From the traditional reunion dinner to festive treats like love letters and barbequed sweet meat, the Lunar New Year may be a time for celebrations but it's also a time where there're many health pitfalls.
Doctors said more people fall ill during and after festive celebrations because they don't exercise self-control.
Geylang Polyclinic sees about 20 to 30 per cent more patients with acute conditions, and a five to 10 per cent increase for chronic conditions like asthma.
Dr Jason Chan, Geylang Polyclinic, said: "Normally we'll see more patients with acute infections. Things like respiratory infections like flu, colds. This could be more due to lethargy, exhaustion from all the partying, or being in close contact with people who've got these diseases.
Other people would be those with dietary indiscretion, so they may get diarrhoea, nausea or vomiting. And some patients with lung diseases like asthma, if they're too close to relatives who smoke, they can also get an exacerbation."
Doctors at Tan Tock Seng Hospital's Accident and Emergency Department said they saw a 25 per cent jump in the number of patients on the second day of Lunar New Year in 2009 compared to the previous year.
They're also seeing more patients due to falls and asthma ahead of the Lunar New Year period.
The number of patients who've suffered falls and asthma attacks have gone up by about 30 per cent.
Those with gastroenteritis went up by 20 per cent during the festive season.
Dr Chan Kim Chai, A&E Dept, Tan Tock Seng Hospital, said: "This is usually because of the spring cleaning and people stand on heights. During the spring cleaning, some people stir up the dust and thus get asthmatic attacks. During the Chinese and post-Chinese New Year period, people tend to overeat.
“We actually see people coming in with abdominal pain and some even with gastroenteritis. Sometimes it may be due to the food handling."
That's why, doctors said moderation is key.
WE ARE ALL ONE FAMILY.
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