes an even larger ask. “The sure shot way to deal with infection is to maintain nasal hygiene which can be achieved by washing the nostrils and nearby areas and even sanitising it with a nasal solution. One may also practise jal neti to properly cleanse the nose cavity,” informs Dr Sharma.
Festival care requires overall management which starts with pre-festival check-ups and taking utmost care on the day of the event itself. It also requires one to be careful post festivities as that is when infections are on the rise. The best way to deal with such illness is to be prepared for any eventuality by taking adequate precautions both before and after the festival season.
