➔Body H E A LT H N E W S Y O U C A N U S E

Good Gums
T he mouth is a gateway to
good health. Indeed, the
healthier your gums are, the
better off the rest of your body is, says
Michael F. Roizen, MD. “Preventing gum
disease with good oral hygiene is an easy
way to help ward off heart attacks, strokes,
impotence, wrinkles, some cancers, and cer-
tain pregnancy complications.” New findings:
Eat yogurt People who consume plenty of
dairy products are less likely to have gum
disease. Researchers in Japan now say this
may be thanks to the lactic acid in foods such
as yogurt and some cheeses. The healthy bacteria
in these foods seem to control the growth of bad
bacteria. “Consuming just a quarter cup of yogurt a
day, for example, can help reduce your risk,” says Susan
Karabin, DDS, of the American Academy of Periodon-
tology. (Of course, brushing and flossing also help.)
Don’t smoke It’s a major cause of gum disease, and a
new study suggests that marijuana is also bad for your
gums. Toxic substances in the
smoke likely hinder the
body’s ability to fight
inflammation.
P a tri c i a C u r ti s

READER’S DIGEST rd.com 05/08 57

➔ Body
The RD Guide to Adult Vaccines
The CDC recommends ten vaccines for adults. Some we should all get; others are for people with
certain conditions or risk factors. Ask your doctor which ones could help protect you.

VACCINE WHO SHOULD GET IT HOW OFTEN

HEPATITIS A Those who share needles, travel to certain countries, 2 doses over 12 to
or have chronic liver disease. 18 months

HEPATITIS B HIV patients; health care providers; those who travel 3 doses over 6 months
to certain countries or have multiple sex partners,
chronic liver disease, failing kidneys, or renal disease.

HPV Girls and women who haven’t been infected. 3 doses over 6 months

T O M M Y F LY N N / P H O T O N I C A / G E T T Y I M A G E S
INFLUENZA Everyone, especially those ages 50 and up and those Yearly
with weakened immune systems.

MEASLES, Those under 50 (except pregnant women); some HIV 1 or 2 doses,

MUMPS, patients; people with diabetes, failing kidneys, or as needed
RUBELLA chronic lung, heart, or liver disease; those
(MMR) who’ve had their spleen removed or work
in a health care facility.

MENINGOCOCCAL Those who live in a college dorm, travel to certain 1 or more doses,
(meningitis) countries, or have had their spleen removed. as needed

PNEUMOCOCCAL Those 65 and older and people with diabetes or Once; twice if you have
(pneumonia) chronic heart, liver, or lung disease (but not asthma). certain risk factors

TETANUS, Everyone needs protection from tetanus and Every 10 years. If

DIPHTHERIA, diphtheria; 19- to 64-year-olds also need the you’re pregnant, talk
PERTUSSIS pertussis vaccine. to your doctor.
(whooping cough)

VARICELLA Anyone who has never had the illness or never been 2 doses over 4
(chicken pox) vaccinated (but not pregnant women). to 8 weeks

ZOSTER (shingles) People ages 60 and up. Once

Visit rd.com/vaccine for a chart of the vaccines Kathryn M.

that kids need and the new ones on the way. Tyranski
➔ Body
Get-Up-and-Go Gadgets Your Blood
E xercising with a friend can make it easier to
face the gym. Now, it seems, technology may
provide the same “hold you to it” effect,
according to new research from Stanford University.
Friendly reminders In a December 2007 study,
Tells All
Doctors have always used
blood tests to detect
disease. Now new high-
tech tests can check for
participants were called regularly and asked if they
hundreds of conditions at
had met their weekly workout goal. After a year, the once. Companies like Bio-
formerly inactive people were exceeding those goals. physical and MyMedLab
In another study, 19 adults were given a handheld draw your blood, look
device that beeped twice a day to ask them if they’d for biomarkers for every-
exercised yet. After eight weeks, they were logging thing from cancers to
about five hours of activity a week. Try it with your arthritis, and then give
cell phone: Set an alarm (go to Tools/Alarm) to you a detailed report.
remind yourself to lace up your sneakers. >WHY DO IT?
Step it up In a review of 26 studies, the average To catch a problem be-
pedometer wearer increased her daily steps by more fore you even have symp-
than 2,000 (about a mile) toms. It can also give your
Count steps with over 18 weeks. doctor baseline levels for
the Yamax Digi-walker Brid get Nelson Monroe future comparisons.
CW-701 ($34;
>WHO SHOULD
digiwalker.com) to To shape up, aim for
GET IT?
get moving. 10,000 steps a day Mehmet Oz, MD, recom-
with the Sportline mends the tests if you’re
330 Step; $15 at between 40 and 65 or
sportline.com. have vague symptoms,
like extreme fatigue. The
workups can be costly
(around $100 to over
$1,000) and aren’t
PHOTOGRAPHED BY JEREMY LIPS

covered by insurance.
But if you have the
cash, it can give
you peace of
mind—and
maybe even
save your life.
Cynthia Dermody
60 READER’S DIGEST rd.com 05/08