COLUMBUS – At this is the time of year, many people get all too wrapped up in the hustle and bustle of the holidays and that can leave them stressed out, sick and tired.
Health experts say what should be fun, quality family time ends up stressing folks out so much that it affects their health.
“This time of year, many people focus on fun parties, quality family time and gift-giving, but it can lead some to get caught up in the chaos and consumerism of the holiday season,” says Dr. A. K. Misra, an internal and sports-medicine physician and medical director at U.S. Health Works. “Be it headaches, be it being just slower, having a shorter temper. People should be able to cue in on the signs that we know about ourselves.”
Misra has a few suggestions for staying healthy and stress-free during the holidays:
-get your sleep. The lack of rest eventually has an effect on your body.
-wash hands frequently and trying not to spend too much time in crowded places where germs spread quickly.
-eat balanced meals and healthy snacks. Don’t rely on caffeine, fast food and holiday sugar fixes.
“What people do is, they’ll ‘stress-eat’,” said Misra. “They’ll eat poorly in response to stress. If you’re putting bad fuel in, you’re going to make this a lot worse.”
Exercise is key, Misra says. Taking a brisk walk outdoors or squeezing in a visit to the gym will help work off some of the stress associated with holidays.