As the festive season begins, health officials across Europe share tips to stay safe amid the revelry.
The winter holidays are fast approaching, promising decadent meals, family time, and rest – but the season can also come with health risks that often fly under the radar.
“The festive season is a time to come together, share traditions, and make lasting memories,” said Dr Alison Cave, chief safety officer at the UK’s drug regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
But “it’s important we don’t forget safety – especially around medicines and medical products,” she added in a statement.
As the festive season begins, health officials across Europe are offering tips to stay well amid the revelry. Here are five of their best.
Don’t mix medicines with alcohol or certain foods
Alcohol can interact with medicines in “dangerous ways,” the MHRA said, raising the risk of dizziness, drowsiness, and accidents. Be especially careful if you plan to drive or if you use a powered wheelchair or scooter.
Beyond alcohol, some festive foods also aren’t suitable if you are taking certain medications.
For example, people taking warfarin to prevent or treat blood clots should avoid cranberries, the MHRA said, while aged cheeses and dark chocolate are rich in tyramine, which can pose a problem for those taking monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, a type of antidepressant.
Prevent infections from spreading at Christmas markets
The number of visitors swarming Christmas markets this month gives viruses an opportunity to spread, according to officials from the Czech Republic, which is grappling with a major outbreak of hepatitis A.
Hepatitis A mainly spreads through close contact with an infected person or contaminated food, water, or surfaces – so even though Christmas markets are often outdoors, people can still get sick.
Health officials recommend that people regularly wash their hands and disinfect surfaces, even while out and about celebrating the holiday season.
Take care of your fireplace to ensure good air quality
Many households enjoy sitting by the fire during the winter months – but poorly managed, it can put them at higher risk of carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES).
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, dizziness, nausea, shortness of breath, a fast heartbeat, chest pain, and even seizures.
This can happen when people improperly adjust appliances connected to a flue – such as fireplaces, water heaters, or boilers – or appliances that use fuels such as wood, coal, or gas.
ANSES recommends getting your chimney checked once per year, only keeping portable heaters on for two hours at a time, and ventilating rooms for at least 10 minutes per day, even when it’s cold.
Know that skin creams may raise fire risks
People with eczema or dry or itchy skin may use moisturising creams – but clothing or bedding can absorb residue from these creams, making them more flammable, the MHRA warned.
These fabrics can catch fire and “burn quickly” if someone around them smokes, uses a candle, or sits near an open flame, the agency said.
People who use these creams should regularly wash their bedding and clothing at high temperatures in order to remove as much residue as possible, the agency advised. They should also ensure the creams do not dry on sofa cushions or other fabrics.
Get your flu vaccine ahead of family gatherings
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) recommends that people get vaccinated against influenza as soon as possible, given the virus has been spreading unusually early this season.
After getting the jab, it takes about two weeksfor your body to develop protection against the flu. That means it is best to get vaccinated well ahead of any holiday gatherings – particularly if you will spend time around vulnerable people, for example pregnant women, elderly people, and young children.
There are other precautions you can take if you start to feel sick. France’s public health agency says that if people develop a cough, fever, and runny nose, they should wear a mask, wash their hands often, and ventilate the room.
