Valentine’s Day is all about celebrating love, the love for self and the love we have for others. People celebrate the day in many ways with excitement, gifts, chocolates, and dinner dates. Excitement and celebration is important but it is also important to mind your excitement. In this health article we emphasize a few factors that, although an essential part of your celebration, might cause a medical emergency or put you at the risk of other health conditions.

Allergies - the spoilsport


Chocolates and flowers are an inevitable part of Valentine Day celebrations, but they could be the major cause for medical emergencies. 

  • Many chocolates often have ingredients and nuts that many people are allergic to. The same goes with flowers, the pollen in the flowers may trigger respiratory allergies like rhinitis. It is always advisable to make sure the person you are buying the food gift and flowers are not allergic to your gifts. 
  • Apart from allergies, the chocolates rich in sugar content and other calorie rich and high glycemic index foods may also affect blood sugar and insulin levels in people with diabetes.

The bubble trouble


  • Sipping on your favorite bubbly drink (alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks, artificially sweetened or carbonated drinks) on the love-day celebrations may cause unwanted trouble. 
  • Excessive alcohol consumption may lead to harmful bodily reactions such as mood and behavioral changes (anxiety, irritability, euphoria, impulsive behavior), changes in libido, sleep disturbances, appetite changes, changes in hearing, vision, and perception, etc., and may also worsen any existing medical conditions.
  • The non-alcoholic drinks, artificially sweetened or carbonated drinks may add empty calories and also affect blood sugar and insulin levels in people with diabetes.

Kiss - A hit or a miss display of affection


Most of us are aware that sexually transmitted infections (STIs) spread through intimate contact. But kissing can also lead to the spread of  STIs, particularly herpes, syphilis, and HPV. 

  • Bodily fluid interchange is a way through which STIs can be transmitted, although less conductive than semen, vaginal fluids, or blood, saliva is a potent enough fluid to spread infection. 
  • The affectionate act of kissing may be detrimental to your health and put you at the risk of getting STIs. Particularly, the risk of transmitting STIs through kissing is higher if any of the involved partners has open wounds or sores. 
  • In addition to the STIs, kissing may also lead to spread of infectious mononucleosis caused by Epstein-Barr virus. In fact infectious mononucleosis is so common that it is often referred to as ‘the kissing disease’.
  • It is always advisable to communicate with your partner about the infections, and also refrain from kissing if either of the partners has any visible cuts, open wounds, rashes, or mouth sores. Better still, you can  have a quick inspection of the partner’s mouth and lips before engaging in a kiss. 
  • If you notice any signs of rashes, blisters, or mouth sores it is recommended that you consult your doctor immediately.

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