Thanksgiving with an ER Nurse

With Thanksgiving quickly approaching, one of the most common problems we see in the ER is called "Holiday Heart." As one might guess, it involves eating and drinking too much. This can cause a surge in epinephrine or norepinephrine, which triggers atrial fibrillation in an otherwise normal heart. Luckily, hydration is usually all that's needed to treat it.

My favorite Thanksgiving memory was when a guy showed up in the ER after taking a fall while playing a family game of football before the big meal. The man had been tackled while wearing a helmet made out of a raw turkey. The unusual choice of headgear actually prevented a more serious head injury!