Chinese medicine practitioners remind: During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, "eat too much, sleep too little, and move too much", beware of health red flags

2026/06/20 09:36

Zhou Zonghan, director of Hanmingtang Traditional Chinese Medicine Clinic, reminded that the most common situations during the holidays are "eating too much, sleeping too little, and moving too much." Be careful of gastrointestinal and cardiovascular diseases; the picture is a situational photo, and the people in the picture have nothing to do with this article. (Picture taken from shutterstock)

[Reporter Luo Bi/Taipei Report] During the Dragon Boat Festival holiday, many people take advantage of the time to have dinner parties, go on trips, or stay up late to watch TV shows. However, changes in daily routine and eating habits may also put their health at risk. Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners remind that problems such as gastrointestinal discomfort, sports injuries and urinary tract infections are common during the holidays. As the holidays are about to end tomorrow, insomnia, autonomic nervous system disorders and cardiovascular discomfort may also appear one after another. People should be vigilant if they experience related symptoms.

Zhou Zonghan said that the most common situations during the holidays are "eating too much, sleeping too little, and moving too much." When the normal rhythm of life is disrupted, the body's ability to regulate is reduced, and originally hidden health problems can easily come to the door.

Zhou Zonghan pointed out that gastrointestinal diseases are one of the most common health problems during the holidays. Frequent gatherings of family and friends, coupled with increased intake of barbecues, desserts and hand-held drinks, can easily increase the burden on the gastrointestinal tract. The recent hot and humid weather may also increase the risk of acute gastroenteritis if food is not stored properly. Common symptoms in outpatient clinics include abdominal bloating, stomach pain, diarrhea, nausea and indigestion.

He said that traditional Chinese medicine believes that "the spleen and stomach are the foundation of nurture." Overeating can easily damage the function of the spleen and stomach, leading to accumulation of moisture, which can lead to fatigue, loss of appetite, heavy head, dizziness, and abnormal defecation.

In addition to losing control of their diet, many people also use the holidays to arrange outdoor activities such as mountain climbing, hiking, and cycling. However, if the amount of activity for those who usually lack exercise increases sharply in a short period of time, it is easy to cause muscle strains, stiff shoulders and necks, back pain, and knee joint pain. In particular, middle-aged and elderly people who already have joint degeneration problems should avoid sudden high-intensity exercise to avoid recurrence of old injuries.

In addition, due to the high temperature and humidity in summer, many people do not drink enough water or hold in their urine for a long time when traveling, which increases the risk of urinary tract infections. If women wear stuffy and non-breathable clothes for a long time, they may also suffer from abnormal secretions, itching and other gynecological infection problems.

As the holiday is about to end tomorrow, the problems of insomnia and autonomic nervous system disorder are gradually emerging. Zhou Zonghan said that many people stayed up late watching TV dramas, scrolling on their mobile phones or playing games during the holidays, which led to disordered work and rest, and even reversed day and night. When they were ready to return to work and class, they may suffer from insomnia, palpitations, chest tightness, headaches, lack of concentration and mental fatigue.

Zhou Zonghan said that traditional Chinese medicine believes that such problems are mostly related to malnutrition of the mind and spirit and stagnation of liver qi. Staying up late for a long time can easily deplete energy and blood and affect your mental stability; coupled with the stress and anxiety before taking a vacation, it is more likely to affect sleep quality and emotional stability.

It is worth noting that even the holidays are a time of high risk for cardiovascular disease. A high-fat and high-salt diet, combined with drinking alcohol, staying up late, and having a chaotic work and rest schedule can easily cause fluctuations in blood pressure and blood sugar. For patients with a history of hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, they should pay more attention to physical changes. If they experience chest tightness, palpitations, dizziness, or abnormally high blood pressure, they should seek medical treatment as soon as possible.

Zhou Zonghan suggested that on the last day of the consecutive holiday tomorrow, you should gradually return to your normal schedule, avoid staying up late, reduce the intake of high-fat and high-sugar foods, and add more water and fruits and vegetables. If symptoms such as persistent diarrhea, insomnia, headache, palpitations or depression occur, you should adjust your living habits as soon as possible and seek professional medical assistance if necessary to avoid affecting your work and life after the holiday.