Head:
Before you pop a painkiller, take note: Analgesic overuse is a leading cause of migraines, according to research from The New England Center for Headache in Stamford, CT.
If you're prone to migraines and take OTC or prescription pain meds more than 10 days each month, your brain begins to think it needs them to not be in pain. Instead, try 400 mg of vitamin B2 to prevent the headache.
Hair:
If your locks are less than luscious, you're hardly alone: Approximately half of all women experience hair loss at some point, and in some cases, major stress (read: wedding planning) can trigger it. But new research shows that laser treatment-a low-energy laser is applied to the scalp to thicken existing hairs and promote new growth—is very successful in improving the condition. See a doctor specializing in hair replacement to learn more.
Ears:
Overdosing on your iPod could lead to hearing problems. Earbud headphones (the kind that go inside your ears) dramatically boost volume levels, which can damage your eardrums. Protect yourself by switching to over-the-ear headphones, keeping the volume on a medium setting or lower, and listening to your iPod no more than one hour a day.
Teeth:
Thirty percent of Americans don't see a dentist regularly, according to the Amer-ican Dental Association. If you're one of them, don't let fear hold you back: New laser treatments can sometimes be used to fill cavities without anesthetic. Visit ada.org to find a dentist who offers the treatments.
Neck/thyroid:
If you've recently gained or lost a lot of weight without trying and feel tired often, have your thyroid checked. Thyroid problems are three times more likely in women than men and often surface in your 20s and 30s. A blood test and neck exam can determine whether you need treatment.
Heart:
Now's the time to be heart smart: A study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that more women under the age of 45 are dying of heart disease (currently 8.2 of every 100,000). The culprit: clogged arteries. Keep your arteries clear by choosing monounsaturated, polyunsaturated and omega-3 fats, found in fish, nuts and avocados. Avoid saturated fats, found in fatty red meat and butter, and trans fats, common in fried and processed foods.
Stomach:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is the most common stomach problem for women in their 20s and 30s (symptoms include diarrhea and constipation). If you're diagnosed, your doctor may put you on an elimination diet to pinpoint the foods triggering it, and have you focus on reducing stress via progressive relaxation (slowly tensing then relaxing muscles from head to toe), biofeedback, hypnotherapy or cognitive therapy.
Waist/hips:
Got curves? Consider yourself lucky: A recent study from the University of California at Santa Barbara found that women with hourglass figures (a lower waist-to-hip ratio) tended to be smarter than their apple-shaped or straight-hipped peers. The researchers speculate that the fat on a woman's hips and thighs may store brainpower-boosting omega-3 fatty acids.
Urinary tract:
On your honeymoon, you'll likely have an increased risk of UTIs because bacteria is often moved toward your urinary tract during sex, says Susan L.F. McLellan, M.D., a tropical medicine and infectious disease specialist at Tulane University in New Orleans. "Staying hydrated is crucial: When you urinate, you flush bad bacteria out of your bladder. The less you urinate, the longer it lingers." If you're prone to UTIs, ask about having an antibiotic prescribed before you go.
Cervix:
Gardasil, the new vaccine that protects against certain strains of the human papillomavirus (HPV) that cause cervical cancer, is approved for women up to the age of 26; a new study shows it's effective for women ages 24 to 45, too. To find out if it's right for you, ask your gynecologist.
Legs:
If you experience a pulling, crawling or tingling sensation in your legs when you sleep, you may have restless legs syndrome (RLS), a condition that affects mainly women. Because it can cause you to kick your legs, it disturbs sleep (you may feel exhausted in the morning, even after eight hours). If you suspect you have RLS, see your doctor; she may prescribe Requip, which the FDA recently approved.
—Camille Noe Pagán
