Christmas shopping just isn’t bad for your wallet—it’s also bad for your health. A study by the University of East London found that Christmas shopping upped stress to dangerous levels.
The study, which was commissioned for the Moneysupermakret Shopping comparison service, found that after only 75 minutes of Saturday Christmas shopping in a busy shopping center, levels of stress doubled for men and tripled for women. The blood pressure readings of half of shoppers rose to “at risk” levels, and 47 percent of women got headaches. The increases could lead to heart disease, hypertension, stroke and panic attacks.
Crowded stores, long lines, and blaring holiday music all contributed to the soaring stress levels.
“Seven out of ten people in the UK view Christmas shopping as stressful,” Rob Barnes, head of Moneysupermarket Shopping, told “Nursing in Practice.” “That’s why this year more consumers than ever are putting their feet up, eating a mince pie and shopping online. Not only will it be a more relaxing experience, but better deals are generally available online.”
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