Christmas is just days away. For many, it's a time for joy and cheer, but it can also be a day filled with stress.
Have you gotten all of your shopping done? How long do I have to cook the turkey?
Those are some of the questions being asked all across Mississippi this time of year. According to experts, nearly 70 percent of people say they feel stress around the holidays because they don't have enough time to get everything done.
Doctor Michelle Owens is with the University of Mississippi Medical Center. She says that stress can manifest itself in a variety of ways.
"For some people it can be through headaches, whether they be tension headaches or headaches that come and go," says Owens. "They can also experience abdominal pain. So it can either be a queasy feeling or nausea. In some instances people can also experience cardiac pains related to stress, so chest pains or difficulty with their breathing."
While the stress of the holidays can be difficult to manage, Doctor Owens says there are some simple ways people can manage the stress.
"I say that the best perscription is just being able to try to re-center or focus. Message is one way to do it. Physical activity, getting up, moving around, breathing techniques is another way to do it. Even if it's as simple as something as just being able to sit at your desk and have a moment where you're just quite and you take three or four deep breaths."
While stress during the holidays can affect anyone, health experts say women are disproportionately affected by the time crunch.
