A quiz that counts.

This quiz isn't just a game of Trivial Pursuit. Each question tests how well you understand information that is crucial to your health. Do you know the warning signs of diabetes or stroke? What vitamin deficiency can masquerade as Alzheimer's? Which food poisoning symptoms are a sign of dehydration?

The quiz counts for more than a grade. But don't worry if you draw a blank on some of the questions. They're tough. And don't be confused by questions that ask, say, which symptom is least likely to signal a stroke. If we asked which is most likely to, you'd only learn about one symptom. This way, you'll learn about three or four.

There's just one correct answer for each question. Good luck!

 1. It's a good idea to get your
    bone density tested if you're a
    postmenopausal woman who:

    a. weighs less than 125 pounds
    b. weighs more than 150 pounds
    c. drinks three to four alcoholic
       beverages a week
    d. went through menopause late

 2. Your risk of a heart attack or
    stroke starts to climb when your
    blood pressure is:

    a. optimal (less than 120 over less
       than 80)
    b. normal (120-129 over 80-84)
    c. high-normal (130-139 over
       85-89)
    d. high (140 or more over 90 or
       more)

 3. A deficiency of which vitamin
    can masquerade as Alzheimer's
    disease?

    a. vitamin A
    b. vitamin B-12
    c. vitamin C
    d. vitamin D
    e. vitamin E

 4. For American adults, being
    average weight (about 150
    pounds for a woman who is
    5'4") raises your risk of which disease the most?

    a. heart attack
    b. stroke
    c. colon cancer
    d. diabetes
    e. osteoporosis

 5. Which is least likely to lower your risk of prostate
    cancer?

    a. eating more low-fat dairy foods
    b. eating less red meat
    c. eating spaghetti sauce two to four times a week
    d. taking vitamin E
    e. taking selenium

 6. Which sign of food poisoning
    should prompt you to call the
    doctor as soon as it occurs?

    a. vomiting
    b. diarrhea
    c. bloody diarrhea
    d. fever
    e. headache

 7. Which is least likely to be a
    warning sign of a stroke?

    a. sudden severe headache
    b. sudden weakness or numbness
    c. sudden shooting pains in the legs
    d. sudden difficulty speaking
    e. sudden dimness or loss of vision

 8. If you think you're having a
    heart attack, you should:

    a. call 911 immediately
    b. get to the hospital immediately
    c. wait ten minutes to see if the
      symptoms disappear
    d. take an aspirin and see if the
      symptoms disappear

 9. Numbness in the hands or feet
    is least likely to be a sign of:

    a. diabetes
    b. stroke
    c. vitamin B-6 deficiency
    d. vitamin B-12 deficiency

10. Diarrhea can be caused by:

    a. too much potassium
    b. too much magnesium
    c. too little selenium
    d. too little folate

11. Which doesn't raise the risk
    of a heart attack?

    a. high blood pressure
    b. low HDL ("good") cholesterol
    c. arthritis
    d. diabetes
    e. cigarette smoking

12. Which is least likely to lower your risk of a hip
    fracture?

    a. taking a calcium supplement
    b. taking a daily multivitamin-and-mineral
    c. eating green leafy vegetables
    d. losing excess weight
    e. exercising

13. Men should get a blood test for PSA (prostate
    specific antigen) to screen for prostate cancer
    every year starting at what age?

    a. 20
    b. 30
    c. 40
    d. 50
    e. 60

14. Getting too little of which nutrient can lead to
    high blood pressure?

    a. potassium
    b. copper
    c. zinc
    d. iron
    e. chromium

15. Which is most likely to lower your risk of
    cataracts and macular degeneration?

    a. carrots
    b. spinach
    c. cauliflower
    d. oranges
    e. grapes

16. Defrosted or raw poultry should be cooked
    within:

    a. a week
    b. three or four days
    c. one or two days
    d. four hours

17. You should get your HDL ("good") and LDL
    ("bad") cholesterol checked at least every five
    years starting at age:

    a. 20
    b. 30
    c. 40
    d. 50
    e. 60

18. If a bout of food poisoning gives you diarrhea
    or vomiting, which of these symptoms is a sign
    that you're becoming dehydrated?

    a. faintness
    b. rapid heart rate
    c. dizziness after standing up suddenly
    d. failure to urinate for 24 hours
    e. any of the above

19. Which is least likely to be a sign of diabetes?

    a. recurring gum, skin, or bladder infections
    b. joint pain
    c. blurred vision
    d. cuts or bruises that are slow to heal
    e. frequent urination

20. Too much of which vitamin
    can weaken bones?

    a. vitamin A
    b. vitamin B-6
    c. vitamin C
    d. vitamin K

21. If you're over 50, which of these
    vitamins should you make sure to get from a
    supplement or fortified food?

    a. vitamin A
    b. vitamin B-6
    c. vitamin B-12
    d. vitamin C
    e. vitamin E

22. Which is the most reliable sign of insulin resistance?

    a. high LDL ("bad") cholesterol
    b. high triglycerides (at least 150)
    c. excess weight
    d. carbohydrate craving

23. Constipation can be caused by:

    a. too much zinc
    b. too little calcium
    c. too much iron
    d. too little magnesium

24. Which is least likely to be a sign of a heart
    attack?

    a. chest pain
    b. shortness of breath
    c. headache
    d. jaw pain
    e. nausea

25. Which nutrient may help prevent diabetes?

    a. calcium
    b. magnesium
    c. potassium
    d. phosphorus
    e. selenium

26. Which is least likely to cause food poisoning?

    a. cold cuts
    b. raw sprouts
    c. Caesar salad dressing
    d. shrimp
    e. brie cheese

27. If someone shows signs of a stroke that disappear
    after a few minutes, you should:

    a. wait 15 minutes to see if the signs return
    b. advise them to tell their doctor at the next visit
    c. call a doctor immediately
    d. call 911

28. A roasted chicken is thoroughly cooked when:

    a. the thigh reaches an internal temperature of 180 [degrees] F
    b. the juices run clear
    c. the leg moves easily in its socket
    d. any of the above

29. Regular aerobic exercise is least likely to lower
    the risk of:

    a. colon cancer
    b. diabetes
    c. stroke
    d. gallstones
    e. prostate cancer

30. Which is least likely to lower your risk of
    diabetes?

    a. exercise
    b. taking vitamin E
    c. losing excess weight
    d. eating whole instead of refined grains

31. If you're over 40 (women) or 60 (men), you
    steadily lose muscle unless you:

    a. do aerobic exercise at least three days a week
    b. do strength-training exercise at least twice a week
    c. increase your protein intake
    d. all of the above

32. To avoid food poisoning from E. coli O157:H7,
    cook ground beef until:

    a. the internal temperature reaches 160 [degrees] F
    b. the juices run clear
    c. it's no longer pink in the center
    d. any of the above

33. Which is least likely to lower
    your blood pressure?

    a. eating lower-sodium foods
    b. eating more fruits and vegetables
    c. exercising
    d. losing excess weight
    e. taking a calcium supplement

34. Which is a reliable sign of
    hypertension (high blood pressure)?

    a. frequent headaches
    b. blurred vision
    c. flushing
    d. inability to handle stress
    e. none of the above

35. Eating less red meat is least likely to cut the risk
    of:

    a. breast cancer
    b. colon cancer
    c. non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
    d. prostate cancer

36. If you have insulin resistance, which is least
    likely to help?

    a. a low-calorie diet
    b. a low-fat diet
    c. a Mediterranean diet
    d. an Atkins-type diet
    e. exercise

37. Which is least likely to help curb arthritis?

    a. vitamin B-6
    b. vitamin C
    c. vitamin D
    d. glucosamine
    e. chondroitin

38. Folic acid is least likely to prevent:

    a. birth defects
    b. heart disease
    c. stroke
    d. prostate cancer
    e. colon cancer

39. The surest way to get enough vitamin D is to:

    a. eat more dairy foods
    b. eat more fortified cereals
    c. eat more fish
    d. take a multivitamin
    e. spend more time outdoors

40. Being overweight is least likely
    to raise the risk of which
    cancer?

    a. breast
    b. colon
    c. endometrium
    d. esophagus
    e. prostate

answers

1. a (weighs less than 125 pounds). Postmenopausal women who weigh less than 125 pounds have a higher risk of hip fractures than those who weigh more. It's also worth getting a bone density test if you are 65 or older, smoke cigarettes, have fractured a bone as an adult, or have a family history of bone fractures.

2. b (normal). Your risk of a heart attack or stroke is elevated even when your blood pressure is "normal" or "high-normal." And normal means that the upper number is 120 to 129 or the lower number is 80 to 84. "High" blood pressure means that doctors consider treating it with drugs.

3. b (vitamin B-12). A B-12 deficiency can cause irreversible nerve damage and dementia. Anyone with unexplained memory loss should get a blood test for vitamin B-12. If it's less than 300 picograms per milliliter (pg/mL), a blood test for methylmalonic acid and homocysteine can nail down a B-12 deficiency.

4. d (diabetes). The average American woman (5'4" and 152 pounds) is overweight and has twice the risk of diabetes compared to a 5'4" woman of optimal weight (128 pounds). While being overweight raises the risk of heart disease, stroke, and colon cancer, it raises the risk of diabetes the most. The average man (5'9" and 180 pounds) should weigh closer to 150 pounds.

5. a (eating more low-fat dairy foods). Low-fat dairy may reduce blood pressure and the risk of osteoporosis, but it doesn't protect the prostate. In fact, men who consume at least 2,000 mg a day of calcium (from food or supplements) may have a higher risk of prostate cancer.

6. c (bloody diarrhea). It could be a sign of an E. coli O157:H7 infection, which can lead to kidney failure and death. Other reasons to call the doctor: a fever that lasts more than 24 hours; diarrhea that lasts more than three days (which could cause dehydration and lead to kidney failure); and fever, headache, and stiff neck (when all three occur together, it could signal a Listeria infection).

7. c (sudden shooting pains in the legs). It's worth learning the signs of a stroke. Clot-dissolving drugs can curb the damage, but only if they reach the clot within three hours. Since doctors have to do a CAT scan and set up an intravenous line first, it's critical to get to the hospital immediately. Other warning signs of a stroke: difficulty understanding speech; unexplained dizziness, unsteadiness, or sudden falls; double vision; drowsiness; nausea; or vomiting.

8. a (call 911 immediately). Don't wait longer than five minutes to call. New clot-busting drugs can save lives and minimize damage to the heart, but only one in five heart attack victims get to the hospital fast enough for the drugs to work. Emergency medical workers can give oxygen and medications (including aspirin) or re-start the heart on the way to the hospital, so you're better off in an ambulance than a car.

9. c (vitamin B-6 deficiency). Numbness can be a sign of stroke (if it comes on suddenly). It can also signal diabetes or a vitamin B-12 deficiency (both can cause irreversible nerve damage). Too much vitamin B-6 can cause numbness, burning, tingling, or shooting pains, but fortunately they're reversible. The highest level of B-6 that's safe (the Upper Tolerable Intake Level, or UL) is 100 mg a day--that's 50 times what you'd get in most multivitamins.

10. b (too much magnesium). The highest level of magnesium that's likely to be safe, the Upper Tolerable Intake Level (UL), is 350 milligrams a day. But that only applies to magnesium that's been added to foods, supplements, or drugs. The magnesium that occurs naturally in foods is safe at any level. Too much added magnesium can cause diarrhea. The recommended intake of magnesium (the Daily Value, or DV) from all sources is 400 mg a day.

11. c (arthritis). A diabetic has the same risk of a heart attack as someone with heart disease. Low HDL means under 40 (men) or under 50 (women).

12. d (losing excess weight). There are lots of reasons to shed those pounds, but protecting your bones isn't one of them. Weight-bearing exercise and calcium should help lower your risk of a hip fracture. Ditto for the vitamin D and vitamin K in your multi (if your multi is one of the many that have little or no vitamin K, make sure you eat plenty of K-rich vegetables like spinach, collards, and romaine lettuce).

13. d (age 50). Start getting your PSA checked at age 45 if you are African-American or have a father or brother who was diagnosed with prostate cancer in his 40s or 50s.

14. a (potassium). Too little can raise blood pressure. Good sources of potassium include fruits, vegetables, milk, and yogurt.

15. b (spinach). Leafy greens like spinach, collards, kale, and romaine lettuce (the darker the better) are rich in lutein, a carotenoid that may protect eyes.

16. c (one or two days). You can wait four or five days to cook beef and pork, but it's best to cook fish, poultry, or ground poultry--as well as any ground meat--within two days. And always defrost meat, poultry, and fish in the fridge, not at room temperature.

17. a (age 20). You'll need a fasting blood sample to get a good read on your HDL and LDL. If your HDL is too low or your LDL is too high, you'll need more frequent tests.

18. e (any of the above). Dehydration can lead to kidney failure. To prevent it, your doctor may give you intravenous fluids.

19. b (joint pain). Other signs of diabetes include tingling or numbness in the hands or feet, frequent infections of any kind, fatigue, unexplained weight loss, irritability, unusual thirst, or extreme hunger.

20. a (vitamin A). Women who consume too much vitamin A (more than about 6,500 IU a day over an extended period of time) have a greater risk of fracture. (There are no data on men yet.) That applies only to the retinol or retinyl palmitate form of vitamin A, which is found in animal foods (like milk, liver, and butter). Beta-carotene, which the body converts to vitamin A, doesn't weaken bones. Supplements and fortified foods (like cereals) may contain beta-carotene, retinol, or a mixture of both.

21. c (vitamin B-12). Many older people don't have enough stomach acid to extract the B-12 that's bound to protein in foods. To play it safe, get your B-12 from a supplement or a fortified food (like cereal) if you're over age 50. While as little as 2.4 micrograms (mcg) a day may be enough, you'll probably get 6 mcg from most multis. That's fine.

22. b (high triglycerides). A high LDL ("bad") cholesterol means a higher risk of heart disease. But you have insulin resistance--also called "the metabolic syndrome" or "syndrome X"--if you have at least three of these five symptoms: high triglycerides, high blood pressure, high fasting blood sugar, low HDL, and a waist measurement of at least 35 inches (women) or 40 inches (men). Being overweight with a smaller waist is not a risk factor.

23. c (too much iron). The highest level of iron that's likely to be safe, the Upper Tolerable Intake Level (UL), is 45 mg a day. Getting more--which would be almost impossible without taking supplements or eating highly fortified foods--can cause constipation, nausea, and diarrhea.

24. c (headache). Chest pain (or pressure, fullness, or squeezing) is the most common sign of a heart attack. But shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, and back or jaw pain are also common, especially in women. Other signs: stomach, arm, or neck pain, breaking out in a cold sweat, and lightheadedness.

25. b (magnesium). The evidence is still incomplete, but some studies suggest that people who consume more magnesium (and more fiber) have a lower risk of diabetes. Good sources include whole grains, beans, and leafy green vegetables.

26. d (shrimp). Unless you eat your shrimp raw, it should be safer than uncooked or unheated foods that have time to grow bacteria (soft cheeses, sprouts, ready-to-eat cold cuts, or smoked salmon). Foods that could be made with raw or undercooked eggs (like homemade or some restaurants' mayonnaise, eggnog, Caesar salad dressing, ice cream, mousse, meringue, or Bearnaise or Hollandaise sauce) are also a risk.

27. d (call 911). If someone had crushing chest pain (a sign of a heart attack) that lasted only a few minutes, you'd call 911. A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is no different. Like a heart attack or stroke, it's an emergency because the symptoms may not have gone away as much as you think, may come back, or may lead to a stroke.

28. d (any of the above). Salmonella and other bacteria are killed when poultry reaches 160 [degrees] F. If you're cooking a whole chicken, all of its meat should be at least 160 [degrees] F when the thigh reaches 180 [degrees] F. At that point the juices run clear and the leg moves easily in its socket.

29. e (prostate cancer). While men who exercise have no lower risk of prostate cancer, they do have a lower risk of benign enlarged prostate. Exercise can also improve sleep, prevent diverticular disease, strengthen bones, and protect the heart.

30. b (taking vitamin E). Losing excess weight and exercising (even it you don't lose weight) are the best ways to lower your risk of diabetes. Substituting whole-grain breads and cereals for refined grains may also help.

31. b (do strength-training at least twice a week). Only strength-training can prevent muscle loss as you age, and it may only take 20 minutes two or three times a week. Strength-training means contracting your muscles against a heavy load. You can lift weights, use a resistance machine, or do simple exercises like push-ups. And don't forget to do aerobic exercise like brisk walking for at least half an hour most days of the week. It can reduce the risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, some cancers, and more.

32. a (the internal temperature reaches 160 [degrees] F). E. coli is destroyed at 160 [degrees] F. Using your eyes isn't good enough. Studies suggest that the bacteria may still survive when the pink color disappears and the juices run clear.

33. e (taking a calcium supplement). In a landmark study, eating more low-fat dairy products helped lower blood pressure, but it's not clear whether protein, calcium, magnesium, or something else in those foods mattered. Calcium supplements do not consistently lower blood pressure.

34. e (none of the above). High blood pressure has no reliable symptoms. Although some people get headaches or blurred vision, the only way to tell if your blood pressure is high is by getting it checked.

35. a (breast cancer). In some studies, people who eat more red meat have a higher risk of colon or prostate cancer or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, but no solid link has turned up between meat and breast cancer.

36. b (a low-fat diet). Exercise and losing excess weight are the keys to reversing insulin resistance--also known as "the metabolic syndrome" or "syndrome X." Low-fat diets are high in carbohydrates, which could make insulin resistance worse. An Atkins-type diet (high-fat, high-protein) might help curb insulin resistance, but its saturated fat could raise your (already high) risk of heart disease. Your best bet is a low-calorie, Mediterranean diet that substitutes fruits, vegetables, and unsaturated fats (from oils, nuts, and salad dressing) for other fats and some carbs.

37. a (vitamin B-6). Both glucosamine (1,500 mg a day) and chondroitin (1,200 mg a day) seem to curb arthritis symptoms. Studies are under way to see if both together work better than either one alone. Preliminary studies suggest that arthritis progresses more quickly in people who consume less vitamin C and in people with low blood levels of vitamin D.

38. d (prostate cancer). The B-vitamin folic acid reduces the risk of spina bifida and other neural tube birth defects. It may also prevent heart disease and stroke (by lowering blood levels of homocysteine). And some studies suggest that folic acid may reduce the risk of colon cancer, especially in moderate and heavy drinkers.

39. d (take a multivitamin). Only milk, fatty fish (like salmon, halibut, and catfish), and a few brands of yogurt, hot cereal, and margarine have substantial amounts of vitamin D. And you'd have to eat them every day to reach the 400 IU you'll get from most multivitamins (400 IU is the Daily Value). If you want to reach 600 IU a day--the amount recommended for people over 70--you might need a separate vitamin D supplement (unless there's vitamin D in your calcium supplement). North of the line running roughly through Los Angeles, Dallas, and Atlanta, the sun's ultraviolet light is too weak to make vitamin D from late fall through early spring.

40. e (prostate). The risk of endometrial cancer rises only in women who are remarkedly overweight, but the risk of breast, colon, and esophageal cancers appears higher in people who are just mildly overweight.

HOW'D YOU DO?

Don't feel bad if you got half the questions wrong. That was par for the course among people who tested the test for us. Look at it this way: Had you gotten them all correct, you wouldn't have learned anything.

31-40   Phew! You probably finish your taxes
        on January 1.

21-30   You nailed it. Dust off the refrigerator
        magnet.

11-20   Nice. We're not kidding.

 0-10   Try again. We'll drop by next Saturday
        for a pop quiz.