19 Life-Changing Secrets

A Healthy You

12. The Secret to... Reaching Any Health Goal

Write a letter to a loved one. "List every excuse you can think of for not taking care of yourself. Then explain why these unhealthy habits may mean you won't be around for this person in the future. Rather than sending the note, keep it nearby to read when your motivation wanes. In addition to making you accountable for your actions, it will remind you that the changes you're making will prolong your life and the amount of time you'll be able to spend with friends and family."

--Michael George, Los Angeles-based trainer and author of Body Express Makeover (Simon and Schuster, 2005)

13. The Secret to... Heading Off a Hangover

Set your alarm for an hour before you need to get up. "Then take 800 milligrams of ibuprofen and go back to bed. Though twice the over-the-counter dose, it's a safe amount to take occasionally (provided you don't have kidney disease or ulcers). The drug targets inflammation, which can cause hangover symptoms like head and body aches. Spending that hour in bed -- even if you don't fall back asleep -- gives the drug time to work and allows you to start your day refreshed instead of flagging."

--David J. Clayton, MD, coauthor of The Healthy Guide to Unhealthy Living (Simon & Schuster, 2006)

14. The Secret to... Recovering from a Health Crisis

Focus on the positive. "Whether you're on the mend from a broken leg or in remission from cancer, it's actually physiologically helpful to consider what you've gained from the experience. Did you discover a strength you didn't know you had? Find out which of your friends could be counted on in a crunch -- and which ones aren't as reliable as you thought? While an optimistic outlook isn't a cure-all, studies show that people with one have greater resistance to disease, recover more quickly from illness, and live longer. If you have trouble seeing the upside now, surround yourself with people who do. Then try this exercise: On a piece of paper, draw two columns. Write down all your pessimistic thoughts on your health on the left and balance each with a positive statement on the right. Tear away the negative column and hang the optimistic list on your fridge to glance at throughout the day."

--Larry Dossey, MD, author of The Extraordinary Healing Power of Ordinary Things (Harmony Books, 2006)

15. The Secret to... a Healthy Pregnancy

Give your gums the star treatment. It could benefit your entire body. A recent study found that young people, especially those in their 20s, are likely to get periodontal disease in their back teeth, which can be associated with pregnancy-related problems as well as heart disease. Brush and floss your back teeth carefully and have them regularly cleaned and checked by a dentist. You also may want to soak up a little sun (safely, of course). New research found that people with higher blood levels of vitamin D may be less likely to develop gum disease.

--Research from the School of Dentistry at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Boston University's Goldman School of Dental Medicine

16. The Secret to... Not Fainting When Having a Blood Test

Tense your muscles. "Simultaneously contracting the muscles in your arms, legs, torso, and neck can apply enough external pressure to blood-vessel walls to prevent the drop in blood pressure that causes fainting. Do this exercise in sets of five, five times a day (hold each contraction for 10 seconds), so you can become familiar enough with the technique to apply it at the doctor's office."

--Mark Watling, MD, coauthor of Overcoming Medical Phobias (New Harbinger Publications, 2006)

17. The Secret to... Curing Sinus Trouble

Toss your pillow. Your bedding may be harboring millions of fungi. Aspergillus fumigatus, the species found most commonly in pillows, can worsen asthma, particularly in adults who've had it for many years, and cause allergic sinusitis in those with allergic tendencies. When you buy a new pillow, consider one with feathers, as more fungi were found in the synthetic variety.

--Study from the University of Manchester in England