In this issue: Chronic stress, Alzheimer's and head injury, fitness motivation, dry mouth and more.

Stress can affect your mind and body. Find out how. Manage my newsletter.   HOUSECALL Vol. 15, Issue 67 | September 25, 2014   THIS WEEK'S TOP STORIES     Chronic stress puts your health at risk Your body's stress reaction was meant to protect you. But when it's constantly on alert, your health can pay the price.     Fitness: Tips for staying motivated   Many people start fitness programs but stop when they get bored or when results come too slowly. Here are 7 tips to help you stay motivated.           EXPERT ANSWERS   Alzheimer's: Can a head injury increase my risk? Some research indicates a link between head injuries and Alzheimer's disease. Learn more. Dry mouth treatment: Tips for controlling dry mouth From chewing sugar-free gum to avoiding certain products, find out how to ease dry mouth.   PLUS ADDITIONAL HIGHLIGHTS ... Eosinophilic gastrointestinal disorders (EGIDs) and children Rabies Easier hepatitis C treatment Snack recipes     TRUSTED HEALTH TOOLS   Use our Symptom Checker to explore possible causes of your symptoms based upon Mayo Clinic's patient care experience.   Use these simple calculators and self-assessments for personalized health tips.   Calorie calculator LDL cholesterol calculator     NOW BLOGGING   Nutrition-wise: Deciphering dates on food packages Did you know that dates on food packages are typically intended to ensure quality — not safety?     MAYO CLINIC PRODUCTS & SERVICES   Improve heart health in as little as 10 minutes a day From the heart-health experts at Mayo Clinic, this book could save your life or help you save the life of someone you care about. Mayo Clinic Healthy Heart for Life! offers a simple action-oriented plan to help you improve your heart health and reduce your risk of heart disease. The book identifies all the factors Mayo Clinic doctors know you can use to achieve those ends, organized into 10 easy-to-follow steps. Don't hesitate; order today!     HEALTHY RECIPES   Chicken and asparagus tossed with penne Sweet peppers stuffed with scalloped corn Apple lettuce salad Almond and apricot biscotti   HEALTH TIP OF THE WEEK   Do you respect the mind-body connection? Feel stressed out? Try meditation and put the mind-body connection to work for you. During meditation, focus your attention on a single thought or phrase and let go of the jumbled thoughts that are crowding your mind. Spending even a few minutes in meditation can help you feel more calm and less frazzled.   Need practical advice on diet and exercise? Want creative solutions for stress and other lifestyle issues? Discover even more healthy lifestyle topics at MayoClinic.org.   Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization. Proceeds from website advertising help support our mission. Mayo Clinic does not endorse any non-Mayo products and services. Advertising & Sponsorship Policy    |    Opportunities     Give to Mayo Clinic A gift to research at Mayo Clinic is a gift of life. Donate now.     Connect with Mayo Clinic For more of our reliable health information and tools, visit us at MayoClinic.org. Or add us to your social network!   Like us on Facebook Follow on Twitter Follow on Pinterest   Watch on YouTube Patient Stories View More Newsletters       Thanks for joining our mailing list, dr.samah.saied.ahmed@gmail.com, for Mayo Clinic HOUSECALL.   REMOVE me from this list | Add me to this list | Customer service   © 2014 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905. All rights reserved.