PARTY without the pain

Celebrate and still feel good over the festive period with these smart tips

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With the stresses of buying last-minute Christmas presents, planning parties and getting the dreaded festive food shop done, we often end up burning the candle at both ends at this time of year. This means that ailments can often strike, just when we want to be feeling our best! But whether you're prone to aching feet, ringing ears or a tension headache from all the organising, you can swiftly stop these niggles in their tracks with our expert-approved guide. Try these easy ways to soothe, cure and prevent the most common complaints of the holiday season...

Headache help

Juggling Christmas planning with work and family can trigger tension headaches, and the main culprit is usually simple dehydration. If you're out of your normal routine, get into the habit of downing a glass of water every time you fill the kettle or open the fridge. Thumping head? Ibuprofen or aspirin work more effectively than paracetamol, says headache specialist Professor Anne MacGregor*.

Handle the heat