On the 12th day of Christmas my true love came to me and said: "I feel terrible! Why did I have that last cocktail?" If you feel trapped on the festive treadmill - all those parties, shopping and rich meals - Christmas can often seem more of a trial than a treat. Don't let that happen to you. follow our guide to overcoming some common festive ailments. BAD BREATH Late nights, rich food, too many sneaky cigarettes - bad breath can strike all of us. Recent Superdrug research estimates that four in 10 Britons worry about it. "Bad breath is one of the hidden complaints," says Clive Daley, director of health care for Superdrug. "You either know you have it and are devastated, or you don't know you have it and devastate those around you." THE SOLUTION: It is easy to correct. Keep a Total Care toothbrush, from 99p, and some whitening toothpaste, £1.09, both from Superdrug, in your desk drawer or handbag. DIET DOOM Two-thirds of Britons admit to putting on a stone in weight as a result of stuffing themselves, as well as the turkey, over the Christmas holidays. A traditional plate of Christmas dinner can contain 1,300 calories - that's without the pudding, the drinks and that indulgent breakfast. People in Yorkshire and the Humberside put on the most (23% put on up to 12lb and 7% a stone), while those in the North East are best at restraining themselves, gaining only 1lb-2lb on average. THE SOLUTION: Nutritionist Fiona Hunter says: "Even making small changes can help. Have a light breakfast, like fruit, instead of a fry-up. Choose stuffing made from chestnuts or dried fruit instead of sausage meat and save 100 calories and 11g of fat per serving. "Take a walk instead of slumping in front of the TV on Christmas Day. The exercise will aid digestion and help burn off a few calories." To give your diet a helping hand, try Liposinol. It is made from a dried cactus extract and has been proven to remove up to 150 calories from a standard meal. It costs £19.95 for a pack of 48 from Holland & Barrett, Superdrug and independent health stores. EXHAUSTION You've partied like Paris Hilton, gone on shopping sprees that would put Coleen McLoughlin to shame and worked as though overtime is going out of fashion to hit deadlines before the festive break. It is little wonder Christmas Day is renowned for people snoring on the sofa. "Exhaustion can make you feel irritable, overwhelmed and depressed," says Nick Read, author of Sick and Tired: Healing the Illnesses Doctors Cannot Cure. "In the run-up to Christmas there is a tremendous amount to do. People cram everything in with work and home and that, combined with the party season and late nights, leave people struggling through the day." THE SOLUTION: "Pace yourself in the build-up to Christmas," Dr Read recommends. "Try to tackle things one by one and make lists so that you set yourself manageable targets. Among the busy times with friends and family, allow some space for yourself and your partner. "Sleep is a handy tool to combat exhaustion. It's important not to have too many late nights or drink too much, which can affect sleeping patterns. Go to bed at a reasonable hour with a camomile tea. Herbal sleeping remedies like valerian or Nytol are good as they don't make you feel zonked out the next day." HANGOVERS Celebrating the festive season with one cheeky tipple can rapidly turn into excessive merriment - and a few too many empty bottles for the recycling bin. It is estimated 17 million working days are lost to hangovers each year. THE SOLUTION: Well, the best advice is not to drink alcohol. But if you do indulge, NHS Direct has these tips: N Limit yourself to one drink per hour. The body can process alcohol at a rate of about 15ml per hour, the equivalent of about one small can of medium-strength lager. N Eat a meal before you start drinking. Food helps absorb alcohol, giving the body more time to process it and reducing the risk of a hangover. N Drink plenty of water to counter the dehydrating effects of alcohol. N Intersperse alcoholic drinks with water to avoid the "morning-after thirst". N Avoid drinks that contain large amounts of congeners,. Generally, these are dark-coloured drinks such as red wine, brandy, and port. | 
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