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While the festive season should be a time of joy, celebration and feeling good, it is also when we often indulge in heavy meals, stay up later than usual and disrupt our regular routines. As much as we enjoy these celebrations and they lift our spirits, after a day or two our digestive system gets upset.
Sudden changes in diet, excessive consumption of sweets, fats and other high-calorie foods, irregular meal schedules and lack of physical activity can disturb the natural rhythm of the intestine. Therefore, people who generally do not have any digestive problems also start having problems with flatulence. acidityConstipation, and uncomfortable sensations.
For people who already have stomach problems, these behaviors can cause a significant increase in symptoms. Once the party is over, many people notice an increase in digestive complaints and doctor visits. Recognizing why the stomach feels “sad” after a celebration is part of reclaiming our digestion and health.
a pre-planned intestinal conflict
“Our stomach is comfortable with regular meal hours, portions and types of food. This basic rhythm, however, gets disturbed in the festive season. People skip meals or eat late; most people end up increasing their portion size to even double their habit in most cases. There is a huge change in diet, where individuals consume excessive sweets, oily and spicy foods,” says Dr Puneeth BS, Consultant – Medical Gastroenterology, Manipal Hospital Malleshwaram. (MHM), Bengaluru explains.
This is because the gut, accustomed to simple staple foods, cannot cope well with sudden and extreme changes in diet, and this can lead to an imbalance in the gut flora with associated symptoms.
Symptoms usually include abdominal upset, discomfort, pain, diarrhea or vomiting, and sometimes fever. These symptoms are generally mild to moderate and tolerable, and rarely progress to the point of requiring hospital/clinic treatment.
Hydration and Mindful Eating
Dr. Puneeth says that not drinking enough water is another thing that people often forget in the festive excitement. With busy schedules, travel and stress festive foodsMany people forget to stay hydrated. It can increase symptoms like constipation, bloating, acidity and discomfort and weakness.
Eating quickly or late at night and eating with distractions can further affect digestion by interfering with intestinal motility and enzyme production. Even simple habits like drinking enough water, eating slowly and creating adequate gaps between meals can protect your intestines from overburdening and enable them to deal with any sudden changes in your diet during the festival.
Dr. Puneeth says, “Most people recover within a few days or with simple treatments like antacids and probiotics. In rare cases, if it persists for more than a week or if alarming symptoms like intense abdominal pain, blood in stool or weight loss occur, a gastroenterologist should be contacted immediately.”
effect of alcohol on intestine
During festivals, people consume or start drinking more alcohol. It may promote poor gut health by having adverse effects on the stomach lining and compromising beneficial gut bacteria. Heartburn and upper abdominal pain, symptoms of acid reflux, can be worsened by drinking excess alcohol. This condition can also be caused by excessive drinking, which is a form of acute pancreatitis, characterized by abdominal pain. Patients with pre-existing liver disease may suffer even greater harm from alcohol, including liver failure.
Good sleep for a healthy gut
Sleep is essential to maintain a healthy gut, but sleep can be disrupted during festive times. Getting less sleep, such as staying up late or partying, can increase stress and disrupt hormones and the gut. It can cause symptoms in people with such conditions Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)Dr. Puneeth explains.
when to worry
Usually, symptoms subside when regular eating begins. But if symptoms persist for more than a week, or warning signs appear such as severe abdominal pain, vomiting blood, blood in vomit or stool, black stools – which indicate gastrointestinal bleeding – unexplained weight loss, or complications of underlying conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), chronic liver disease and pancreatitis, medical consultation is warranted.
The real joy of the festival is the balance between celebration and digestion. Paying attention to your gut and paying immediate attention to signals can prevent serious digestive problems. Pay attention to the quantity, quality and timing of what you eat and drink, reduce alcohol consumption and get enough sleep – all this helps in good gut health and hence immunity.
key takeaways
- Excessive alcohol and heavy food during celebrations can hamper gut health.
- Maintaining hydration and a regular eating schedule can reduce digestive problems.
- Seek medical advice if severe symptoms persist for more than a week.
(Author Nivedita is a freelance writer. She writes on health and travel.)
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