Stressbusting tips to help you look after your heart

The charity says the pressures of shopping for Christmas presents as well as food and drink, being stretched for time and money, and social demands can often lead to anxiety, sleep disturbances, headaches, loss of appetite and even poor concentration, all of which are symptoms of stress.

Over time chronic stress, if not managed, can contribute towards heart disease, stroke and cancer so it’s important that you take steps to manage it.

So to save your sanity  . . .  and your heart, follow these simple tips:

• Beat the frustrating queues by shopping on the internet, this will save you time, and reduce your travelling expenses.
• If you have to hit the shops, go armed with a list and set aside the time to get all your Christmas presents bought in one day – don’t spread the stress, tackle it all at once.
• As money is a major concern over Christmas, set your budget in advance and try to stick to it, helping to reduce anxiety over nightmare credit card bills. Use the internet to compare prices to get the cheapest deal. You can also print the details off and use it to barter down in store.
• Dealing with family and relatives during Christmas can be trying, and too much alcohol can make things worse. Try to moderate the alcohol consumption during the festivities and stick to the daily recommended allowance to ensure your waistline and heart benefit too.
• Children can be quite demanding at this time of year, so keep them occupied by getting them to lend a hand with the baking or making hand-made tree or table decorations, party hats, name places or a quiz for Christmas Day.
• Taking regular exercise may also help relieve stress as it will increase your energy levels, boost your confidence and self-image and stimulate the release of endorphins - those ‘happy hormones’.
• Remember to take some time out to relax and find an activity you enjoy like reading, meditation, exercising or even catching up with friends or family.