Use these resources to fend off our number-one killer.
Family-health trackerIf you have a strong family history of heart disease, you know your risk is higher.
Fill out the American Heart Association’s “My Family Health Tree” form atHeart.organd discuss with your doc.
Research heart-smart dishes at local restaurants before you go atHealthyDiningFinder.com.
The site highlights menu items lower in calories and fat and offers links to more nutritional info.
Moving motivatorWanna score cool swag simply for going to your favorite Spin class?
You’ll earn points based on how many calories you burn; winners get T-shirts and more.
Plus, logging at least 30 minutes of moderate aerobic exercise a day can cut your heart disease risk.
Not to add to your angst, but chronic stress raises your risk for obesity, hypertension and more.
Try these tricks to take the edge off when… Next timeKeep a journal of your tasks for one workweek.
Anything you might delegate or any meetings you might skip?
By keeping your needs quiet, you’re playing a role in this stressor.
Tackling tasks together builds your bond, which is a great stress reducer.
Your bills pile upCall your creditors to explain your situation.
Next timeGo back to the simple life: Stay in for dinner or visit a public library.
you’ve got the option to also volunteer at a local shelter.
future, meet with a financial planner.
Then talk to your kids in a calm, low voice, so you feel in control.
“Yelling fans the flames of riled-up kids,” Baker notes.
Next timeTry to circumvent their meltdown.
Your pal is a negative NellieDon’t join a pity party.
Making these tasty trades five times a week trims 3,500 calories from your dietand a pound from your figure.
You save 78 calories.
PB&JReplace the jelly with 3 slices of ripe pear.
You save 123 calories.
You save 149 calories.
You save 81 calories.
Tuna salad with mayonnaiseMix the tuna with 1 1/2 tablespoons reduced-fat mayo and 1 tsp Dijon mustard.
You save 128 calories.
Medium frozen yogurt topped with granolaDownsize to a small frozen yogurt and pile on the fresh strawberries.
You save 202 calories.
Learn a new skill.Scrapbooking, skiing, whatever.
As you go from novice to expert, you make neural connections that enable faster thinking with less effort.
Write a restaurant review.Critique the highs and lows of the meal.
“To enhance creativity, appreciate experiences from multiple perspectives,” says Chapman.
Switch your side of the bed.
Design your dream house.Pick a location and layout.
Focusing on certain facts and ignoring others strengthen your frontal lobes, where problem solving occurs.
Fifty percent of you named bloat and gas as your chief GI complaint.
To stop the swell….
Air out.Bypass gum, straws and bubbly beverages.
Gradually introduce fibrous foods like bran and lentils to your diet to find your tipping point.
And like fiber, excess fructose ferments in your colon.
back up your allotment of the sweet stuff for real food.
Move.Walk, run, jumpit gets gas moving through the digestive tract.
These two diseases virtually tied as your biggest cancer concerns.
We asked three M.D.s to share easy ways to head off disease.
If “atypia” appeared on your report, ask about preventive measures like taking Tamoxifen.
Use lip balm with SPF 30, and wear wraparound shades.
Dress wisely.Wash your clothes with SunGuard (SunGuardSunProtection.com).
About 40 percent of common cancers could be prevented through good nutrition, exercise and other lifestyle factors.
Check out the American Cancer Society’s guidelines for detecting cancer early atCancer.orgfor unbiased screening recommendations.
Here’s what women of every age need to know.
Antibiotics treat both; ask your doc about screening.
And use a condom!
SmokingPuffers often lose their fertility earlier and go into menopause prematurely, Dr. Taylor warns.
Quit today; go toSmokeFree.govfor help.
Irregular periodsThese can signal a health condition, such as thyroid disease, that’s interfering with ovulation.
If you haven’t had regular cycles in two to three months, check in with your physician.
Don’t ignore symptoms.Unusual pelvic pain or pain during sex may signal endometriosis, a condition associated with infertility.
(It pops up if uterine tissue grows outside the uterus.)
See your ob/gyn if you have signs; surgery can help.
Watch your weight.Obesity is linked with infertility and miscarriage.
Aim for a body-mass index of 18.5 to 24.9.
(Find yours now.)
The results estimate your egg number and quality and help you decide best next steps.
Medicine cabinetLarge doses of some herbs, such as red clover, can interfere with your hormone levels.
before taking any supplements.
OptionsSee a reproductive specialist to discuss infertility options such as in vitro fertilization, Dr. Taylor suggests.
Your teenage years are over, but acne still bugs 36 percent of you.
Try a facial brush like Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System ($30; CVS or Target).
All the pores near a zit are likely clogged.
Swipe a 2 percent salicylic acid cream across your T-zone.
DON’T put self-tanners on your face.
They contain chemicals such as DHA that may exacerbate acne, Dr. Badreshia-Bansal says.
DO call for backup.
One third of you are dragging.
Is one of these sneaky energy zappers to blame?
Opt for one with less than 6 grams of sugar per serving.
The reason’s unclear, but why not take a nature hike?
But he thinks you’re gorgeous!
Don’t believe us?
Assemble these tools to bolster your bedroom confidence and have more fun tonight.
The study was teeny, but if perfume makes you feel less inhibited, spritz away!
We like Island Michael Kors Palm Beach ($62).
Conditioned arousal helps override self-consciousness, says Ann Kearney-Cooke, Ph.D., director of the Cincinnati Psychotherapy Institute.
Plus, candlelight is always flattering.
A calendarTry getting frisky the week before ovulation (typically the week following your period).
White T-shirtMen are visual, Kearney-Cooke says.
The sheer cotton provides security for you and a wet T-shirt fantasy for him.
You’ll feel more connected to him and, as a result, more secure in yourself.
You’re fabulousfrom every angle.
Lingerie for your shapeVisually divide your body into three sectionschest up, midsection and legs.
Find one thing you like most about each section, and accentuate that strength with lingerie.
If your C cups overfloweth, try a bustier top.
Go for a full slip with a high slit.
Wear it and work it!
