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    Housecall: 10 tips for coping with holiday stress

a young man sitting at a laptop, with his hand to his forehead, looking tired, stressed, with twinkling lights in the background

THIS WEEK'S TOP TOPICS
Stress, depression and the holidays: 10 tips for coping
The holiday season often brings unwelcome guests: stress and depression. The holidays present a dizzying array of demands. When stress is at its peak, it's hard to stop and regroup. Try to prevent stress and depression in the first place, especially if the holidays have taken an emotional toll on you in the past. Here are 10 practical ways to find peace and joy.

Video: 'Holiday Heart Attack and Stroke Risk'
The holidays can be exciting, stressful, fun and exhausting all at once. The holidays also can be dangerous due to increased risk of heart attack and stroke. Hear from Dr. Kevin Barrett, a Mayo Clinic neurologist, about the causes of this increased risk and what you can do to keep yourself safe.

EXPERT ANSWERS
Do asthma-friendly products reduce symptoms?
If you or someone in your family has asthma, your health care provider may recommend that you take steps to control asthma triggers in your home. Purchasing asthma-friendly products may seem like a good step. However, while a number of manufacturers claim that their asthma-friendly products reduce asthma triggers better than other products, often these claims aren't backed up with solid evidence. There's no sure way to tell how much a particular product might ease your asthma symptoms, but here are some tips to keep in mind before spending your money.

Are lung nodules cancerous?
Lung nodules are small masses of tissue in the lung that appear as round, white shadows on a chest X-ray or CT scan. Lung nodules are common. Most are noncancerous and do not require treatment. In some cases, though, your health care provider may recommend annual chest imaging to see if a lung nodule grows or changes over time. Learn more from Dr. Eric J. Olson, a Mayo Clinic pulmonary and critical care medicine physician.

PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS
Benign prostatic hyperplasia
Pseudobulbar affect
Video: 'How to Choose Resistance Tubing'
Palliative care: Symptom relief during illness

HEALTHY RECIPES
Grilled mango chutney
Gluten-free chickpea hummus
Tandoori chicken wrap
Vegetarian chili with tofu

HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK
Reduce tension through muscle relaxation
Progressive muscle relaxation can reduce muscle tension from stress. Find a quiet place free from interruption. Tense each muscle group for about five seconds and then relax for 30 seconds. Repeat before moving to the next muscle group. Practice this technique any time you feel stress.

Need practical advice on diet and exercise? Want creative solutions for stress and other lifestyle issues? Discover more healthy lifestyle topics at mayoclinic.org.

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