Which patient concerns spike during the holiday season?

The holiday season can be a challenging time for patients and the clinicians caring for them. Seasonal behaviors, travel, and family gatherings often lead to predictable patterns in clinic visits, from spikes in viral illnesses to disruptions in chronic care management.

If you’re curious about what patients are coming in for this time of year, we have the answer. On Healthcasts, clinicians from a variety of specialties share the seasonal challenges they encounter most often, offering a real-world view of what’s showing up across different practices. Read the comments below to understand what patients may present with in the coming weeks and plan your care accordingly.

What issues do you see patients most frequently coming in for during the holidays? Log in or sign up to read the full post and see the Consensus. 

Question of the week

 Comments

Key takeaways about holiday-related health issues:   

• Holiday indulgence quickly impacts physical health
  Short-term increases in calories, carbs, alcohol, and sodium lead to rapid weight gain, poor glucose control, GI distress, fluid retention, and cardiac flare-ups, often within days of holiday eating.
  
• Gatherings drive viral illness and acute complications
  Travel and family events accelerate the spread of respiratory viruses, resulting in a surge of sick visits, pediatric febrile seizures, and postponed follow-ups that carry into the new year.
  
• Stress and scheduling disruptions heighten care needs
  Holiday pressures amplify anxiety and depression, while treatment schedules, medication access, and insurance timing create added strain, especially for patients managing chronic or complex conditions.
  

Family Practice

"'Tis the season for food consumption issues. One common problem is just plain and simple overeating—too many calories leading to weight gain. Another is excessive carbohydrate intake that ruins glucose control. One more is ingestion of much more sodium (salt) than usual, which leads to fluid retention, which leads to swelling, CHF exacerbation, etc."

Psychiatry 

"Frustration from patients because they are constantly doing for others and then do not have time left over to do for themselves. They feel very locked into fulfilling others' expectations, but then compromise their own expectations/time, which leads to resentment and negative feelings around the holidays."

Nurse Practitioners

"At this time of year, I see people coming in because they need refills of their prescriptions and are worried about running out before the holidays or before the end of the year. Also, people are trying to get in office visits before the start of the new year and a possible change of insurance. I also see patients coming in before the holidays thinking that they can get something to "nip it in the bud" when they're sick with colds."

Pediatrics

"I would say 100% or 98% viral-related issues because everybody is getting together, it is cold and flu season. Maybe the second issue would be poor food choice-related issues, such as gut IBS inflammation, etc."

Nephrology

"Typically, respiratory illnesses and injuries from falls or kitchen accidents are among the most reported injuries. Also, GI distress occurs due to overindulgence in fatty food, and mental illnesses arise like anxiety, stress, and depression, and there is also an increase in heart attacks due to excessive alcohol, sodium intake, and stress."

Internal Medicine

"My practice is 70% female. The holidays and family interactions create a lot of stress, so I am experiencing a lot of anxiety and depression. Also, a lot of respiratory illnesses due to parties and large family gatherings!"

Oncology/Hematology

"Patients on chemo have their schedule disrupted because of Christmas and New Year’s days off. This is very anxiety-provoking for them. Nursing and administration have to work hard to squeeze more patients into fewer slots or delay treatments."

Neurology

"I work in pediatric neurology, so a lot of viral illnesses/fever-induced seizures, or febrile seizures. Logistically, I see outpatient follow-up be rescheduled until after New Year's."

Pediatrics

"I would say 100% or 98% viral-related issues because everybody is getting together, it is cold and flu season. Maybe the second issue would be poor food choice-related issues, such as gut IBS inflammation, etc."

Internal Medicine

"Family get-togethers that haven't seen their elderly members in a long time. All of a sudden chronic issues become emergencies."

Are viral illnesses the most common holiday issue you see in the clinic, or is it something else? Share your experience and read all of the comments on the post on Healthcasts.