Congestion, what to do when it happens

In summer, we often hear about congestion, That is, a gastrointestinal disorder due to a temperature change during digestion. It happens when there is a blockage in digestion during or after a meal, when blood is concentrated at the stomach level.

Events that can lead to congestion are:

• drinking a cold drink when you are hot
• a blast of cold air
• taking a swim in the sea or pool immediately after a meal
• performing excessive physical exertion immediately after a large meal

In all these circumstances, in fact, the brain tries to divert blood to itself to maintain basal temperature.

So the person suffering from congestion begins to manifesting certain symptoms, from the mildest to the most severe, such as:

• pallor
• tremor
• cold sweat
• exhaustion
• pain in the abdomen
• cramps in the mouth of the stomach
• nausea
• vomiting
• headaches
• generalized malaise
• confusion and clouding

This situation is almost always transient or resolvable with simple remedies, but in other cases, the person suffering from congestion may also lose consciousness or have a heart failure.

So to prevent congestion from occurring, it is a good idea after a meal:

• Avoid cold snaps or sudden temperature changes
• do not drink iced drinks when you are hot but prefer those at room temperature
• not bathing in cold water but waiting a few hours
• Not engaging in particularly strenuous physical activities

Congestion can especially affect children who cannot see that it is occurring, such as when they are swimming in the sea or pool (and therefore can be really dangerous).

This is precisely why it is good for adults to monitor the time since after a meal.

The elderly or people who have other conditions can also experience congestion with even serious consequences (cardiovascular collapse).