The best treatment for a heart attack depends on when you get medical attention. In one study of 840 people who suffered such attacks, those treated within two hours fared better when given clot-busting drugs. Those treated two to six hours after symptoms appeared did better with balloon angioplasty.

American Heart Association, Dallas, TX.

Hallucinations can be symptoms of many physical and mental illnesses. Seeing things that aren’t there can indicate mental conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, strokes, tumors and seizures also can produce hallucinations. See your doctor if you see or hear things that aren’t real.

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Even though scientists can’t pinpoint what causes every case of cancer, most agree 30 to 40 percent of cases are diet-related. Research indicates eating more broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage and other cruciferous vegetables offers some protection against the disease.

University of Washington Health Sciences and Medical Affairs, Seattle.

If your big toe starts hurting whenever you walk, stoop or stand, you could have hallux rigidus, a painful, progressive condition that hobbled Los Angeles Lakers’ star Shaquille O’Neal for two seasons. See your doctor if you have persistent pain in your big toe; surgery often is required to alleviate the pain.

American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, Park Ridge, IL.

To avoid food poisoning when eating a brown-bag lunch at work: Wash your hands before and after eating lunch at your desk. Refrigerate your lunch when you arrive at the office. Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator or microwave, not on the countertop. If you bring leftovers for lunch, reheat them to a temperature of 165°. Apply the same rules to fast food and carryout dishes.

American Dietetic Association, Chicago, IL.

Everyone needs calcium to help maintain strong bones, and people older than 50 need at least 1,200 mg. per day. Good food sources of the mineral include milk, yogurt, cheese, fortified fruit juice, soy milk, cereals, canned sardines, salmon with bones, tofu, rhubarb, spinach, turnip greens and kale.

Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN.

Smoking increases a woman’s risk for a severe and often fatal bleeding stroke known as an intracerebral hemorrhage. A nine-year study of 39,783 women found those who smoked 15 or more cigarettes a day were three times more likely to have a bleeding stroke than nonsmoking women.

American Stroke Association, Dallas,TX.

Women are as likely as men to die of heart disease and should take action to prevent it. Steps to take include exercising regularly, eating a diet low in saturated and transfats, maintaining a healthful weight and not smoking.

University of Washington Health Sciences and Medical Affairs, Seattle.

Although twice-yearly dental visits are recommended to prevent oral health problems, less than two-thirds of American adults have even one yearly dental appointment. Because of this, one-third of all Americans have untreated tooth decay and 48 percent have gum disease.

Academy of General Dentistry, Chicago IL.

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