Avoid stress by shopping, partying early — DOH

MANILA, Philippines — Do your Christmas shopping early. Plan your parties and get-togethers way ahead of time. And make sure you get enough sleep amid all the holiday hustle and bustle.

The Department of Health (DOH) reminded the public, on Sunday, how the Christmas rush could be detrimental to one’s health, especially if one could not counter the stress that came along with it.

DOH spokesperson Lyndon Lee Suy said a large body of studies has shown that stress, left unchecked, could cause a myriad of health problems, such as heart disease, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes.

“There have been a lot of studies pointing at stress as causing more serious illnesses. It says a lot on how important it is to manage our stress, especially this holiday season,” Lee Suy told reporters in an interview.

“The usual effects of too much stress are headaches, elevated blood pressure, upset stomach, chest pain and sleeping problems,” he said.

To ease one’s stress during the holiday season, the DOH official advised holiday makers to plan all their Christmas activities early, to minimize or eliminate cramming.

Underscoring the importance of planning ahead, Lee Suy said traffic jams, especially in Metro Manila, have become common causes of stress this time of year, so planning shopping trips at off-peak hours should help.

He also reminded the public to avoid crowded places, which could be breeding grounds for virus and bacteria, to avoid catching highly contagious diseases.

So do your Christmas shopping early or at a time when malls are not too crowded, according to Lee Suy.

Since the temperature could be fickle at this time, Lee Suy advised the public, especially children and the elderly, to wear appropriate clothing, since the sudden change from warm to cool weather could make people vulnerable to cough, colds and fever.

“If you have a cough, cold or fever for more than five days, go to the nearest health center or consult a doctor,” he said.