Health Tips ... from UPI

MOST RESOLVE TO GET MORE SLEEP

A survey by the Better Sleep Council finds more than two-thirds of U.S. adults want to get more shut-eye in the New Year. The survey shows three-quarters of those who resolve to get more sleep in the New Year believe it is an achievable goal. Better Sleep Council Executive Director Nancy Blatt says it may not be as simple as going to bed a half-hour earlier. "In making a resolution to get more sleep, people need to really focus on better sleep as well," she advises. "Evaluate personal bedtime habits as well as your sleep environment, and be willing to make a few changes, such as a new bed, a new bedtime routine and avoiding nicotine, caffeine and alcohol."

ABANDONING THE DIETING HABIT

At any one time, more than 25 percent of U.S. men and 45 percent of women are dieting, yet the United States has the highest obesity rate in the world. University of Michigan Health System cardiovascular nutritionist Marilyn Migliore says it's not just what Americans eat, it's also why they eat. Americans are spending more than $40 billion on dieting and diet-related products, yet 95 percent of dieters will regain the weight they've lost within one to five years, Migliore says. "I think we need to abandon the whole diet mentality altogether and begin to diffuse some of the power that we've attached to foods," Migliore explains. "What we need to do is start operating on facts -- seeing food for what it is, and for what it has -- or does not have -- to offer us."

WINTER IS ALLERGY SEASON

Many may not consider winter as allergy season, but winter can be the worst time of year for allergy sufferers, says a St. Louis University allergist. "People assume allergists have nothing to do after the first freeze because there's no pollen and no mold," says Dr. Raymond G. Slavin. "They forget about household dust and dust mites. The windows are down, the furnace is on and dust circulates throughout the house." Dust mites need heat and humidity to grow and most homes provide the warm, moist air dust mites love, Slavin says. Dust mites like to live in beds where they can find their food of choice -- dead skin shed by people -- and Slavin suggests allergy sufferers invest in hypoallergenic mattress and pillow covers.

WEB SITE HELPS SOME QUIT SMOKING

Millions of U.S. smokers will try to quit smoking in the New year for the third, fourth or fifth time, says Dr. Robin Mermelstein, a clinical psychologist. A Web site may help. Smokers who took part in Committed Quitters, an individualized Web-based support service -- and who used the NicoDerm CQ patch to relieve nicotine cravings -- increased their chances of quitting by 28 percent. CommittedQuitters.com starts with an online, in-depth interview that uncovers each smoker's habits and challenges and creates a personalized support program using e-mail and newsletters.

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(EDITORS: For more information on SLEEP contact Monica Cox at (202) 628-3800. For SMOKING, Monica Elias at (212) 812-7088)