Life is full of hassles, deadlines, frustrations and demands. Stress can take its toll on a woman’s health and spill into the home during the holiday season. In these economic times, tightening budgets during the ‘season to be jolly’ brings additional stress. There is hope on the horizon, as the New Year provides a fresh opportunity for women to resolve to get a handle on stress.

“It is very important to set fitness goals and incorporate physical activity into your daily routine to manage stress levels,” says NYC physical therapist Megan Barclay. “If time or finances prohibit you from going to the gym, find other ways to stay active such as taking a walk, running and even yard work or gardening.”

Chronic stress can lead to serious health problems including elevated blood pressure, a suppressed immune system, increased risk of heart attack, contribute to infertility and accelerate the aging process, to name a few. So it is important to recognize when your stress levels are out of control and make a resolution to regain control of your health.

Barclay says, “The most dangerous aspect of stress is how easily it can creep up on you, it can start to feel familiar and even normal. You don’t notice how much of an effect it has on you, even as it takes a heavy burden on your body.”

While well-intentioned, most New Year’s resolutions to get in shape involve beginning a fitness regimen characterized by over-exertion and strenuous exercise, and many women wind up suffering from injuries – most commonly to their knees and ankles. Those trouble areas should be supported, but most women find the braces and supports on the market do not fit well or are uncomfortable. There is a reason for this.

“Men’s and women’s bodies are built differently, so one ankle or knee support product, anatomically, cannot provide adequate protection for both genders simultaneously,” says Barclay.

Wellgate for Women was developed on the premise that women need gender-specific ankle and knee supports that address the unique contours of the female anatomy and better address the issues women can experience during a workout or during daily activities.

Such products can provide everyday support, and assist in relieving discomfort after an injury. This is particularly important for women, who are more prone than men to suffer knee injuries like anterior cruciate ligament tears and patella tracking pain.

Wellgate products will not cost an “arm and a leg” and they can prevent the need to spend excess money on a doctor’s visit. Women seeking a safe and healthy exercise regimen can purchase the Wellgate support they need while shopping in stores like Wal-Mart.

Also, with the growing trend of online shopping, women are spending more time at their computers this season than ever. Wellgate wrist supports help to relieve pain from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, sprains and strains that can come with extensive typing and clicking of your mouse.

Make a New Year’s resolution to take control of your stress and remember that Wellgate is here to support you.

As America gears up for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, the U.S. Surgeon General and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) leaders will team up with the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) to hold H1N1 vaccination events at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and the 2010 U.S. Cross Country Championships in Anchorage, Alaska on Tuesday, January 5, 2010. U.S. Olympic and Paralympic officials, Olympic-level athletes, staff, and coaches will get the H1N1 vaccine and join leaders from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in encouraging Americans to do the same.