FOCUSING DAILY ON SMALL MOMENTS OF HAPPINESS and cultivating positive emotions increase life satisfaction by building resilience that helps you rebound better from adversity and stress and ward off depression, according to a study. The levels of positive emotions that produced good benefits weren’t extreme. Participants with average levels of positive emotions showed growth in resilience even when their days included negative emotions and circumstances.

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC.

SPORTS-RELATED INJURIES such as bruises, scrapes, and broken bones accounted for 22 percent of hospital emergency department visits for children ages 5 to 17. Boys had three times more visits to treat sports injuries than girls, and teens were five times more likely than younger children to be treated for sports injuries in emergency departments.

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD.

POSSESSING A GREATER PURPOSE IN LIFE is associated with lower mortality rates among older adults, according to a study of 1,238 elderly men and women. After adjusting for age, sex, education, and race, a higher purpose of life was associated with a substantially reduced risk for mortality during a five-year follow-up period. Purpose in life reflects the tendency to derive meaning from life’s experiences and to be focused and intentional.

Psychosomatic Medicine, Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, P.O. Box 1550, Hagerstown, MD 21741, monthly, $419/yr.

EACH YEAR, AMERICANS MAKE ABOUT 15 MILLION VISITS TO DOCTORS for knee pain and 6 million visits for hip pain. Depending on the cause of their pain, the solution might be a set of exercises designed to strengthen and stretch the muscles that support the joint, or perhaps minor surgery. For some people, the best solution is replacing a worn-out knee or hip with a mechanical joint. In the U.S., doctors replaced 451,000 knees and 364,000 hips in 2003.

Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA.

WOMEN WHO DRINK ALCOHOL may have a lower risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and death from CV . The reason? Alcohol affects the body’s processing of fats and sugar in the blood. Researchers who compared nondrinkers to moderate drinkers in a study of 26,399 women found an intake of one-half to one drink a day was associated with a 26 percent lower risk for CVD and a 51 percent decrease in CVD mortality. An increase in HDL (good) cholesterol and improved metabolism of glucose (blood sugar) were the main contributors to the lower risk.

Circulation, 7272 Greenville Ave., Dallas, TX 75231, monthly, $102/yr.

GET IN SHAPE. A systematic review of 20 studies found consistent evidence that structured exercise programs that improve physical conditioning effectively prevent back pain in the workplace. Stress management, shoe inserts, back supports, back education, and reduced lifting programs do not, the review found. Effective exercise regimens increased strength, endurance, and flexibility.

The Spine Journal, 7075 Veterans Blvd., Burr Ridge, IL 60527, six times a year, $130/yr.

PEOPLE WITH ARTHRITIS WHO DON’T EXERCISE REGULARLY often have increased pain, stiffness, and fatigue. However, a study found that getting as little as one to two hours of moderately intense physical activity each week may prevent these osteoarthritis symptoms. Several small studies found people with knee osteoarthritis who practiced tai chi for 12 weeks had less pain and better joint function than people who did not practice the gentle martial art.

Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA.

WELL-BALANCED VEGETARIAN DIETS, including vegan diets, are associated with health advantages including lower blood cholesterol levels, lower risk for heart disease, lower blood pressure levels, and lower risk for cancer, high blood pressure, and type 2 diabetes. Vegetarian diets tend to be lower in saturated fat and cholesterol and have higher levels of dietary fiber, vitamins, and phytochemicals. Well-planned vegetarian diets are safe for people of all ages, including children and adolescents.

American Dietetic Association, Chicago, IL.

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