That’s the phone number for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. If you’re undergoing a mental health crisis or concerned about someone who may be suicidal, the hotline is free, available 24-7, and staffed by trained crisis counselors. You can also find resources at 988lifeline.org.
November is American Diabetes Month; consider an online screening at doihaveprediabetes.org and talk to your doctor. Research shows you can reverse prediabetes with lifestyle changes, such as lowering stress, increasing physical activity, and making tweaks to your diet.
Regularly doing simple acts of kindness—such as donating goods to charity, volunteering, and holding the door for a stranger—is good for you. Research says that people who did helpful tasks more often had lower levels of interleukin-6, a marker of chronic inflammation, which can raise the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and more. For ideas about easy good deeds that benefit your health, visit randomactsofkindness.org.
Pizza can get written off as a not-so-healthy option, but a study of people with arthritis found that those who ate pizza at least one day a week had less inflammation and a less severe condition. Note that the pizza was homemade with fresh tomato sauce and olive oil, which contains inflammation-fighting antioxidants.
People who regularly took part in challenging mental activities—playing chess, taking classes, and journaling—were roughly 10 percent less likely to develop dementia, reports a study conducted over 10 years of more than 10,000 older adults. The brain is a muscle, and building up your mental reserves can protect against memory loss.
Consider a book club or an online class, such as those from MasterClass, Udemy, or Harvard.
of medical problems are misidentified. About 3 out of 4 errors occur in diagnosing infections, heart attacks, and cancer. A second opinion is always a good idea.
BY SHARON LIAO; PHOTO: DOUG ARMAND/GETTY IMAGES