TO YOUR HEALTH : TIME TO BACK OFF? TIPS FOR IMPROVING CARE CAN PRODUCE HUGE BENEFITS.

Did you know 200 million work days are lost each year due to back pain? That's second only to the common cold, according to a government statistic.

August is Be Good to Your Back Month, and Relax the Back Stores in the Los Angeles area are providing free seminars and free on-site workplace ergonomic assessments designed to ease the pain 80 percent of Americans will suffer at some point in their lives.

Here are some back-saving pointers:

To aid proper back alignment when driving, position your seat so your knees are level with your hips and support your lower back by placing a lumbar support behind your back.

Adjustable armrests on office chairs can reduce neck, shoulder and lower back pain. Also, use a footrest at your desk to reduce lower back pressure. To avoid lower back pain while sitting, place a pillow or a lumbar roll in the small of your back. Avoid sitting with a wallet in your back pocket.

Standing puts pressure on your spine. If you must stand for long periods, put one foot on a stool to take pressure off the spine and help keep natural curves aligned. Avoid high-heeled shoes.

When you sleep on your back, put a pillow under your knees and a small support underneath your lower back. If you sleep on your side, place a pillow between your bent knees and hug a second pillow to take some pressure off your back.

For more information, call Relax the Back Stores at [phone].

Healthy books: ``The Lice-buster Book: What to Do When Your Child Comes Home With Head Lice!'' by Lennie Copeland, illustrated by Ashley Copeland Griggs (Warner Books; $8.99). Copeland, mother of two and self-made lice expert, delivers step-by-step procedures for detecting and treating head lice.

``Living Healthy in a Toxic World,'' by David Steinman and R. Michael Wisner (Perigee; $12). A book on how to protect yourself from common, everyday toxins - in food, household cleaners and cosmetics.

Baby help in Spanish: ``Su Bebe,'' the first Spanish-language publication designed to answer the needs of expectant and new parents in Los Angeles County, is available free to pregnant women at more than 200 distribution outlets - including hospitals, HMOs, individual practitioners and government outreach programs such as the Women, Infants and Children Program. The 56-page magazine focuses on local services and resources, as well as prenatal and infant care education. To receive ``Su Bebe'' by mail, call Four Corners Publishing at [phone].

Putting feet first: ``The Foot Health Guide'' addresses eight common foot problems, how they're caused and how to treat them. Among the problems discussed in the guide are tired, aching feet; corns and calluses; athlete's foot; and lower back pain. Request the free, pocket-size guide by sending a postcard with your name and address to: Dr. Scholl's Foot Health Guide, P.O. Box Y-6148, Department 96P, Young America, Minn., 55558-6148.

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Photo: (1) no caption (Book cover - THE LICE-BUSTER BOOK )

(2) no caption (Guide cover - The Dr. Scholl's Guide to Foot Health)