PEOPLE WHO SUFFER FROM CHRONIC PAIN may find relief at pain rehabilitation centers. While programs vary widely in scope and focus, many provide a team approach that includes care by physician specialists, psychologists, nurses, physical therapists, and occupational therapists.

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

ALTERED BLOOD FLOW IN THE BRAIN DUE TO HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE and other conditions may lead to falls in elderly people. One study of 419 people ages 65 and older found the 20 percent of people who had the smallest blood flow changes in the brain were at a 70 percent higher risk of falling, compared to the 20 percent of people who had the largest blood flow changes in the brain. High blood pressure affects blood flow in the brain.

American Academy of Neurology, St. Paul, Minn.

SHOULD YOU OR SHOULDN’T YOU TAKE AN ASPIRIN A DAY? If you’re healthy, haven’t been diagnosed with heart disease or other cardiovascular illness, and don’t have risk factors for them, aspirin probably isn’t for you. The less healthy your heart and arteries, the more likely that the advantages of taking aspirin will outweigh any risks. In any case, don’t decide on your own—speak with your doctor.

Harvard Health Publications, Cambridge, Mass.

DIETARY CHOICES AREN’T ONLY EVIDENT on the bathroom scale. The effect of these choices is also reflected in cholesterol numbers. The leading contributor to high LDL (“bad”) cholesterol is a diet high in saturated and trans fats. To improve your total cholesterol levels, eat more cholesterol-lowering foods. Favor margarine spreads made with plant sterols and foods that are high in soluble fiber, such as oatmeal, apples, and kidney beans.

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

SOME PEOPLE WITH DEMENTIA CAN STILL DRIVE SAFELY FOR A TIME. However, nearly all people with dementia will eventually have to give up driving. The decision to stop driving should be determined by a doctor who is trained and experienced in working with people with dementia and their families.

American Academy of Neurology, St. Paul, Minn.

EVIDENCE SUGGESTS THAT A THIRD OF THE MORE THAN 560,000 CANCER DEATHS that occur in the U.S. annually are related to diet, exercise, and weight. To reduce your risk: Eat more fruits and vegetables, limit fat in your diet, maintain a healthy weight, and be physically active.

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

YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR HEART’S HEALTH with a series of small changes that include: taking a daily 10-minute walk, lifting weights, eating one extra fruit or vegetable a day, eating more nuts and fish, breathing deeply and relaxing in response to stress, and taking a moment each day to acknowledge the blessings in your life.

Harvard Healthbeat, Cambridge, Mass.

MOST TICK BITES ARE HARMLESS. Some, however, cause serious illnesses, including Lyme disease. To be safe, seek prompt medical attention if a rash, fever, muscle aches, joint pain, swollen lymph nodes, or flulike symptoms occur several days or weeks after a tick bite.

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

© StayWell Custom Communications. Information is the opinion of the sourced authors and organizations. Personal decisions regarding health, diet, and exercise should be made only after consultation with the reader's own medical advisers. This material may not be reproduced for redistribution without written permission from StayWell Custom Communications.