WASHINGTON, D.C. – The holiday season is supposed to be joyous, fun and filled with happiness. But it can also be stressful. The nation's emergency physicians remind all Americans this holiday season to keep your stress in check.

“For many, including emergency physicians, the holidays come with a daunting pile of obligations,” said Dr. Angela Gardner, president of the American College of Emergency Physicians. “Don’t overdo it because you can do serious damage to your health and wind up spending the holidays in the emergency department.”

The American Psychological Association found that 71 percent of Americans report that money is a significant source of stress this holiday season because of the current state of the economy. Here are some tips to help you get through the season with the least amount of stress possible.

• Get exercise: This is extremely important. Go to the gym, take regular walks or run. Make sure you are staying active in order to help reduce your stress level.

• Watch your diet: People tend to eat more quantities of rich foods during the holidays. It's okay to indulge occasionally, but do it responsibly and in moderation.

• Get a checkup: If you haven’t had one recently, the holidays might be a good time to visit the doctor and have a routine physical.

• Be organized: Have a plan, make a schedule and do it one step at a time. Do not wait until the last minute to do everything.

• Be cost effective: Given the current economic crisis, no one should blame you for spending a little less this year. Keep it simple.

• Ask for help: No one should expect you to do everything yourself. Ask for help when it comes to shopping and decorating as well as other tasks.

For more information on this or any other health-related topic, go to www.emergencycareforyou.org.

ACEP and MedicAlert Foundation are partnering to promote EmergencyCareforYou.org and to educate the public about medical emergencies.