Dear Doctor: It’s our turn to host our extended family for the holidays. That means my husband and I will have adults, toddlers, teens, babies and a few senior citizens here at the house for at least four days. What should we do to keep everyone safe?

Dear Reader: With the prospect of a full house during an often-hectic time of year, we think it’s wise that you and your husband are preparing not only for the festivities, but for the possibility of mishaps. And, really, whether the holiday season entails hosting multitudes or a small and quiet celebration, some simple precautions can make this time of year safer for everyone.

Let’s start with holiday decor, which can be particularly enticing to children. Tinsel is a potential choking hazard, as are ornament hooks. So are the ornaments themselves, if they’re small enough. If -- or more likely, when -- an ornament breaks, be sure to collect all of the pieces, and then thoroughly vacuum the area to pick up any stray fragments. If you’ve gone old-school and decorated the tree with bubble lights, be aware that the fluid they contain is toxic.

Some of the plants we bring into the house this time of year can pose dangers. The berries on holly and bittersweet and the leaves on mistletoe are known to be toxic. So are amaryllis and daffodils. Although poinsettia is often characterized as poisonous, that’s incorrect. However, certain compounds in the plant can cause skin irritation, or, if ingested, can sometimes result in nausea or vomiting.

Food and kitchen safety are particularly important during a holiday season that revolves around cooking, baking and eating. The number of kitchen fires spikes dramatically during this time of year, so make sure the various chefs never leave their creations unattended. It’s also important to keep the area around open flames clear of papers and debris. Have a working fire extinguisher ready, and make sure everyone knows how to use it.

Be vigilant about handling raw meat hygienically, which includes keeping hands and utensils clean. With cooked food, be sure it’s back in the fridge no more than two hours after serving. And be aware of any serious food allergies among your houseguests.

A few final thoughts: Have your first-aid kit stocked and ready to go. Remind houseguests to keep all medications safely out of sight and beyond reach. Unplug all lights at night and when you leave the house. Be aware of the various batteries that power toys, games and electronics use, as some of them are quite small. Be prepared and know the symptoms of severe food poisoning, which can include persistent vomiting or diarrhea, bloody stools, dehydration, dizziness and fever of over 102 degrees Fahrenheit. If someone falls seriously ill, it’s better to call 911 than to drive them for medical help. EMTs can initiate life-saving procedures upon arrival. And finally, find and post the phone number of your local poison control center. You can also get help from the American Association of Poison Control Centers at 1-800-222-1222, or aapcc.org.

(Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.)

Hello dear readers and welcome to the it’s-almost-winter edition of our monthly letters column. The weather has changed, and so have your concerns, moving from the ticks and mosquitoes of summer, to colds and the dreaded flu. Speaking of which:

-- Many of you have asked whether it’s time for a flu shot, and the answer is an emphatic YES! After vaccination, it will take your body a few weeks to build up immunity. Considering all the travel and shopping and visiting the holidays bring -- much of it in crowded and under-ventilated spaces -- we need all the help we can get in staying healthy.

-- In a recent column about age-related insulin resistance, we cited research that links a decrease in a gut bacterium known as A. muciniphila, or Akk, to an increase in insulin resistance. A reader from Pennsylvania asked how levels of Akk in the gut can be restored. Unfortunately, as with many gut bacteria that have been revealed to play important roles in health and metabolism, we don’t yet have a way to affect specific populations. The best course at this time is to “eat for your gut.” That is, choose from a wide range of fresh fruits and vegetables, beans, grains, legumes, healthy fats and fermented foods to provide a diverse range of nutrients for the trillions of microscopic organisms that make our guts their homes.

-- We heard from a reader who has begun to struggle with leg cramps at night. “The outside muscles of my leg from the knee to the ankle abruptly harden for a few minutes while I am sleeping, which wakes me up several times during the night,” she wrote. “None of the meds I take list this as a side effect. What can I do?”

Nocturnal leg cramps, which become more common as we age, affect up to 60% of adults. They tend to be more common in women than men. For most people, the condition is occasional, but some experience leg cramps on a nightly basis.

Thank you for all of your letters, your kind words and, yes, the occasional criticism. We love hearing from you and are always working to make this column more useful. Just a reminder that while we can address the big picture on medical issues, news and conditions, we can’t offer a diagnosis or second opinion. For comments, tips or other suggestions, our mailbox is always open.

(Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.)

Dear Doctor: My wife does calligraphy, but she’s having trouble because her hands have started shaking. She’s worried it’s Parkinson’s disease. What else could be the cause?

Dear Reader: Uncontrolled shaking, trembling or quivering, which is known as a tremor, occurs as the result of sustained and involuntary muscle contractions in the affected area. A tremor can range from something so slight that the person barely notices, to more pronounced movement that interferes with daily activities. Although tremors mostly involve the hands, they can affect virtually any muscle in the body, including those in the head and neck, vocal cords, legs, feet, arms and torso. The movement may occur at irregular intervals with periods of stillness in between episodes, or it can be constant. And while the condition becomes more common as people enter their later years, it can occur at any age.

There are two major types of tremor -- resting and action. In resting tremor, which most often involves the hands and fingers, the affected body part shakes or trembles when the muscles are relaxed and at rest. An action tremor occurs when the muscles are engaged. This can happen during general movement, like when you pat a dog or pass a plate; while bracing a body part, such as holding out an arm; when engaging in a fine motor task, such as writing; or while zeroing in on a specific target, such as touching the tip of one’s nose.

Tremors can occur without a discernible cause; may be a symptom of a physical, medical or neurological condition; or can result from medical treatment. Many of us have experienced the shaky hands that can accompany fear, anxiety, anger, anticipation and exhaustion. Substances like caffeine, alcohol and nicotine can contribute to tremors. So can a range of drugs, both legal and illicit. Medications that may cause tremor include those used to manage asthma, certain antidepressants, some types of blood pressure drugs, thyroid medications, weight-loss medications, anti-inflammatory drugs and antivirals.

It’s true that tremor can be a symptom of a neurological disorder, including Parkinson’s disease. In your wife’s case, it is likely an action tremor because it occurs while she is writing. Parkinsonian tremor falls into the category of the resting tremor: A person with Parkinson’s disease will notice that their fingers or hands tremble while at rest, and that as soon as the muscles are engaged in activity, the tremor disappears. However, since any type of tremor can be a symptom of an underlying condition, it’s a good idea for your wife to speak about it with her family doctor.

Diagnosis entails a comprehensive physical and neurological exam, a detailed medical history, performance tests and certain laboratory tests. Imaging tests such as CT scans or MRI don’t diagnose tremor, but may be used to rule out other conditions. There is no cure for tremor at this time, but with medication and, in some cases, surgery, the condition often can be successfully managed.

(Send your questions to askthedoctors@mednet.ucla.edu, or write: Ask the Doctors, c/o UCLA Health Sciences Media Relations, 10880 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 1450, Los Angeles, CA, 90024. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.)