DOH: Holidays no excuse to get sick

As Christmas parties abound, the Department of Health (DOH) encouraged people to eat and drink in moderation to avoid from falling ill or from figuring in an accident.

According to Health Undersecretary Enrique Domingo, the festive season should not be made as an excuse to binge on highly salty, sweet or oily foods, especially because these might cause one to suffer from such common “holiday illnesses” as high blood sugar, high cholesterol and even heart attacks.

Based on the Philippine Statistics Authority’s data, heart disease remained to be the leading cause of death among Filipinos.

Other leading causes are diabetes, hypertensive diseases and cerebrovascular diseases.

Drink, don’t drive

Domingo added that revelers should also avoid driving especially if they have had one too many drink.

Under Republic Act No. 10586, or the “Anti-Drunk and Drugged Driving Act of 2013,” a violator might be fined up to P80,000 and imprisoned for up to three months if he did not injure anyone.

Drunken drivers, who either injure or kill another person, may be fined up to P500,000 and penalized under the rules of the Revised Penal Code.

His license will also be confiscated and suspended for at least a year.