LIFE LINES.

Give and You Shall Receive

While most people don't seek out an opportunity for community involvement, those who do volunteer enjoy benefits to their psychological well-being. Volunteering boosts self-esteem and energy--particularly for retirees--by providing a daily sense of purpose and fostering improved social relationships.

(Cornell University)

Trouble From the Left

Drivers over age 65 have a significantly higher number of auto accidents while making left turns. A new study shows that these accidents occur because of a general tendency of older drivers to drive slower, exposing themselves to an intersection's lines of traffic for a longer period of time. Once a decision is reached to initiate a left-hand turn, drivers should attempt to complete the turn as quickly as safely possible.

(Journal of the American Geriatric Society)

School or Sick Day?

How can you tell if your child is too sick to go to school? Dr. Jane Corboy, assistant professor of family and community medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, says these symptoms can warrant keeping a child at home:

* A fever of 100.5 [degrees] F or higher

* A rash that might be contagious

* Vomiting

If a child complains of headaches or stomachaches, which are hard to verify by observation, Corboy recommends looking for additional symptoms, such as a pale or flushed face or a low energy level, to confirm the child isn't just trying to play hooky.

(Baylor College of Medicine)

Know Your Heart's Odds

Researchers at the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute have estimated that one out of every two men and one of every three women under age 40 will develop coronary heart disease. And even at age 70, one in three men and one in four women will develop heart disease in their remaining years. The study demonstrates why it's so important for adults of all ages to take steps to prevent heart disease. Even young adults should know their cholesterol and blood pressure numbers, eat in a heart-healthy way, be physically active, and watch their weight.

(National Institutes of Health)

Relief on the Way

For those who suffer from hay fever, relief is in your future. A 23-year study of Brown University alumni found that hay fever symptoms tend to decrease with age. The group of former Brown students is now around age 40; nearly 55 percent of them report their allergy symptoms have improved, and nearly 23 percent say they're symptom-free.

(HealthNews)

Dietary Foundation

Postmenopausal women who eat one serving a day of whole-grain food reduce their risk of dying from heart disease by almost one third when compared to women who rarely eat whole grains. Whole grains contain fiber, vitamin E, folate, magnesium, and many phytochemicals that help prevent chronic diseases. Researchers suggest replacing at least some of the refined grains in your diet--white bread, pasta, white rice, many cereals--with whole-grain products.

(American Journal of Clinical Nutrition)

Walk Today; Sleep Tonight

Walking at a brisk pace for six or more blocks per day significantly reduces the risk of sleep disorders in adults. A new study of more than 700 Tucson, Arizona, adults found those who included regular physical activity in their daily routine slept better at night, lessened daytime sleepiness, and suffered from fewer nightmares.

(Archives of Internal Medicine)

Nuts to You

Women who consume one ounce of nuts five or more times a week have a 35 percent lower risk of developing heart disease. While nuts are high in fats, most of those fats are unsaturated, which has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels. This recent Harvard University study confirms information uncovered in Loma Linda University's Adventist Health Study, which showed that those who consumed nuts five or more times a week had a 50 percent reduced risk of coronary heart disease than those who never consumed nuts.

(British Medical Journal)