PEOPLE WHO START SMOKING BEFORE AGE 17 MAY INCREASE THEIR RISK OF DEVELOPING MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS (MS). One study involving 87 people with MS and 435 people without the condition found early smokers were 2.7 times more likely to develop MS than nonsmokers. More than 32 percent of the MS patients were early smokers, compared with 19 percent of the people without MS.

American Academy of Neurology, St. Paul, MN.

ONE IN FOUR AMERICANS HAS FREQUENT GASTROINTESTINAL PROBLEMS that can severely hinder quality of life. These sufferers may endure any combination of symptoms on and off for months or even years at a time. They include painful stomach cramps, gnawing discomfort in the abdomen, a burning sensation behind the breastbone, uncomfortable feelings of fullness, belching, bloating, nausea, gas, diarrhea, or constipation. See a doctor if you have such symptoms frequently.

Harvard Health Publications, Cambridge, MA.

TRIGLYCERIDES, A FORM OF FAT THAT CIRCULATES IN THE BLOOD, can increase your health risks. Some studies suggest the increase in heart disease risk from elevated triglycerides may rival that of high low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol. For most people, three related factors cause elevated triglycerides: consuming too many calories, not exercising enough, and being overweight.

Mayo Clinic Health Letter, 200 First St. S.W., Rochester, MN 55905, monthly, $27/yr.

BY 2020, 43 MILLION AMERICANS WILL BE AT RISK FOR SIGNIFICANT VISION LOSS OR BLINDNESS from age-related eye diseases, such as cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. Adults should get a baseline eye disease screening at age 40, when early signs of eye disease and vision changes may first appear. Individuals of any age with symptoms of eye disease should see an ophthalmologist immediately.

American Academy of Ophthalmology, San Francisco, CA.

NEARLY 50 PERCENT OF AMERICANS WILL DEVELOP PAINFUL KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS over their lifetimes, with the highest risk among those who are overweight or obese. Maintaining a healthy weight can lower a person’s risk for the condition—one study showed women who lost as few as 11 pounds halved their risk of developing knee osteoarthritis and its accompanying joint pain. For those already living with symptoms, losing as few as 15 pounds can cut knee pain in half.

The Arthritis Foundation, Atlanta, GA.

FOR A HEALTHIER HEART: Make sure you know your cholesterol profile, blood pressure reading, and blood sugar counts, and track them through the year. Reduce stress—pressure at home or work, loneliness, and other stressors contribute to heart disease. Pamper your heart and arteries with a better diet and more exercise. If you smoke, make this the year to stop. If you’re overweight, shedding even a few pounds can take a load off your heart by improving blood pressure, blood sugar, and artery function.

Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA.

A WELL-ROUNDED FITNESS PROGRAM with five components—aerobics, strength training, core stability, balance, and flexibility—can help counter the effects of aging. Regular aerobic activity is important for cardiovascular health. Strength training uses free weights, body weight, resistance bands, or weight-resistance machines to increase muscle strength and endurance. Core-stability training focuses on the areas around the trunk. Almost any activity that requires movement can help balance. Flexibility can be improved with regular stretching.

Mayo Clinic Health Letter, 200 First St. S.W., Rochester, MN 55905, monthly, $27/yr.

SCIENTISTS HAVE FOUND MIDDLE-AGED AND OLDER ADULTS trigger key centers in the brain that control decision-making and complex reasoning when they surf the Internet. This suggests that Web searching engages complicated brain activity that may help exercise and improve brain function. Pursuing activities that keep the mind engaged may help preserve brain health and cognitive ability.

Research at the University of California, Los Angeles.

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