Some patients are admitted to the hospital from the 1st and 2nd days of Tet. Many people only come when their condition is severe, require ventilators, fall into alcohol withdrawal syndrome, or even coma.
Behind those numbers is not only the story of eating habits, but also a broader issue: Is each individual truly responsible for their own health?
The health system is always in a state of stress. Emergency departments are overloaded, doctors and nurses work overnight, especially after long holidays. Each severe case due to alcohol abuse is not just a treatment record, but a chain of pressures on the medical team. Meanwhile, many diseases can be completely prevented if patients are more proactive early.
When a person drinks too much alcohol, ignores signs such as fatigue, jaundice, loss of appetite, hand tremors, and then only goes to the hospital when the disease has become complicated, treatment costs have increased many times, hospital stays are prolonged, and the risk of death is higher. But behind that is also the time, effort and stress of medical professionals. We often talk about "hospital overload", but rarely ask ourselves what we have done to avoid becoming a case that could have been prevented.
Taking care of one's health is not just a private matter of each person. It is also part of the civic responsibility. A person living in moderation, limiting alcohol, eating reasonably, exercising regularly and having regular health check-ups not only protects themselves but also contributes to reducing pressure on the health system. Each vaccination, each early screening is a step to prevent the risk of hospitalization in the future.
In many countries, preventive medicine is placed on par with treatment. People are encouraged to have periodic health check-ups and monitor important indicators such as blood pressure, blood sugar, and liver function. Because prevention is always less expensive than treatment, both in terms of cost and social resources. In Vietnam, the grassroots health network is widespread, but if people only go to the hospital when it is too late, the preventive role will be significantly reduced.
Changes do not start from big things, but from very small choices every day. One drinking session reduces a few cups of alcohol, a habit of sleeping earlier, a decision to go to the doctor when you see abnormal signs in your body... all can make a big difference. Especially for people with underlying diseases such as hepatitis B, C, cirrhosis or other chronic diseases, adherence to treatment and follow-up check-ups on schedule is a decisive factor. Subjectivity sometimes costs life.
Reducing hospital overload is not just about building more facilities and increasing staff. If the number of cases due to unhealthy lifestyles continues to increase, the health system will always be passive, having to "chase after" diseases. More importantly, building a community with awareness of health care from the beginning.
A healthy society starts from each healthy individual. When each person sees health as the most precious asset and proactively preserves it, the burden will be shared. The medical team will have the conditions to focus resources on cases that are truly unpreventable, instead of having to strain themselves to handle the consequences of an uncontrolled lifestyle.
Each person proactively takes care of their health not only for themselves but also contributes to reducing pressure on the medical industry. When disease prevention awareness is raised, hospitals will be less overloaded and on-duty shifts because diseases can be prevented will also gradually decrease.
