TO HELP PREVENT NECK PAIN, sleep on your side or on your back. If you sleep on your back, choose a rounded pillow to support the natural curve of your neck, with a flatter pillow cushioning your head. Avoid using too high or stiff a pillow, which keeps your neck flexed overnight and can result in morning pain and stiffness. If you sleep on your side, keep your spine straight by using a pillow that is higher under your neck than your head.

Research at Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, Mass.

PEOPLE WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED KIDNEY STONES HAVE A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF RECURRENCE within 10 years. Most people can take steps to reduce their risk. They should drink at least 12 cups of fluid a day—preferably water. They should limit meat intake to less than 6 to 8 ounces daily. They should get enough calcium while avoiding excess vitamin D. And they should limit their intake of oxalate-containing foods such as spinach, beets, chocolate, peanuts, and potatoes.

Mayo Clinic Health Letter, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905, monthly, $27 a year.

MOST OLDER DRIVERS ARE UNAWARE OF MEDICATIONS’ POTENTIAL IMPACT ON DRIVING PERFORMANCE, according to new research. The findings indicate 78 percent of people over age 55 take one or more medications, and only 28 percent know the risks those medications might pose to their driving ability. Only 18 percent reported receiving a warning from a health care professional about medications that might impair their driving.

The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, Washington, D.C.

CERTAIN FOODS LOWER HIGH CHOLESTEROL IN VARIOUS WAYS. Some deliver soluble fiber, which binds cholesterol in the digestive system and removes it from the body. Some provide polyunsaturated fats, which lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. And some contain plant sterols that block the body from absorbing cholesterol. Foods high in soluble fiber include oats, barley, and beans. Polyunsaturated fats are found in canola, sunflower, and safflower oils. Sterols are added to some foods, including margarine and orange juice.

Harvard Healthbeat, Cambridge, Mass.

FOOT AND ANKLE PROBLEMS IN CHILDREN OFTEN GO UNNOTICED. Warning signs parents should watch for: Their kids can’t keep up with their friends in sports or backyard play. Their children voluntarily withdraw from physical activities they usually enjoy. Their child often trips and falls or complains of pain. A child with any of these signs or symptoms should see a doctor.

The American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, Chicago, Ill.

QUITTING SMOKING IS ONE OF THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN DO to improve your chance of recovering from surgery without complications. Patients who quit smoking heal better, studies have shown. Those who smoke have a higher chance for complications, such as infections in the surgical incision. In one study, more than half of patients who kept smoking after surgery developed complications, compared to less than 20 percent who quit.

American Society of Anesthesiologists, Park Ridge, Ill.

WANT TO STAY IN SHAPE WITH OUT STRAINING YOUR BUDGET? Buy used sports equipment from sporting goods stores, online, or at yard sales. Use exercise DVDs from your local library to practice aerobics, yoga, strength training, and tai chi at home. Make the most of everyday activities such as walking, gardening, taking the stairs, and playing with your children or grandchildren.

Mayo Clinic Women’s HealthSource, 200 First St. SW, Rochester, MN 55905, monthly, $24 a year.

KEEP YOUR IMMUNE SYSTEM IN OPTIMUM SHAPE. Take these actions: Don’t smoke. Eat a diet high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains and low in saturated fat. Take a multivitamin if you suspect you may not be getting all the nutrients you need through your diet. Exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. Manage your stress, control your blood pressure, and get enough sleep.

Harvard Healthbeat, Cambridge, Mass.

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