Overeating floods hospital wards

Thousands land at hospitals with digestive disorders

LAHORE:

Excessive meat consumption reportedly landed thousands of citizens at hospitals with complaints of diarrhea, gastroenteritis, stomach infections and other digestive complications.

According to health department sources, more than 20,000 patients visited six major government hospitals in Lahore during the past three days with complaints linked to overeating, food poisoning, indigestion and gastric disorders.

Medical experts said the situation had exposed public negligence regarding food safety and unhealthy consumption patterns commonly witnessed during Eid holidays.

Officials at major hospitals confirmed an unusual surge in emergency admissions and outpatient cases since the beginning of Eid festivities.

The Mayo Hospital reportedly received over 3,500 patients suffering from stomach illnesses in the three days. Doctors working in emergency wards described the situation as alarming, saying many patients had arrived with severe dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea and abdominal pain after consuming large quantities of meat, oily barbecue items and improperly stored food.

At Jinnah Hospital, more than 2,000 patients were treated for gastrointestinal complications, while Services Hospital reported over 1,800 cases related to stomach infections and digestive disorders. Similar pressure was witnessed at General Hospital and Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where more than 1,500 patients sought treatment during the holidays.

Doctors and paramedics working in emergency departments revealed that many patients belonged to families that had consumed heavy meat meals multiple times a day without balancing their diet with vegetables, yoghurt and fluids.

Health experts said many citizens had ignored basic precautions regarding hygiene, refrigeration and cooking for the occasion.

Physicians warned that the combination of excessive meat intake, carbonated drinks, spicy barbecue meals and lack of water consumption had become a dangerous trend on Eidul Azha.

They said many families continued eating leftover meat stored in unsuitable temperatures, increasing the risk of bacterial infections and food poisoning.

Medica experts criticised the culture of continuous feasting that often dominates Eid celebrations.

According to doctors, several patients admitted to hospitals had consumed barbecue, fried liver, oily karahi dishes and soft drinks repeatedly throughout the day. They warned that such dietary behaviour places pressure on the digestive system and can trigger complications, particularly among elderly citizens and patients of chronic illnesses.