Party survival tactics

Winter may not be many people's favourite time of year, but the one thing lots of us look forward to is the festive season with all its fun, games and unavoidable overindulgence. Even those who are highly disciplined throughout the rest of the year often let their hair down at Christmas and New Year, whether that's having an extra drink or two at the office Christmas party or scoffing one too many chocolates while watching the Christmas Day movie on TV.

If you're a bit of a party animal, chances are you'll be making the most of the seasonal celebrations and, no doubt, burning the candle at both ends right through to January.

Trouble is, all that scoffing, boozing and not getting anything like enough sleep can take its toll on your health. So here's our guide to how to eat, drink and be merry over Christmas and New Year – including how your pharmacist can help keep you healthy, no matter how many parties you end up at.

EAT

The one thing many people do at Christmas is eat too much. Go on, admit it. But putting on weight is just one of the problems associated with eating too much festive food (see pxx to find out how to avoid piling on the pounds this year). If, for instance, you eat more at Christmas than you usually do, or you eat rich foods that you don't normally eat at other times of the year, you could experience a bout of the dreaded indigestion.

Also called dyspepsia, indigestion often starts soon after you've been eating or drinking. Normally experienced as pain or discomfort in your chest or stomach, indigestion can also make you feel uncomfortably full, as well as causing bloating, nausea and vomiting.

Indigestion is caused by acid from your stomach irritates your stomach, small intestine or oesophagus (gullet). The good news, however, is that your pharmacist can provide you with medicines that provide immediate relief. Ask your pharmacist to recommend an indigestion remedy that would suit you, as well as how to take it to achieve the optimum indigestion relieving effect.

If, however, you suffer from persistent – rather than seasonal – indigestion, see your GP to rule out any possible underlying health problem.

• Following basic food hygiene rules at Christmas could also save you from a bout of seasonal food poisoning. For instance, if you're having turkey, make sure it has properly defrosted before you cook it, and make sure it is cooked thoroughly (a large turkey could take several hours to cook, so make sure you know exactly how long to cook yours for and at what temperature: visit www.britishturkey.co.uk for advice).

DRINK

If you've ever had a drink too many, you'll know how unpleasant the after-effects can be. Unfortunately there's no magic pill that can instantly cure hangovers. However, if you can't avoid alcohol altogether here are five tips to help you feel a little better the next morning:

1. Drink water 

Because alcohol is a diuretic – which means it makes you dehydrated – drinking water can help, as it helps counteract dehydration. Add some fresh juice to boost your blood sugar levels if you can face it.

2.  Kill the pain 

Ask your pharmacist to recommend a painkiller to help you cope with that throbbing headache. For instance, if you have a sensitive stomach, your pharmacist may recommend paracetamol as aspirin and ibuprofen could upset your stomach.

3. Drink ginger tea 

Peel and chop up a small piece of ginger and add boiling water to make a tea that could help settle your stomach and counteract feelings of nausea.

4. Cool down  

Place an ice pack on your forehead or back of your neck to help relieve a pounding headache. The ice helps the blood vessels in your head shrink back down to their normal size (alcohol makes them open too wise, and that triggers nerves that cause pain). Alternatively use a  bag of frozen peas – but wrap the bag in a towel before putting it next to your skin.

5. Boost your Bs  

When you can face solid food, try a piece of dry toast with a slick of Marmite. Marmite contains B vitamins, which may help boost your energy levels.

• Do you know how many units of alcohol are in your drinks? Find out by downloading our desktop Alcohol Tracker application at www.allabouthealth.org.uk/content/tools

BE MERRY

Christmas and New Year may be fun, but this time of year can be stressful too.

And if money is tight – as it is for many people right now – it could see your stress levels go through the roof.

But other than declaring that Christmas is cancelled this year, what can you do to stay as stress-free as possible?

The advice many stress counsellors offer people at this time of year is to try and remember that Christmas isn't a competition. One person shouldn't have to do all the hard work.

So if you normally shoulder the burden, now's the time to gather your family around and delegate some of the tasks that will make Christmas go with a swing. Also make sure that the whole family gets out into the fresh air during the Christmas holidays. Exercise is an effective stress reliever, so don't stay cooped up indoors for the entire festive period.

Your pharmacist may also be able to recommend a gentle, herbal stress relief preparation that could help you tackle stress and nervous tension.

Meanwhile, making sure you eat a healthy, balanced diet – not just snacking on Christmas treats and leftovers – will help keep your energy levels up. Eating at regular intervals and always having a proper breakfast will help boost your energy too.

If, however, you are suffering from persistent lack of energy, you may need extra iron – ask your pharmacist to recommend a gentle iron supplement that may help. Your GP can also diagnose iron deficiency via a simple blood test.