Christmas and Independence Day are
associated with increased heart failure emergency admissions immediately
following these holidays. Older adults are taken to the hospital the
most during these times. During the winter months,
these emergencies actually peak around the holiday season. Major sporting
events and intense encounters also play a role.
This information is the result of
research involving patients with a diagnosis of congestive heart failure at
the Einstein Medical Center over a 10-year period between January 1 and
December 31. Comparisons were made between the rates of heart failure
admissions on the holiday, 4 days following the holiday and the rest of
the month for 5 specific days: Christmas day, New Year's day, Independence day,
Thanksgiving day and Super Bowl Sunday.
The study included 22,727 heart failure admissions. Results indicated a significant increase in daily heart failure admissions following Independence day and Christmas day when compared to the rest of the month. All holidays apart from Super Bowl Sunday demonstrated lower admission rates on the holiday compared to the rest of the month.
What are some factors that could cause these findings?
1)
Overeating
on holidays
2)
Emotional
stressors
3)
Less
exercise
4)
Postponed
medical appointments due to the holidays
Seriously, who wants to experience an emergency room visit during or after the holidays? Caregivers near and far should be especially vigilant in evaluating the health of older adults during the holidays. On Good Morning Maryland @ 9, Dr. Alicia Arbaje from Johns Hopkins' School of Medicine explains details of maintaining healthy holidays for older adults.
Frances Shani Parker, Author
Becoming
Dead Right: A Hospice Volunteer in Urban Nursing Homes is available
in paperback and e-book editions in America and other countries at online and
offline booksellers.
No comments:
Post a Comment