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The holidays are supposed to be a time of comfort and joy, but 90% of Americans report stressing over at least one aspect of the merry season. “For all the chatter about nostalgia, family fun, and gift giving this time of year, many people don’t like too much of a good thing,” said Tod Marks, senior editor at Consumer Reports. Here are the top 11 things that Americans dread about Christmas, according to a survey by the Consumer Reports National Research Center: 68%: Crowds and long lines (Avoid the lines with these smart planning strategies....

The common cold and other viral infections of the upper airways are frequent causes of laryngitis. It often accompanies the flu, bronchitis, pneumonia, measles, whooping cough, or any infection of the upper airways. Acid juices from the stomach that escape into the throat can wreak havoc with your vocal cords. And any opera singer or campaigning politician can tell you, straining the voice is a common cause of hoarseness, as are exposure to tobacco smoke and allergies....

Back pain sends more patients to doctors than any condition other than the common cold. It’s the fifth most common reason for hospitalizations and the third most common cause of surgery. And 56% of people with lower-back aches say symptoms disrupt their daily routines, including sleep and sex. Talk about a pain in the…back. There are many possible causes of back pain, which means there are also many non-invasive solutions, according to Todd Sinett, a chiropractor and coauthor of The Truth about Back Pain....

People with high blood pressure or atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) are especially vulnerable to nosebleeds, as are those taking certain medications, such as anticoagulants, anti-inflammatories, and aspirin. Nose blowing, nose picking, excessive sneezing, allergies, and foreign objects in the nose can also prompt bleeding. Nosebleeds seem to be the most common among children, largely from their sometimes aggressive style of playing, says Sally Robinson, MD. Whatever the cause, its generally no cause for alarm, and you can do many things to stop nosebleeds....

Researchers from the University of Toronto reviewed 30 previous studies that examined the relationship between activity and depression. They found that even 20 to 30 minutes of light aerobic exercise, such as walking or gardening, can protect against developing depression. The review showed that it doesn’t even take the recommended 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise per week to protect against the blues, says study author George Mammen, a PhD candidate at the University of Toronto....

To ID Phony Health Foods… try Fooducate This app, which comes with a barcode scanner to use at supermarkets, grades packaged food in terms of its healthiness, and it also alerts you to health food imposters that contain high fructose corn syrup, harmful additives, trans fats, and other sketchy ingredients. Good for: iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and Android compatible Find it: fooducate.com Price: $0 to $3.99 (depending on the version)...

Ever had that backfire on you? We all have at some point. And new research helps shed light on why. Scientists at the University of Waterloo observed interactions between undergraduate students in six different studies and found that trying to positively affirm people who have an overly negative view of themselves could just make the situation worse. “We found that people with low-self esteem are less receptive to positive reframing,” says Denise Marigold, assistant professor at Rennison University at the University of Waterloo and head researcher on the study....

To relieve a burn… Lavender oil really takes the sting out of a burn. Follow up with aloe. —Varada Veum To stop an itch… Raw potatoes relieve itching, insect bites, and burns. Slice and place on the affected area. —@sandi3/4swan To soothe skin… I frequently use witch hazel on my skin. I find it so soothing. —Glynis Buschmann To prevent blisters… A trick I learned in cooking school: Never put ice on a burn–it will blister....

“Melanoma tumors can be very small, but as they grow deeper into the skin, they develop the ability to spread to other parts of the body. This is why early detection of melanoma is key to treatment and improved survival,” says Jennifer DeFazio, MD, FAAD, an assistant clinical member at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. Read on to learn more about the disease and familiarize yourself with the early symptoms of melanoma....

According to researchers from the University of Illinois at Chicago, children and adolescents ages 2 to 19 who dine out at fast-food and full-service restaurants increase their daily intake of sugar, fat, and sodium by as much as 25%. Why? It costs very little for a very big helping of bad-for-you food. MORE: 7 Restaurant Meals You Should Never Order “Overall, the findings suggest that public policies need to aim at reducing restaurant consumption by increasing relative costs, limiting portion sizes and providing healthier options,” says lead study author Lisa M....