Countdown to Christmas

Christmas should be a time for fun and excitement, but for many of us, as the countdown to Christmas starts, stress levels can really rise. Whether it's the prospect of last-minute Christmas shopping, spending too much money or several days at home with the extended family, for some, goodwill can seem in pretty short supply at this time of year, and stress may start to take over. The knock-on effect of this stress can be that we eat and drink too much of the wrong things, sleep too little, stifle our feelings, and generally fail to take care of ourselves.
So if you are feeling that the pressure of Christmas is getting to you, here are a few stress-busting tips to help you get though the festive season:

• Learn to relax. There's no point running around like a headless turkey – take a Christmas time-out and do something unrelated to the festivities. Go for a walk or a swim and forget about it all for an hour or two. Exercise is proven to reduce stress.
• Get better organised. Don't take all the responsibility for Christmas on yourself. Get other members of the family to muck in with the shopping, cooking and washing-up. Give yourself at least one afternoon off in front of the telly with your feet up
• Confide in someone. If your in-laws are getting to you or you're feeling fraught, why not phone a friend and let off some steam.
• Don't take it all too seriously. Laughter is known to provide short-term stress relief. Sit down and watch your favourite comedy classic and get giggling!
• Eat and drink well. And we don't just mean mince pies and sherry! Good food, with plenty of fruit and vegetables, can help to lift your mood significantly.

To get hold of your copy of the 'Mind Troubleshooter's Guide to Stress', visit the Mind website at www.mind.org.uk or for further help to beat stress, call MindinfoLine 0845 766 0163.

For general health advice and information over the Christmas period, visit www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk * or call 0845 46 47.

New health centre for Newland

December sees the opening of yet another new health centre in the city – this time the Newland Primary Care Centre on Alexandra Road, which will serve the community of the Newland area.
This centre is the latest to be built by Hull Citycare under the NHS LIFT (Local Improvement Finance Trust) scheme. This centre is the third of nine new developments already planned for the city, two of which have already opened-Marfleet and Newington, and two more currently under construction - Longhill and Park.
The Newland Primary Care Centre has been built at a cost of £2 million and will provide bright and modern accommodation for Dr S M Hussain and Dr Percival's practices, as well as provide a base for community and nursing teams who cover the local area.

For more information about the NHS LIFT schemes in Hull, visit www.hullcitycare.co.uk *