Health tips for the Holidays season — Avoid food poisoning, deal with a hangover and don’t get pink eyes

The holiday season is here again! Yieeee!!

This comes with lots of parties, weddings, family gatherings and lots of fun.

In as much as it comes with celebrations, we should take some precautions so our joy will not be cut short during and even after the festivities.

Here are a few essential Pharma tips

1. Get or restock your first aid kit at home. It is quite interesting that it is mostly late at night or dawn when the pharmacies are closed that your condition will worsen. Wise up and get your first aid kit well-stocked. Items to include are medicines for pain, diarrhea, vomiting, sprains, allergies, etc. Your pharmacists can advise you on what to stock.
2. There will be lots of meat available to be consumed; ensure the meat is well-cooked before you eat.
3. Salads are very tricky because they go bad quickly when not handled well. When you go to a party and you’re not too sure how long it’s been kept. Avoid it
4. Check the expiry dates on foods and drinks
5. If you want to consume alcohol, moderation is key. In case you get drunk don’t drive. For that hangover drink a lot of water and get your aspirin tablets readily available (Confirm with your pharmacist or doctor if it’s safe for you to consume)
6. Harmattan has ushered us into the Christmas season. The dryness, drop in humidity and dusty air associated with harmattan affects adversely our eyes, skin and respiratory tracts. Infections like cold, cough, catarrh and pneumonia are common during this time. Conjunctivitis (pink eyes) is also common. To minimize exposure wash hands thoroughly and often, consume lots of water and fruits to help with protection but also keep that over the counter cold and cough medication in your first aid kit. For those with asthma keep your inhaler close.
7. A number of unintended sexual encounters happen at this time. Protect yourselves from Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and unplanned pregnancies. Planning ahead helps so talk with your pharmacist.
8. For our people from the diaspora, visiting observe all the above and don’t forget to take your malaria prevention medications. Plus always carry your mosquito repellant with you once you step out because you may not know when you’ll return home.