PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS THE ULTIMATE DISEASE PREVENTION STRATEGY. To add more to your day: Park at the far end of the parking lot at work and the mall. During a subway or train trip, stand and don’t hold on too tightly; you’ll improve your balance and strengthen your core back and abdominal muscles. Get a dog or borrow a neighbor’s pooch for a daily walk.

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

WHEN SHOPPING FOR A MOISTURIZER, keep these tips in mind: For your face (or other acne-prone areas), buy products designed specifically for the face—others may clog pores. If you have extra-dry skin, look for products with petrolatum as one of the top three ingredients. Products containing glycerin, lactic acid, or urea can provide an extra boost. If you have sensitive skin, choose those without fragrances, dyes, lanolin, parabens, and formaldehyde.

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

EVERY YEAR MORE THAN 50,000 AMERICANS are treated for strains, pulls, and muscle tears related to carrying heavy luggage. To prevent injuries: Pack things in two smaller bags instead of one large one. Bend at the knees and lift luggage with your leg muscles, not your back and waist. Carry luggage as close to your body as possible. When placing luggage in an overhead compartment, first lift it onto the top of the seat. Then, with your hands on each side of the bag, lift it up.

American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, Rosemont, IL.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES ARE A LEADING CAUSE OF EARLY DEATH FOR U.S. ADULTS. To protect yourself: Ask your doctor if you should receive the varicella-zoster vaccine, which immunizes against shingles; the hepatitis A vaccine; or an annual flu shot. Everyone should get a tetanus shot every 10 years, and women younger than 26 should ask their physicians if they need the HPV vaccine, which protects against the four most common HPV strains responsible for 70 percent of cervical cancers and 90 percent of genital warts.

Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

IN TERMS OF HEALTH AND LONGEVITY, IT’S BETTER TO GIVE THAN TO RECEIVE. One study found older people who spent at least 14 hours a week taking care of a disabled spouse lived longer than those who didn’t provide such care. They were significantly less likely to die early than those who provided no spousal care.

University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI.

VARICOSE VEINS, WHICH MOST OF TEN OCCUR IN THE LEGS, result when the vein valves don’t work properly. Bluish-red, oxygen-depleted blood flows back into the legs and pools in the veins instead of taking a straight course back to the heart. The result is stretching and swelling of the veins. Treatments for varicose veins include injecting a liquid that scars the veins causing them to close off, surgery, and laser therapy.

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

ABOUT 60 TO 70 PERCENT OF PEOPLE WHO DEVELOP DIABETES have some form of neuropathy, the loss of sensation in their feet. To catch problems early when they can be more easily treated: Check your feet daily, looking for any unusual cuts, swelling, and blisters. Keep your feet clean and dry. Don’t go barefoot. Buy comfortable shoes that fit properly. Trim toenails straight across.

University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor, MI.

THE RATE OF PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS IS HIGH AMONG YOUNG ADULTS, who are at a vulnerable developmental stage. Almost half of 18- to 24-year-olds meet criteria for substance abuse, personality disorders, or another mental health condition, but only a quarter seek treatment. The most common disorders in college students are alcohol abuse (20.4 percent) and personality disorders (17.7 percent).

Archives of General Psychiatry, P.O. Box 10946, Chicago, IL 60610-0946, monthly, $199/yr.

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