It’s a question as old as the story of baby Jesus himself (probably). Why, as soon as the halls are decked and the dulcet tones of Slade fill the air, do we always end up getting ill?
Whether it’s the sniffles at your office party or a full blown bug on the actual day, sickness always seems to arrive at the worst possible part of your festive season, and if you’re particularly unlucky, leave you suffering well into the New Year and beyond.
‘The problem around Christmas time is that the weather is cold and wet and the days are shorter. This forces people to congregate indoors, while they’re also more likely to use public transport rather than walking,’ says Dr Dan Robertson, Medical Officer at Push Doctor, the UK’s largest online video consultation service.
‘This provides cold and flu viruses with much better opportunities to spread between people.’
As if spending an increasing amount of hours sat inside absorbing other people’s germs wasn’t enough, it turns out it’s actually the stress of the festive season that can tip you over the edge.
It’s not all bah humbug when it comes to our favourite ways to celebrate, though – because whilst overdoing the alcohol can leave your body’s defences down, stuffing your face, to our pleasant surprise, doesn’t have an awful influence as long as you’re only doing it short term.
‘Stress can certainly reduce your immune response, as can too much alcohol,’ he adds – suggesting that casually pouring a third glass of Baileys is not the way to combat the anxiety you have about booking your ticket on the last ‘back home’ train of the season, or what to buy your partner’s mother from M&S.
‘Overeating will only really begin to affect your immune system if it happens on a regular basis,’ Dan explains. ‘If you lead a generally healthy lifestyle, helping yourself to an extra mince pie at Christmas isn’t going to have much of an impact.’
(Yes, you can insert your own interpretation of a celebratory fist pump here).
To give yourself the best chance of avoiding the Christmas lurgy, Dan emphasises the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle for the rest of the year. ‘A healthy diet and plenty of exercise really is key to a good immune response,’ he notes.
However, if you’ve left it too late (and haven’t we all), he still has a couple of more realistic suggestions.
‘Rather than fighting the symptoms, you’re best off protecting yourself against the causes of colds and flu,’ he says.
‘Getting your shopping done early, when it’s less busy, or even heading online, will mean you’re less likely to spend lots of time in a crowded space where viruses can spread. You might also want to be careful about who you kiss under the mistletoe…’
