Know your numbers

A new survey found that women are twice as likely to know how much they weighed in high school as they are to know their cholesterol number.

It's not because women don't know the risks of high cholesterol. The vast majority of women recognized heart disease and stroke as major consequences. But there's a disconnect between that awareness and acting on it, according to advocates with the Society for Women's Health Research, which conducted the survey.

Knowing your cholesterol is the first step in controlling it.

Watery comfort

Water beds might never come back in style, but a new kind of pillow offers the same body-contouring comfort for your head and neck.

The Mediflow Waterbase pillow features a pouch on the bottom you fill with water. You can adjust the amount of water to match your preference for a soft or firm pillow, and a layer of polyester filling adds cushioning. The water conforms to the contours of your head and neck, which could help relieve neck pain.

A study at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine on adults with chronic neck pain found the water pillow helped people fall asleep faster and wake up with less pain.

The pillow costs about $45 at JC Penney. Or visit www.Mediflow.com.

Spin cycle:

If the world seems to spin when you stand up, you could have vertigo. Any recurrent, unexplained or severe dizziness warrants a trip to the doctor, according to the Mayo Clinic Health Letter.

One of the most common forms of vertigo, called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, is caused by the displacement of tiny particles called otoconia in the inner ear. Normally, these particles are attached to sensors that detect gravity and motion.

It can be treated with a series of repositioning maneuvers in your doctor's office or by a physical therapist.

-- Susan Stevens