1. Healthy Eating Slideshow: Fat-Fighting Foods
2. Food Frauds Slideshow Pictures
3. Take the Diet & Nutrition Quiz

Medical Author:

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD

Dr. Charles "Pat" Davis, MD, PhD, is a board certified Emergency Medicine doctor who currently practices as a consultant and staff member for hospitals. He has a PhD in Microbiology (UT at Austin), and the MD (Univ. Texas Medical Branch, Galveston). He is a Clinical Professor (retired) in the Division of Emergency Medicine, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, and has been the Chief of Emergency Medicine at UT Medical Branch and at UTHSCSA with over 250 publications.

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Medical Editor:

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD, is a U.S. board-certified Anatomic Pathologist with subspecialty training in the fields of Experimental and Molecular Pathology. Dr. Stöppler's educational background includes a BA with Highest Distinction from the University of Virginia and an MD from the University of North Carolina. She completed residency training in Anatomic Pathology at Georgetown University followed by subspecialty fellowship training in molecular diagnostics and experimental pathology.

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In this Article

• Healthy living facts
• Eating (diet)
• Physical activity and exercise
• Avoid tobacco use
• Avoid excessive alcohol consumption
• Avoid high-risk sexual behaviors
• Avoid other high-risk behaviors
• Additional tips for healthy living
• Healthy Living Index

• Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
• Driving while sleep-deprived
• Reckless driving and speeding, "road rage"
• Driving while using cell phones, texting, or performing other tasks
• Motorcycle (and bicycle) riding without helmets
• Possession of firearms and guns without proper training and storage
• Smoking in bed

Adverse consequences of high-risk behaviors:

• Motor vehicle accidents account for 40%-50% of accidental deaths.
• Motorcycle accidents are a major cause of serious head injuries.
• Firearms and guns account for a significant proportion of deaths among adolescents due to male suicide and homicide.
• Smoking in bed can lead to burn injury and death.

Recommendations (tips):

• When driving, use seat restraints on all passengers, both front and rear seats.
• Do not drink and drive.
• Do not drive if sleep deprived.
• Avoid unnecessary distractions and focus on the road and traffic while driving (avoid texting, talking on cell phones, eating, applying makeup, or other distractions).
• Use helmets while riding bicycles and motorcycles. Helmet use reduces deaths from motorcycle accidents by 30% and serious head injuries by 75%.
• Obtain proper training in the use and storage of guns and ammunition.
• Use smoke detectors; avoid smoking in bed.

Adverse consequences of excess sun exposure:

• Melanoma and other skin cancers

Recommendation (tips):

• Avoid sunburns and sun exposure by using adequate skin protection; use brimmed hats, protective clothing, and sunscreen.

Sunscreens are undergoing changes, and the U.S. FDA (Food and Drug Administration) plans to publish new requirements that sunscreens will need to meet in 2012. Currently, the FDA suggests an effective sunscreen is rated as SPF 30 or higher and has both UVA and UVB protection (protection against ultraviolet waves of types A and B). In most instances, sunscreen needs to be applied every two hours and each time after a person has gone swimming.