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By Teresa
Rochester
November 23 -- Beware the danger lurking behind the
cork -- and fork -- during the holiday season.
Bottles of bubbly and one too many forkfuls of holiday food could
lead to a trip to the hospital or at least serious discomfort.
With a simple pop a cork can become a dangerous flying projectile,
according to doctors at Saint John's Health Center. Doctors also
caution that excess munching on goodies like cookies, chocolates
and golden brown ham can lead to unpleasant cases of holiday heartburn.
Several hundred people are sent to the emergency room with flying-champagne-cork
related eye injuries each year, according to the American Academy
of Ophthalmology.
Unlike a basketball hurtling toward your face, a cork is just
small enough to fly past facial bones that usually protect eyes
from larger objects, Kino said in a statement. The force of a
popped cork can cause severe eye damage, such as bleeding or even
a rupture, as well as painful surface damage like a black eye.
Stuffing yourself with goodies also may not bode well for your
body. Certain foods like chocolates, tomato sauces and fatty foods
may trigger heartburn, an unpleasant feeling that occurs when
stomach acid bubbles back up the esophagus. This happens when
the ring-like valve separating the stomach and esophagus becomes
slack or is under excess pressure.
"Over-the-counter medications may alleviate heartburn during
the holidays," said Dr. Danice Hertz, a gastroenterologist
at Saint John's Health Center. "While that may be fine as
a short-term remedy, simple changes in lifestyle may prove more
effective in the long run, particularly if you suffer from heartburn
more than once a week."
To avoid cork and fork related incidents check out the helpful
tips below, provided by Kino and Hertz.
Popping the Cork:
* Keep the bottle cold since a warm bottle is more likely to
pop unexpectedly. Besides, the champagne tastes better cold.
* Remove the foil over the cork and carefully remove the wire
hood while holding down the cork with the palm of your hand.
* Cover the entire top of the bottle with a towel or cloth napkin
and tilt it away from yourself and others at a 45 degree angle.
Grasp the cork firmly and slowly twist to break the seal. If the
cork won't twist, place the bottle under cool tap water for about
20 seconds, then repeat the twisting method described.
* With one hand, hold the cork and gently turn the bottle in one
direction. Turn the bottle and not the cork. Pull slightly upward
until the cork is nearly out of the bottleneck. Then, using slight
downward pressure of a controlled "roll," pull the cork
completely out with a hissing noise and a soft "pop."
Avoiding heartburn long after the holidays:
* Lose Weight -- Excess weight increases pressure on the diaphragm
and forces the esophageal valve open when it should be closed.
Losing weight is a simple and effective first step in treating
chronic heartburn.
* Pregnancy -- Pregnant women suffer from heartburn for much the
same reason as the obese. While they don't have the option of
losing weight during pregnancy, they can find comfort in knowing
that the problem will subside with the birth of the baby.
* Smoking and Alcohol -- The nicotine in cigarettes causes the
esophageal valve to relax. Quitting smoking may take care of the
problem. Alcohol can also cause the valve to become lazy and ineffective.
* Food -- Spearmint, peppermint and fatty foods, along with foods
high in acid and spices, coffee and carbonated drinks, are all
known to irritate damaged esophageal linings. Avoiding foods that
are known irritants to you may help prevent heartburn.
* Hiatal Hernia -- To reach the stomach the esophagus must pass
through an opening (hiatus) in the diaphragm, a large sheet of
muscle separating the chest and stomach. A hiatal hernia occurs
when a part of the stomach pushes through the this opening into
the chest cavity. While hiatal hernias often cause no symptoms,
for those who do have symptoms, heartburn is a common complaint.
This article originally ran in The Lookout on Dec. 22, 1999. |
