Holiday Bustle Can Come Gift Wrapped With Germs

DETROIT (WWJ) - With a variety of holiday gatherings or multiple trips to the mall the opportunity to pick up germs quickly grows.

Whether it's a co-worker with a cough or shopper sneezing in line behind you at the store WWJ health reporter Dr. Deanna Lites has some advice for staying healthy.

This time of year you tend to burn the candle at both ends which means you're probably not getting enough sleep, not eating well, doing less exercise and feeling more stress ... all of which can make you more susceptible to getting sick.

Family medicine expert Dr. Neha Vyas says we're also indoors more.

"We're in closer contact with people through office parties, or out at the mall, so it's much easier to pick up germs in those environments than it would be in other times of the year," says Veeyas.

Germs can live on all sorts of surfaces from shopping cart handles to credit card readers so remember to wash your hands before you touch your face or eat.

And if you're feeling under the weather ...

"Take a step back and ask yourself, is it really this important to go to XYZ place, or go to a particular party where you could infect people," adds Vyas.