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Managing holiday stress
By Dr. Sanjay Gupta
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- The holidays can be a joyous time, but they can also be very stressful. Unrealistic expectations are one of the main stressors during the holiday season. Previously damaged relationships won't suddenly be healed and other stressors won't magically go away. Time management also becomes a major problem because events like holiday parties and school plays demand more of your time. And money troubles often get worse with the desire to purchase expensive gifts. The best gift you can give yourself this season is to be realistic in terms of your expectations, and to prioritize your time. Learn to say "no," and spend wisely with a good budget plan. It will reduce your stress and be good for your health. Happy holidays. Here are other stories making headlines this week. Study finds no benefit from echinaceaCold sufferers take note: Echinacea may not be a cure-all, according to a new study. Wisconsin researchers gave 73 students suffering cold symptoms capsules of the herb while an equal number of sick students got a placebo. After 10 days, both groups of students were equally ill and stayed sick for a similar number of days. Other earlier studies found echinacea to be safe and effective in treating cold symptoms. One expert theorizes that perhaps the form of echinacea used in this study was not as effective as that used in other studies. Click here to read the findings of the study. Combo vaccineThe development of childhood vaccines has virtually eliminated certain childhood diseases, but the sheer number of shots can be overwhelming for young children and their parents. It's no wonder that a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that one in three children miss a vital shot, while one in five get at least one vaccine too many. The good news is that the Food and Drug Administration has approved a combination vaccine that will cut out six of the 20 injections that babies get before age 2. Experts say it is as safe and effective as existing vaccines. Click here to find out how the new vaccine combines protection against five deadly diseases. Caesarean sections at all-time highThe rate of Caesarean sections in the United States has reached an all-time high. The latest government numbers show that almost one quarter of births last year were C-sections -- an increase of 7 percent over figures from 2000. Doctors point to three possible reasons: • Women today are generally older when they give birth and are prone to more complications. • More doctors are unwilling to vaginally deliver breech babies. • Evidence shows that a C-section may be safer than attempting a vaginal birth for women who have already had one C-section. Click here for more information on the annual review of birth statistics released Wednesday. Teen drug use declinesTeen tobacco, drug and alcohol use is down from recent years, according to a survey commissioned by the Department of Health and Human Services. The most dramatic declines were seen in teen smoking, which has been cut in half since 1996 among 8th-graders, and cut by up to a third among high school seniors. Additionally, marijuana use is at its lowest level since 1994, and alcohol use among 8th- and 10th-graders reached its lowest level since 1991. Government officials credit drug prevention efforts for the decline. Click here for more on the study's findings.
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