Holiday Hospital

Well it’s that time of year again. Yeah, the shopping, the eating, the Christmas music and family fun that never ends. The overwhelming pressure to be full of joy and good cheer is enough to unmask even the most latent psychological problems. There’s no doubt about it the holidays can be hard on your health, but they’re good for our business.

Dietary indiscretion, isn’t that a great term? It sounds like you slept with a Ho Ho. Actually, dietary indiscretion fills lots of hospital beds, it’s the salt. Tips people right over the edge into heart failure. Trust me, I spent one holiday season in the Critical Care Unit fighting with my father-in-law over a bag of pork rinds.

Booze always fills a few beds. Alcohol, cars and testosterone: it’s that magic combination that keeps trauma centers full. Drinking is a time-honored strategy for coping with the family gathering.

Then there’s always the flu, the freeways and the family feuds. Doesn’t it feel good to be needed?