So much has been said about Valentine’s Day but have you ever stopped and thought of how this day dedicated to love and lovers can adversely affect your health?
How it can affect your health
1. Eating
Chocolate is the traditional Valentine’s Day gift. The main ingredient of chocolate is cocoa which contains caffeine and related chemicals.
Eating large amounts might cause caffeine-related side effects such as nervousness, increased urination, sleeplessness, and a fast heartbeat.
Since chocolate contains high amounts of sugar, it can lead to dental problems like gum disease and cavities as well as increased risk for diabetics.
Cocoa can cause allergic skin reactions, constipation, and might trigger migraine headaches.
2. Drinking
What is Valentine’s Day without a glass of red wine for the ladies in red?
Excessive alcohol use has immediate effects that increase the risk for many harmful health conditions. They include problems managing conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, pain, and sleep disorders.
Drunk driving could also lead to road accidents that may not only lead to serious injuries but loss of lives.
3. Allergy
We all love a surprise! However, taking chances with new food in a fancy restaurant or present may backfire if your loved one responds with an unexpected allergic reaction.
Be conscious of whether certain foods (such as nuts, eggs, milk, wheat), stuffed animals, pets or flowers may trigger an allergic reaction.
For people who have a food allergy, even exposure to very small amounts of the problem food can cause an allergic reaction.
A perfume might be a thoughtful gift, but people who have asthma may be more sensitive to fragrances and may experience allergy symptoms or worsening asthma symptoms from exposure to perfumes and fragrances.
4. Sexually transmitted diseases
In the heat of the moment, couples are likely to engage in unprotected sex.
Unprotected sex means having sex (vaginal, anal or oral) without using a condom. It means you are at risk of HIV as well as other sexually transmitted diseases like herpes, syphilis, hepatitis B etc.
5. Stress
If you have recently broken up with your partner or had any unmet expectations for Valentine’s Day, you are bound to get disappointed or stressed. Stress can affect your body, your thoughts, feelings, and your behaviour.
For single people, Valentine’s Day may have you thinking you are unworthy of love or unlovable. You may worry that you’ll never find someone to love or someone who will love you.
Stress triggered by relationships can show up as problems such as depression, difficulty sleeping, or high blood pressure.
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