Ways to save yourself from messing up your life

1. Stop taking so much notice of how you feel. How you feel is how you feel. It'll pass soon. What you're thinking is what you're thinking. It'll go too. Tell yourself that whatever you feel, you feel; whatever you think, you think. Since you can't stop yourself thinking, or prevent emotions from arising in your mind, it makes no sense to be proud or ashamed of either. You didn't cause them. Only your actions are directly under your control. They're the only proper cause of pleasure or shame.

2. Let go of worrying. It often makes things worse. The more you think about something bad, the more likely it is to happen. When you're hair-trigger primed to notice the first sign of trouble, you'll surely find something close enough to convince yourself it's come.

3. Take no notice of your inner critic. Judging yourself is pointless. Judging others is half-witted. Whatever you achieve, someone else will always do better. However bad you are, others are worse. Since you can tell neither what's best nor what's worst, how can you place yourself correctly between them? Judging others is foolish since you cannot know all the facts, cannot create a reliable or objective scale, have no means of knowing whether your criteria match anyone else's, and cannot have more than a limited and extremely partial view of the other person. Who cares about your opinion anyway?

4. Ease up on the internal life commentary. If you want to be happy, stop telling yourself you're miserable. People are always telling themselves how they feel, what they're thinking, what others feel about them, what this or that event really means. Most of it's imagination. The rest is equal parts lies and misunderstandings. You have only the most limited understanding of what others feel about you. Usually they're no better informed on the subject; and they care about it far less than you do. You have no way of knowing what this or that event really means. Whatever you tell yourself will be make-believe.

5. Give up on feeling guilty. Guilt changes nothing. It may make you feel you're accepting responsibility, but it can't produce anything new in your life. If you feel guilty about something you've done, either do something to put it right or accept you screwed up and try not to do so again. Then let it go. If you're feeling guilty about what someone else did, see a psychiatrist. That's insane.

6. Stop being concerned what the rest of the world says about you. Nasty people can't make you mad. Nice people can't make you happy. Events or people are simply events or people. They can't make you anything. You have to do that for yourself. Whatever emotions arise in you as a result of external events, they're powerless until you pick them up and decide to act on them. Besides, most people are far too busy thinking about themselves (and worry what you are are thinking and saying about them) to be concerned about you.

7. Don't be concerned that your life and career aren't working out the way you planned. The closer you stick to any plan, the quicker you'll go wrong. The world changes constantly. However carefully you analyzed the situation when you made the plan, if it's more than a few days old, things will already be different. After a month, they'll be very different. After a year, virtually nothing will be the same as it was when you started. Planning is only useful as a discipline to force people to think carefully about what they know and what they don't. Once you start, throw the plan away and keep your eyes on reality.

8. Stop keeping score. Numbers are just numbers. They don't have mystical powers. Because something is expressed as a number, a ratio or any other numerical pattern doesn't mean it's true. Plenty of lovingly calculated business indicators are irrelevant, gibberish, nonsensical, or just plain wrong. If you don't understand it, or it's telling you something bizarre, ignore it. There's nothing scientific about relying on false data. Nor anything useful about charting your life by numbers that were silly in the first place.

9. Don't let others use you to avoid being responsible for their own decisions. To hold yourself responsible for someone else's success and happiness demeans them and proves you've lost the plot. It's their life. They have to live it. You can't do it for them; nor can you stop them from messing it up if they're determined to do so. The job of a supervisor is to help and supervise. Only control-freaks and some others with a less serious mental disability fail to understand this.

10. Don't worry about about your personality. You don't really have one. Personality, like ego, is a concept invented by your mind. It doesn't exist in the real world. Personality is a word for the general impression that you give through your words and actions. If your personality isn't likeable today, don't worry. You can always change it, so long as you allow yourself to do so. What fixes someone's personality in one place is a determined effort on their part—usually through continually telling themselves they're this or that kind of person and acting on what they say. If you don't like the way you are, make yourself different. You're the only person who's standing in your way.

Adrian Savage is a writer, an Englishman, and a retired business executive, in that order. He lives in Tucson, Arizona. You can read his other articles at Slow Leadership, the site for everyone who wants to build a civilized place to work and bring back the taste, zest and satisfaction to leadership and life, The Creativity Class: a place to discover the best ideas on having the best ideas, and Working Potential, where you'll learn about great ideas for self-development. His latest book, Slow Leadership: Civilizing The Organization, is now available at all good bookstores.

Help Your Baby Learn to Talk

After months of listening to your baby babble, it's a thrilling moment when she finally says her first word—whether it's Dada, Mama, or baba. While this process is a natural part of development, talking to your baby right from birth not only helps her learn to speak earlier but also enables her to master a larger vocabulary. A child's capacity to process words is like any other skill—the more practice she gets hearing words and making connections to their meanings, the more she'll be able to say, says Anne Fernald, Ph.D., director of Stanford University's Center for Infant Studies, in Stanford, California.

In fact, experts believe that chatting up your child is one of the most effective ways to give him a head start in life. Landmark research by Betty Hart, Ph.D., and Todd Risley, Ph.D., published in their book Meaningful Differences in the Everyday Experience of Young American Children, found that babies in talkative families had a higher IQ at age 3 and significantly better test scores at age 9 than those in less talkative ones. Use these tips to get the conversation going.

Start Early

Talking to a newborn might seem pointless, but your baby's ears and the part of her brain that responds to sound are well-developed by birth. According to a study published in Pediatrics, the more words preterm babies heard while in the neonatal intensive care unit, the more they responded with sounds of their own, suggesting that conversing with a preemie could encourage speech development. The same strategy can benefit any child: "Talk as much as possible to your infant. She's absorbing a lot more than you realize," says the study's author Melinda Caskey, M.D., assistant professor of pediatrics at Brown University.

Share a Book

In the early months, reading isn't about the plot so much as the shared experience. As you cuddle together, talk about the pictures any way you like—you don't have to stick to the story line ("Look at the fuzzy bear"). "Touch-and-feel books are great for babies 6 months and under, when the senses are a primary tool, and picture books with no words at all can free you to make up your own tale," says Amanda J. Moreno, Ph.D., associate director of the Marsico Institute for Early Learning and Literacy at the University of Denver. Whether you choose a board book or a Dr. Seuss favorite, reading to your baby can inspire a richer use of vocabulary and provide fun themes you might not have thought of on your own.

Watch for Cues

When you're caught in a nonstop cycle of feeding, changing, and soothing, it's easy to let your small talk revolve around routine matters ("Time for a nap, Sweetie"). Though this is helpful, other subjects will do even more to boost his language skills. "Follow his gaze to see what excites him, and respond to his interests," suggests Kathryn Hirsh-Pasek, Ph.D., director of Temple University Infant and Child Laboratory, in Ambler, Pennsylvania.

If he's staring at a light fixture or reaching for the strawberry on your plate, give him more information. You might use simple terms to describe what the object does, or its size, color, and flavor. You can also chat about what you're doing ("I'm picking up your toys so we don't trip on them and fall") and chant rhythmic poems such as "pat-a-cake."

Make it a Dialogue

Your baby will quickly tune out a one-sided lecture, so give her a chance to respond. ("Do you see the doggie?" When she replies with, "Ooh goo bah!" say, "Yes, he's eating his dinner.") Likewise, be sure to answer her when she babbles out of the blue. "That teaches her how a conversation works and lets her know you care about what she has to say," says Dr. Hirsh-Pasek. How you respond doesn't matter much at this age. You could comment on what your baby is pointing at, say something generic ("Look at that big smile!"), or even say something completely off topic ("How about peas for lunch?").

Turn Off the TV

You might assume that your baby benefits from all language, but flipping on the tube may actually be detrimental. Researchers at the University of Washington, in Seattle, found that babies between 8 and 16 months knew six to eight fewer vocabulary words for every hour per day that they watched DVDs geared to infants. Why? The back-and-forth of social interaction is essential to speech development. A TV character doesn't react to your baby, but when you smile and reply to your little one's babbles, he knows he did something right and is encouraged to do it again. "There are mountains of data to show that the more human conversations a baby has, the further his language develops," says Dr. Hirsh-Pasek.

How to Invest in Stocks

Do you want to begin investing in stocks but have no idea where to start? This overview can help. It is designed as part of our Complete Beginner's Guide to Investing in Stock.

How to Invest in Stock - The Four Major Ways to Invest

There are typically four major ways to invest:

• Through a 401k plan or, if you work for a non-profit, a 403b plan
• Through a Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Simple IRA or SEP-IRA account
• Through a brokerage account
• Through a direct stock purchase plan or dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP)

How to Invest in Stock - The Five Types of Assets You Might Own

Generally, there are five types of assets the average investor is likely to own in their lifetime:

• Common stocks – ownership of businesses
• Preferred stocks – special types of stock that often pay high dividends but have limited upside
• Bonds – corporate bonds, municipal bonds, savings bonds, U.S. government treasuries, etc.
• Money markets – highly liquid funds that are designed to protect your purchasing power; considered to be a cash equivalent
• Real estate investment trusts or REITs – a special type of company designation that allows no taxation at the company level provided more than 90% of earnings are paid out to the shareholders. The assets are often invested in a variety of real estate projects and properties.
• Mutual funds including exchange-traded funds, index funds, and actively managed funds.

How to Invest in Stock - Doing the Research

When researching an investment there are typically five documents you want to get your hands on to research the relative merit of a potential stock:

• The 10K – this is the annual filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and is probably the single most important research document available to investors about a company.
• The most recent 10Q, which is a smaller version of the 10K that is filed at the end of each quarter instead of each year.
• Proxy statement – includes information on the Board of Directors as well as management pay and shareholder proposals
• The most recent annual report – read the report from the Chairman, CEO, and sometimes CFO or other high-ranking officers to see how they view the business. Not all annual reports are created equally. Generally, the best in the business is considered to be the one written by Warren Buffett at Berkshire Hathaway, which you can download from free on their corporate site.
• A statistical showing going back five or ten years. Several firms prepare this type of information, mostly for a subscription, such as a Morningstar, Value Line, S&P, and Moody's.

How to Invest in Stock - The Three Financial Statements

There are three financial statements you'll want to examine closely:

• The income statement
• The balance sheet
• The cash flow statement

How to separate the 'buys' from the 'sells'

In recent years, investors have been steadily pouring billions into exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The appeal of investing in an industry or thematic style is a simpler approach than stock-picking for many investors.

Yet there are still many investors looking for the most appealing stocks in any given sector. But finding the right stock can be tricky if they all seem to be similarly valued or all are poised to profit from the same trend.

I was thinking about this topic recently as I checked in with the nation's leading auto suppliers. Four months ago in the StreetAuthority, I noted that all of the major companies in this industry were capable of robust share buybacks, thanks to their prodigious cash flow. 

It's a theme that has surely resonated with other investors as well, as each of these stocks has since outperformed the S&P 500 Index ($INX -0.19%).

Thanks to ongoing gains, these auto parts suppliers don't look quite as cheap as they once did, with all sporting double-digit price-to-earnings (P/E) multiples. But if you own several of them and would prefer to hang on to only one stock in an industry, there's a way to identify the true value. And it is a more accurate gauge than the use of a simple P/E ratio. It involves a bit of leg work, but is worth the trouble. Better still, it can be applied to almost any industry -- not just auto parts suppliers.

What's a dollar of sales worth?

Make no mistake, a dollar of sales generated by a software company might be worth much more than a dollar of sales generated by a manufacturing company. Let's look at the three-year average operating profit margin for auto parts suppliers.

Clearly, the profit margins in various car components tend to vary, whether you are talking about seats, dashboard, airbags, bumpers, etc. TRW (TRW -1.05%) is able to generate premium pricing for its safety systems that are being used in more high-end cars and trucks. BorgWarner (BWA -0.07%) is now benefiting from its heavy past investments in state-of-the-art transmissions. 

As these two firms are clearly the most profitable, each dollar of sales should be perceived as more valuable by investors (since more of that dollar flows to the bottom line). Let's look at the enterprise value, in relation to 2012 sales, for each of these firms to see if that's true.

For the most part, these stocks sport enterprise-value-to-​sales (EV/sales) ratios that seem to reflect their profit margin profiles. With 10% operating margins, three times higher than industry laggard Dana Holdings, Borg-Warner's EV/sales ratio is less than twice as high, which suggests its stock is relatively undervalued. 

This kind of analysis is most helpful when companies have similar margin profiles or EV/sales ratios. Note that Magna International's (MGA -0.66%) EV/sales ratio is just above the ratio sported by Dana Holdings, yet Magna's operating margins are 67% higher. In this instance, Magna is clearly the better buy. And if you own both stocks, each of which has gained roughly 18% in the past four months, then Dana is the better sell candidate. 

You can also use these metrics in paired trade scenarios, by going long the most undervalued -- relative to its operating margin structure -- while shorting the most overvalued one. 

Risks to consider: It's crucial to track ongoing changes in profit margins, as they may be a sign that an industry leader is losing its pricing advantage or that an industry laggard is getting its act together.

Action to take: You can apply this logic to almost any industry, from medical-device makers and banking stocks to software providers. The apples-to-apples comparisons of financial metrics for companies operating in the same industry can tell you a lot more about valuation than just the P/E ratio.

How to Choose blood pressure medications

Dozens of high blood pressure medications (antihypertensives) are available, each with pros and cons. Depending on how high your blood pressure is, your doctor may prescribe one or more high blood pressure medications to treat your condition. For everyone who has high blood pressure or is at risk of developing high blood pressure, lifestyle changes can help keep your numbers under control. Before beginning blood pressure treatment, it's a good idea to understand the options available to you.

Lifestyle changes

Whether you're on the road to developing high blood pressure (prehypertension) or you already have high blood pressure (hypertension), you can benefit from lifestyle changes that can lower your blood pressure. People who have prehypertension have a systolic pressure (top number) ranging from 120 to 139 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) or a diastolic pressure (bottom number) ranging from 80 to 89 mm Hg.

Even if your doctor prescribes medications to control your blood pressure, he or she will likely recommend you make lifestyle changes as well. Lifestyle changes can reduce or eliminate your need for medications to control your blood pressure. To make these changes:

• Don't smoke
• Eat a healthy diet, focusing on fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products, and especially, control the salt in your diet
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Exercise by getting 30 minutes of moderate activity — even if you need to break up your activity into three 10-minute sessions — on most days of the week
• Limit the amount of alcohol you drink — one drink a day for women and two a day for men

You probably won't need to take high blood pressure medications if you have prehypertension and are otherwise healthy. However, if you have prehypertension and diabetes, kidney disease or heart disease, your doctor might prescribe medications to lower your blood pressure to a more desirable level.

Medication options for stage 1 high blood pressure (140/90 to 159/99)

If you have stage 1 high blood pressure, you have a systolic pressure ranging from 140 to 159 mm Hg or a diastolic pressure ranging from 90 to 99 mm Hg. If both numbers are in this range, you also have stage 1 high blood pressure. The first change you can make is to adopt healthy lifestyle changes to help decrease your numbers. Your doctor will likely prescribe medications, as well.

Diuretics (water pills)

Your doctor may first suggest diuretics — also called water pills. Diuretics work by flushing excess water and sodium from the body, thus lowering blood pressure, which may be enough along with lifestyle changes to control your blood pressure.

Although three types of diuretics are available, the first choice is usually a thiazide diuretic. Thiazide diuretics typically have fewer side effects than do other types of diuretics. They also offer strong protection against conditions that high blood pressure can cause, such as stroke and heart failure.

Other medications

A diuretic may be the only high blood pressure medication you need. But under some circumstances, your doctor may also recommend another medication or may add another medication. Those choices include:

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. These allow blood vessels to widen by preventing a hormone called angiotensin from affecting blood vessels. Frequently prescribed ACE inhibitors include captopril (Capoten), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) and ramipril (Altace).

Angiotensin II receptor blockers. These help blood vessels relax by blocking the action of angiotensin. Frequently prescribed angiotensin II receptor blockers include losartan (Cozaar), olmesartan (Benicar) and valsartan (Diovan).

Beta blockers. These work by blocking certain nerve and hormonal signals to the heart and blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure. Frequently prescribed beta blockers include metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard) and penbutolol (Levatol).

Calcium channel blockers. These prevent calcium from going into heart and blood vessel muscle cells, thus causing the cells to relax, which lowers blood pressure. Frequently prescribed calcium channel blockers include amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor XR) and nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia).

Renin inhibitors.  Renin is an enzyme produced by your kidneys that starts a chain of chemical steps that increases blood pressure. Aliskiren (Tekturna) slows down the production of renin, reducing its ability to begin this process. Due to a risk of serious complications, including stroke, you shouldn't take aliskiren with ACE inhibitors or ARBs.

Adding one of these medications can lower your blood pressure more quickly than can taking only a diuretic. This may reduce the risk of developing complications from high blood pressure. Combining two medications of different classes may allow you to take a smaller dose of each, which can reduce side effects and perhaps be less expensive. The choice of medications in combination depends on your individual circumstances.

Medication options for stage 2 high blood pressure (higher than 160/100)

If you have stage 2 high blood pressure, you have a systolic pressure of 160 mm Hg or higher or a diastolic pressure of 100 mm Hg or higher or both. In this case, you'll likely need to take at least two high blood pressure medications when you start treatment.

As with stage 1 hypertension, your doctor will likely prescribe a thiazide diuretic. Diuretics work by flushing excess water and sodium from the body, thus lowering your blood pressure. Along with a diuretic, your doctor may recommend that you also take:

• ACE inhibitors. This medication helps blood vessels relax by blocking the production of a hormone that causes blood vessels to narrow. Frequently prescribed ACE inhibitors include captopril (Capoten), lisinopril (Prinivil, Zestril) and ramipril (Altace).
• Angiotensin II receptor blockers. This medication allows blood vessels to widen by preventing a hormone called angiotensin from affecting vessels. Frequently prescribed angiotensin II receptor blockers include losartan (Cozaar), olmesartan (Benicar) and valsartan (Diovan).
• Beta blockers. This class of drugs works by blocking certain nerve and hormonal signals to the heart and blood vessels, thus lowering blood pressure. Frequently prescribed beta blockers include metoprolol (Lopressor, Toprol XL), nadolol (Corgard) and penbutolol (Levatol).
• Calcium channel blockers. This medication prevents calcium from going into heart and blood vessel muscle cells, thus causing the cells to relax, which lowers blood pressure. Frequently prescribed calcium channel blockers include amlodipine (Norvasc), diltiazem (Cardizem, Dilacor XR) and nifedipine (Adalat, Procardia).
• Renin inhibitors.  Renin is an enzyme produced by your kidneys that starts a chain of chemical steps that increases blood pressure. Aliskiren (Tekturna) slows down the production of renin, reducing its ability to begin this process. Due to a risk of serious complications, including stroke, you shouldn't take aliskiren with ACE inhibitors or ARBs.

If none of these medications is effective in lowering your blood pressure, your doctor may recommend another medication, such as an alpha blocker, central-acting agent or vasodilator. These medications are strong and may cause more side effects than may other blood pressure medications.

When your blood pressure is very high, it's important to reduce it quickly to prevent or delay complications, such as damage to your arteries, heart failure or kidney damage. A two-drug combination generally works faster than does a single drug to get your blood pressure under control. Sometimes a third medication, or more, may be needed to achieve your blood pressure goal.

High blood pressure and other health problems

High blood pressure often goes hand in hand with other health problems. If you have a serious health condition in addition to high blood pressure, it's likely you'll need aggressive treatment. Those conditions include:

• Heart failure
• Previous heart attack
• High risk of coronary artery disease
• Enlarged or thickened left chamber of the heart (left ventricular hypertrophy)
• Diabetes
• Chronic kidney disease
• Previous stroke

High blood pressure itself puts you at higher risk of having one of these conditions. If you already have one or more of these conditions plus high blood pressure, your chance of developing a life-threatening complication increases. A more aggressive treatment approach may reduce your risk of these complications.

Your doctor may recommend specific high blood pressure medications to treat these conditions, as well as additional medications for your high blood pressure. For example, if you have chest pain (angina), your doctor may recommend a beta blocker, which can lower your blood pressure and also prevent your chest pain, reduce your heart rate and decrease your risk of death. If you have diabetes and high blood pressure, taking a diuretic plus an ACE inhibitor can decrease your risk of heart attack and stroke. If you have diabetes, high blood pressure and kidney disease, you may need to add additional medications to the mix, such as an angiotensin II receptor blocker.

Keep trying to reach your blood pressure goal

Sometimes high blood pressure can be difficult to treat. If your high blood pressure doesn't decrease despite taking at least three different types of high blood pressure drugs, one of which should be a diuretic, you may have resistant hypertension. Resistant hypertension is blood pressure that's resistant to treatment. People who have controlled high blood pressure and are taking four different types of medications at the same time to achieve that control also are considered to have resistant hypertension.

It's not unusual to try several different medications or doses before finding what works best for you. In fact, if you and your doctor can identify what's behind your persistently high blood pressure, there's a good chance you can meet your goal with the help of treatment that's more effective. Home monitoring of your blood pressure can help your doctor decide if your blood pressure treatment is working, or if a different dose or medication is necessary.

In most cases, a combination of lifestyle changes and medication can help you successfully control your blood pressure. Once that's done, your doctor may recommend a gradual decrease in medications while monitoring the effect on your blood pressure; however, don't attempt to do this on your own.

Keeping your blood pressure under control may take some time, but in the long run it may mean a longer life, with fewer health problems.

High Blood Pressure

White coat high blood pressure

A single elevated blood pressure reading in the doctor's office can be misleading because the elevation may be only temporary. It may be caused by a patient's anxiety related to the stress of the examination and fear that something will be wrong with his or her health. The initial visit to the physician's office is often the cause of an artificially high blood pressure that may disappear with repeated testing after rest and with follow-up visits and blood pressure checks. One out of four people that are thought to have mild hypertension actually may have normal blood pressure when they are outside the physician's office. An increase in blood pressure noted only in the doctor's office is called 'white coat hypertension.' The name suggests that the physician's white coat induces the patient's anxiety and a brief increase in blood pressure. A diagnosis of white coat hypertension might imply that it is not a clinically important or dangerous finding.

However, caution is warranted in assessing white coat hypertension. An elevated blood pressure brought on by the stress and anxiety of a visit to the doctor may not necessarily always be a harmless finding since other stresses in a patient's life may also cause elevations in the blood pressure that are not ordinarily being measured. Monitoring blood pressure at home by blood pressure cuff or continuous monitoring equipment or at a pharmacy can help estimate the frequency and consistency of higher blood pressure readings. Additionally, conducting appropriate tests to search for any complications of hypertension can help evaluate the significance of variable blood pressure readings.

Borderline high blood pressure

Borderline hypertension is defined as mildly elevated blood pressure higher than 140/90 mm Hg sometimes, and lower than that at other times. As in the case of white coat hypertension, patients with borderline hypertension need to have their blood pressure taken on several occasions and their end-organ damage assessed in order to establish whether their hypertension is significant.

People with borderline hypertension may have a tendency as they get older to develop more sustained or higher elevations of blood pressure. They have a modestly increased risk of developing heart-related (cardiovascular) disease. Therefore, even if the hypertension does not appear to be significant initially, people with borderline hypertension should have continuing follow-up of their blood pressure and monitoring for the complications of hypertension.

If, during the follow-up of a patient with borderline hypertension, the blood pressure becomes persistently higher than 140/ 90 mm Hg, an antihypertensive medication is usually started. Even if the diastolic pressure remains at a borderline level (usually less than 90 mm Hg, yet persistently above 85) treatment may be started in certain circumstances.

7 Reasons to Be Happy Even if Things Aren’t Perfect Now

"Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means you've decided to look beyond the imperfections." -Unknown

Even though I couldn't possibly care less about oil-based raincoats, I listened to him talk for about 15 minutes one rainy morning last week.

This little guy, with his colorful button-down shirt and funny-looking hat makes my day most mornings. He works at the 7-11 where I get my coffee. And he always seems happy.

At first I thought he was just putting on a good face, making the best of a tough situation. After all, he couldn't possibly enjoy working at a convenience store, right? Then I realized I was missing the biggest part of his appeal: hedoes enjoy his job, and that's why he seems so happy—because he is.

Man that's awesome. I aim to be like him.

My life doesn't always look exactly like I want it to. I spend many days writing alone in my living room, when I'd rather work from a beachside office space I share with friends. I drive a beat-up old Toyota, when I'd far prefer something that doesn't have roll-up windows or a cassette player.

But the world doesn't change all that much if I have more money, a different space, a better job, or a nicer car. The wrapping paper is different, but the gift inside stays the same.

The way I feel about myself; how much I open myself to new people and experiences; how often I choose to smile simply because it feels good. None of these things depend on my life situation. Colorful shirt guy knows that. I suspect he knows these things, too:

1. Enjoying the present moment is a habit that takes practice. If you always look toward tomorrow for happiness, odds are you will do the same when you attain what you've been dreaming of. As strange it sounds, the ability to appreciate what's in front of you has nothing to do with what you actually have. It's more about how you measure the good things in your life at any given time.

Practice wanting what you have and it will feel even sweeter when you eventually have what you want. Look around—what's in front of you that can enjoy?

2. Finding reasons to be happy now can benefit your future. Dr. Dacher Keltner of the University of California claims she can predict a person's future by judging the strength of their smile. Researchers examined yearbook photos of 111 female students taken between 1958 and 1960. Subsequent tests revealed that the women who expressed more positive emotion in those photos became more mentally focused, had more successful marriages, and enjoyed a greater sense of well-being.

From the article:

"While positive emotion tends to broaden thought, negative emotion tends to narrow it and hold back development….The findings of Dr Keltner and his colleagues, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, are among the first to show that differences in the extent to which people express emotion may be stable throughout their lives and dictate personal and social success."

3. Tuning into joy can improve your health, something that affords you many possibilities in life. Something that most people take for granted until it's compromised.

Christopher Peterson, Ph.D of the University of Michigan—who has studied optimism's link to health for over 20 years—shows optimistic people have a stronger immune system than their negative counterparts. This may be due to their tendency to take better care of themselves. Choose to be happy now and you'll have more days of good health to enjoy.

4. Consistent, long-term happiness depends on your ability to notice and appreciate the details; you can hone that skill right now. Once you get everything you want, you will still be subject to life's highs and lows. If you haven't learned to enjoy the little things, your well-being will parallel your life's circumstances. Every time something goes wrong, you'll feel deeply unhappy (as opposed to disappointed but determined to make the best of things).

Think about the things that fill you with the most joy—spending time with your pets, listening to the rain,and running on the beach, for example. Focus on those things right now, and let them brighten your day. That way, no matter what changes, you'll have a variety of simple pleasures to help you through.

5. Every day is a new opportunity to be better than yesterday; that pursuit can increase your self esteem and, accordingly, your happiness. I used to be obsessed with being perfect. If I wasn't the best at something, I couldn't sleep at night. Becoming great never felt as good as I imagined it would because there was always room to be better. I was constantly dissatisfied and disappointed in myself.

I now look at the things I do as opportunities to get better from one day to the next. It's more satisfying to set and meet an attainable goal, like focusing better and writing an extra article tomorrow, than it is to obsess about perfection, stressing because I'm not a world-famous author.

By focusing on small improvements and mini-goals, you'll naturally move yourself toward your larger dreams. And you'll respect the way you're doing things.

6. You can be who you want to be right now, no matter what your situation looks like. You may think life needs to change dramatically for you to be the person you want to be. That you can't be giving unless you make more money. Or you can't be adventurous until you sell your house. The truth is you can be those things at any point in time.

So you don't have money to share. Be generous with your compassion, and listen when your friends have problems. So your house hasn't sold, pinning you in one place. Create adventure in your day by trying new things and introducing yourself to new people.

You never know when your nows will run out—so ask yourself, "How can I be that person I want to be in this moment?"

7. Finding joy in the present moment—no matter how inadequate it may seem—makes a difference in other people's lives. Though we all have different lists of dreams and goals, for most of us this is at the forefront : the possibility of living a meaningful life that affects other people for the better.

Happiness is a moment-to-moment choice, one that many have a hard time making. Other people willnotice if you make that choice. And you will motivate them to do the same. As the research above indicates, this motivation has a substantial impact on their health and future happiness.

I know this isn't your usual reasons-to-be-happy post. It didn't start or end with "count your blessings" and I didn't delve into your relationships or good fortune. There's a very good reason for that.

I don't think happiness is so much about what you have. What you have changes; your "blessings" evolve. Happiness is about how you interpret what's in front of you. How proud you are of the way you live your life. How willing you are to enjoy simple pleasures, even if things aren't perfect.

Though I have't always done this well, today I choose to focus on the good—both in the world and myself—to feel happy right now. How will you tune into happiness today?

Anxiety And Various Sleep Problems

One of the body's natural anxiety coping mechanisms is sleep. When you sleep, your mind and body relax, so the next day you're sharper and able to withstand some of life's daily stresses.

The irony is that anxiety can actually make it harder to sleep. Sleep problems are extremely common in those with persistent stress, and in many cases it can actually cause a cycle that makes it harder to overcome anxiety in the future.

Why Anxiety Causes Sleep Problems

Anxiety can affect sleep in a host of different ways. Nearly every symptom of anxiety has the potential to disrupt your ability to sleep, since sleep itself is only possible when your body and mind are relaxed.

Speaking of which, if you haven't done so yet, take my 7 minute anxiety test, so that you can get an idea of what symptoms you experience that may be caused by anxiety and disrupt your sleep.

Sleep problems may be caused by any number of factors. These include:

• Racing Thoughts – Racing thoughts is likely the most common cause of sleep disorders in those with anxiety. Thoughts often race because of stress, but the thoughts themselves may or may not be stress related. Often those with stress simply struggle to stop focusing on thoughts, no matter what they are.
• Racing Heart/Body – Anxiety causes energy to spread through your body as it prepares for fight/flight mode. When your body feels like it's on edge, it's very difficult to reach the level of relaxation required for a gentle sleep.
• Muscle Tension – Anxiety also causes tremendous physical tension in your muscles – tension that can be incredibly problematic. It's very difficult to sleep when your body is tensed up, but that tension is very natural when stress consumes your life.
• "Needs" – Especially common in those with obsessive compulsive disorder, you may also feel like you have worries or things you need to complete that prevent you from sleeping. Compulsions may keep you up later than you wanted, and anxiety may cause you to feel like you need to watch TV more, or stay up more, without even trying to go to bed.
• Pain and Other Anxiety Symptoms – Finally, each individual symptom of anxiety may affect your ability to sleep. Rapid heartbeat may cause concerns over your health. Weak limbs may make you feel less comfortable. Each symptom may contribute to the way you experience anxiety.

Often those with severe anxiety also have negative thoughts that sour the mood, and since relaxation is the key to sleep, a sour mood can have a very powerful effect on your ability to get rest.

How to Sleep With Anxiety

Sleep problems are called problems for a reason, and few of them have an immediate cure. Ideally, you'll need to focus on reducing your anxiety and stress in general, so that you're less consumed by these negative experiences and can drift off to sleep more easily.

Yet there are tips and strategies you can use to get more rest with anxiety. Consider the following:

• Journal Writing – The first, and arguably most important strategy to try, is journal writing. People see journal writing as important for kids, but writing your thoughts in a journal has an effect on your ability to sleep as well. Your brain is a fascinating thing, and when your mind knows that you have written a persistent thought down (one that keeps you awake), it will feel better about letting the thought go, knowing that it's in a permanent place. Any time you have a thought that won't leave your mind, try writing it in a journal.
• Herbal Sleep Supplements – Depending on any medicine – including herbal medicine – is not ideal for those trying to overcome anxiety. But herbs like valerian root, kava, and passionflower are very popular for those that need to get more rest. It's still a good idea to talk to your doctor before trying any herbal supplement, but you may find the results to be a big help.
• Daily Jogging – At least 3 to 4 hours before you go to sleep (and possibly as early as the morning), try to get out for a long jog. Jogging is actually a natural anxiety reduction strategy, and one that releases endorphins that calm the mind and body. But beyond that, jogging tires the muscles, so when you go to bed they will be much less tense.

Mental distractions can also be beneficial, especially for heavy sleepers. Some people find that turning on radios, podcasts, or television sets, and putting the volume as low as possible so that you can barely make out the words can be helpful. Your mind tries to listen to the distraction, causing it to stop focusing on the stressful thoughts, and ultimately you're able to fall asleep.

This solution does not work for everyone, however.

Unfortunately, these tips are not enough, and they can't work forever. You still need to stop experiencing that anxiety, so that sleep comes much more naturally.

I've helped thousands of people improve their sleep and live without anxiety. Yet to start, you have to take the 7 minute anxiety test. It's the only way to get an idea of how anxiety affects you, how you compare to others, and what will work best at reducing your anxiety.

A Good Night's Sleep

Ever since he retired, Edward dreads going to bed at night. He's afraid that when he turns off his light, he will just lie there with his eyes open and his mind racing. "How can I break this cycle?" he asks. "I'm so tired—I need to get some sleep."

Just like Edward, you want a good night's rest. Getting enough sleep helps you stay healthy and alert. But many older people don't sleep well. If you're always sleepy, it may be time to see a doctor. You shouldn't wake up every day feeling tired.

Sleep And Aging

Older adults need about the same amount of sleep as young adults—7 to 9 hours each night. But seniors tend to go to sleep earlier and get up earlier than when they were younger. Older people may nap more during the day, which can sometimes make it hard to fall asleep at night.

There are two kinds of sleep—REM (rapid eye movement) sleep and non-REM sleep. We dream mostly during REM sleep and have the deepest sleep during non-REM sleep. As people get older, they spend less time in deep sleep, which may be why older people are often light sleepers.

Sleep Problems

There are many reasons why older people may not get enough sleep at night. Feeling sick or being in pain can make it hard to sleep. Napping during the day can disrupt sleep at night. Some medicines can keep you awake. No matter the reason, if you don't get a good night's sleep, the next day you may:

• Be irritable
• Have memory problems or be forgetful
• Feel depressed
• Have more falls or accidents
• Feel very sleepy during the day
• Insomnia

Insomnia is the most common sleep problem in adults age 60 and older. People with insomnia have trouble falling asleep and staying asleep. Insomnia can last for days, months, or even years. If you're having trouble sleeping, you may:

• Take a long time to fall asleep
• Wake up many times in the night
• Wake up early and be unable to get back to sleep
• Wake up tired
• Feel very sleepy during the day

There are many causes of insomnia. Some of them you can control, but others you can't. For example, if you are excited about a new activity or worrying over your bills, you may have trouble sleeping. Sometimes insomnia may be a sign of other problems. Or, it could be a side effect of a medication or an illness.

Often, being unable to sleep becomes a habit. Some people worry about not sleeping even before they get into bed. This may even make insomnia worse.

Some older adults who have trouble sleeping use over-the-counter sleep aids. Using prescription medicines for a short time might help. But remember, medicines aren't a cure for insomnia. Developing healthy habits at bedtime may help you get a good night's sleep.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is another serious sleep disorder. A person with sleep apnea has short pauses in breathing while sleeping. These pauses may happen many times during the night. If not treated, sleep apnea can lead to other problems such as high blood pressure, stroke, or memory loss.

You can have sleep apnea and not even know it. But your loud snoring and gasping for air can keep other people awake. Feeling sleepy during the day and being told you are snoring loudly at night could be signs that you have sleep apnea.

If you think you have sleep apnea, see a doctor who knows about this sleep problem. You may need to learn to sleep in a position that keeps your airways open. Sometimes a medical device called Continuous Positive Air Pressure (CPAP), a dental device, or surgery can help.

Movement Disorders

Restless legs syndrome, periodic limb movement disorder, and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder are common in older adults. These movement disorders can rob you of needed sleep.

People with restless legs syndrome, or RLS, feel like there is tingling, crawling, or pins and needles in one or both legs. It's worse at night. Moving the legs brings some relief, at least for a short time. RLS tends to run in families. See your doctor for more information about medicines to treat RLS.

Periodic limb movement disorder, or PLMD, causes people to jerk and kick their legs every 20 to 40 seconds during sleep. Some people have hundreds of these movements each night, which may result in loss of sleep and feeling tired and sleepy the next day. Medication, warm baths, exercise, and learning ways to relax can help.

Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, also known as REM sleep behavior disorder, is another condition that may make it harder to get a good night's sleep. REM sleep is the most active stage of sleep when dreaming often occurs. During normal REM sleep, your muscles cannot move, so your body stays still. But if you have REM sleep behavior disorder, your muscles can move, and your sleep is disrupted.

Alzheimer's Disease And Sleep—A Special Problem

Alzheimer's disease often changes a person's sleeping habits. For example, some people with Alzheimer's disease sleep too much; others don't sleep enough. Some people wake up many times during the night; others wander or yell at night. The person with Alzheimer's disease isn't the only one who loses sleep. Caregivers may have sleepless nights, leaving them tired for the challenges they face.

If you're caring for someone with Alzheimer's disease, there are steps you can take for his or her safety and that might help you sleep better at night. Try the following:

• Make sure the floor is clear of objects.
• Lock up any medicines.
• Attach grab bars in the bathroom.
• Place a gate across the stairs.

Getting a Good Night's Sleep

Being older doesn't mean you have to feel tired all the time. There are many things you can do to help you get a good night's sleep. Here are some ideas:

• Follow a regular sleep schedule. Go to sleep and get up at the same time each day, even on weekends. Try to avoid napping in the late afternoon or evening, as it may keep you awake at night.
• Develop a bedtime routine. Take time to relax before bedtime each night. Some people watch television, read a book, listen to soothing music, or soak in a warm bath.
• Keep your bedroom dark, not too hot or too cold, and as quiet as possible.
• Have a comfortable mattress, a pillow you like, and enough blankets for the season.
• Exercise at regular times each day but not within 3 hours of your bedtime.
• Make an effort to get outside in the sunlight each day.
• Be careful about when and how much you eat. Large meals close to bedtime may keep you awake, but a light snack in the evening can help you get a good night's sleep.
• Stay away from caffeine late in the day. Caffeine (found in coffee, tea, soda, and hot chocolate) can keep you awake.
• Drink fewer beverages in the evening. Waking up to go to the bathroom and turning on a bright light break up your sleep.
• Remember that alcohol won't help you sleep. Even small amounts make it harder to stay asleep.
• Use your bedroom only for sleeping. After turning off the light, give yourself about 20 minutes to fall asleep. If you're still awake and not drowsy, get out of bed. When you feel sleepy, go back to bed.

Safe Sleeping

Try to set up a safe and restful place to sleep. Make sure you have smoke alarms on each floor of your house or apartment. Lock the outside doors before going to bed. Other ideas for a safe night's sleep are:

• Keep a telephone with emergency phone numbers by your bed.
• Have a good lamp within reach that turns on easily.
• Put a glass of water next to the bed in case you wake up thirsty.
• Use nightlights in the bathroom and hall.
• Don't smoke, especially in bed.
• Remove area rugs so you won't trip if you get out of bed in the middle of the night.
• Don't fall asleep with a heating pad on; it may burn.

Sweet Dreams

There are some tricks to help you fall asleep. You don't really have to count sheep—but you could try counting slowly to 100. Some people find that playing mental games makes them sleepy. For example, tell yourself it's 5 minutes before you have to get up, and you're just trying to get a few extra winks. Other people find that relaxing their body puts them to sleep. You might start by telling yourself that your toes feel light as feathers and then work your way up the rest of the body saying the same words. You may drift off to sleep before getting to the top of your head.

If you feel tired and unable to do your activities for more than 2 or 3 weeks, you may have a sleep problem. Talk to your doctor about changes you can make to get a better night's sleep.

INTRODUCTION TO HOW HEART DISEASE WORKS

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S. At some point in your life, either you or one of your loved ones will be forced to make decisions about some aspect of heart disease. Knowing something about the anatomy and functioning of the heart, in particular how angina and heart attacks work, will enable you to make informed decisions about your health.

Heart disease can strike suddenly and require you to make decisions quickly. Being informed prior to an emergency is a valuable asset to you and your family.

In this article we will discuss various heart diseases and how they can lead to a heart attack, or even a stroke. We will also look at how heart attacks are treated and what you should do to prevent heart disease.

The basics Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), Coronary Heart Disease (CHD), Ischemic Heart Disease (IHD) and Arteriosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD) are all different names for the same disease. This disease is caused by atherosclerosis, which is a buildup of fatty deposits (atheroma) in the coronary arteries. See the figure below:

Coronary arteries supply blood to the heart muscle. When a blockage occurs in one of these arteries, blood flow to the heart muscle is decreased. This becomes most evident during exertion. During exertion, the heart muscle is working harder and needs more oxygen-enriched blood than usual. By preventing the much needed increase in blood flow, the blockage deprives the heart muscle of oxygen thereby causing the heart muscle to hurt. This chest pain is called angina or Angina Pectoris. When the heart muscle goes without sufficient oxygen, the muscle is said to be ischemic. If cell death occurs it is called infarction. Since a heart attack is cell death of heart muscle (myocardium), it is called a Myocardial Infarction (MI). The condition that causes CAD, angina and heart attacks is called atherosclerosis.

Arteriosclerosis is a more general term for hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is a type of arteriosclerosis that causes a buildup of fatty material (referred to as atheromas and plaques) along the inner lining of arteries. Depending on where these blockages occur, they can cause a number of different outcomes:

• If the blockage occurs in a coronary artery, it causes chest pain (angina).
• If the blockage is complete, it can cause a heart attack (Myocardial Infarction or MI).
• If the blockage occurs in one of the arteries near the brain, a stroke can occur.
• If a blockage occurs in a leg artery, it causes Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD) and can cause pain while walking called intermittent claudication.

Atherosclerosis takes many years, even decades to develop and the condition can easily go unnoticed. Sometimes symptoms such as angina will gradually indicate the condition. However, it can also become evident in a sudden and severe way, in the form of a heart attack.

Let's take a look at some of the risk factors for atherosclerosis. Some of these factors are things you can control. By being proactive, you could reduce your risk.

Ways to Prevent Cardiovascular Diseases

Treatable or partially treatable risk factors

• High blood pressure

You should have your blood pressure checked at least every 3-5 years. High blood pressure (hypertension) usually causes no symptoms, so you will not know if it is high unless you have it checked. However, over the years, high blood pressure may do some damage to the arteries and put a strain on your heart.

Sometimes high blood pressure can be lowered by: losing weight if you are overweight, regular physical activity and eating healthily as described above. Medication may be advised if your blood pressure remains high. See separate leaflet called High blood pressure (hypertension) for details.

7 ways to improve your diet

• Eat at least five portions, and ideally 7-9 portions, of a variety of fruit and vegetables per day.
• The bulk of most meals should be starch-based foods (such as cereals, wholegrain bread, potatoes, rice, pasta), plus fruit and vegetables.
• Limit your intake of fatty food, such as fatty meats, cheeses, full-cream milk, fried food and butter. Use low-fat, monounsaturated or polyunsaturated spreads.
• Include 2-3 portions of fish per week, at least one of which should be 'oily' (such as herring, mackerel, sardines, kippers, pilchards, salmon or fresh tuna).
• If you eat meat, it is best to eat lean cuts, or poultry such as chicken.
• If you do fry, choose a vegetable oil such as sunflower, rapeseed or olive.
• Try not to add salt to food and limit foods which are salty.

More

Now you have read 7 ways to improve your diet, why not look at some of our other slideshows.

Cholesterol and other lipids

In general, the higher the blood cholesterol level, the greater the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. Having a high cholesterol level is more risky if you also have other risk factors such as diabetes or high blood pressure. As a rule, no matter what your cholesterol level is, lowering the level reduces your risk. This is why people at high risk of developing a cardiovascular disease are offered medication to lower their cholesterol level. See separate leaflet called Cholesterol for details.

A high blood level of triglyceride, another type of lipid (fat), also increases the health risk.

Diabetes and kidney disease

The increased risk that diabetes and kidney disease pose to developing cardiovascular diseases can be modified. For example, good control of blood sugar levels in people with diabetes reduces the risk. Good control of blood pressure in people with diabetes and kidney diseases reduces the risk.

Calculating your cardiovascular health risk

A 'risk factor calculator' is commonly used by GPs and practice nurses. This can assess your cardiovascular health risk. A score is calculated which takes into account all your risk factors such as age, sex, smoking status, blood pressure, cholesterol level, etc. The calculator has been devised after a lot of research that monitored thousands of people over a number of years. The score gives a fairly accurate indication of your risk of developing a cardiovascular disease over the next 10 years.

Who should have their cardiovascular health risk assessed?

Current UK guidelines advise that the following people should be assessed to find their cardiovascular health risk:

• All adults aged 40 or more.
• Adults of any age who have:

A strong family history of early cardiovascular disease. This means if you have a father or brother who developed heart disease or a stroke before they were aged 55, or in a mother or sister before they were aged 65.

A first-degree relative (parent, brother, sister, child) with a serious hereditary lipid disorder. For example, familial hypercholesterolaemia or familial combined hyperlipidaemia. These diseases are uncommon.

If you already have a cardiovascular disease or diabetes then your risk does not need to be assessed. This is because you are already known to be in the high-risk group.

What does the assessment involve?

A doctor or nurse will:

• Do a blood test to check your cholesterol and glucose (sugar) level.
• Measure your blood pressure and your weight.
• Ask you if you smoke.
• Ask if there is a history of cardiovascular diseases in your family (your blood relations); if so, at what age the diseases started in the affected family members.
• A score is calculated based on these factors plus your age and your sex. An adjustment to the score is made for certain other factors such as strong family history and ethnic origin.

There are many different calculators. The Framingham calculator has been used for a long time. Many health professionals are moving over to QRISK®2 which is more accurate and takes into account many other factors, such as whether you have a condition called atrial fibrillation, or kidney disease. The QRISK®2 calculator can be found online at www.qrisk.org

What does the assessment score mean?

You are given a score as a % chance. So, for example, if your score is 30%, this means that you have a 30% chance of developing a cardiovascular disease within the next 10 years. This is the same as saying a 30 in 100 chance (or a 3 in 10 chance). In other words, in this example, 3 in 10 people with the same score that you have will develop a cardiovascular disease within the next 10 years. Note: the score cannot say if you will be one of the three. It cannot predict what will happen to each individual person. It just gives you the odds.

You are said to have a:

• High risk - if your score is 20% or more. This is a 2 in 10 chance or more of developing a cardiovascular disease within the next 10 years.
• Moderate risk - if your score is 10-20%. This is between a 1 in 10 and 2 in 10 chance. This should be re-assessed every year.
• Low risk - if your score is less than 10%. This is less than a 1 in 10 chance. This should be re-assessed every 5 years.

Who should be treated to reduce their cardiovascular health risk?

Treatment to reduce the risk of developing a cardiovascular disease is usually offered to people with a high risk. That is:

• People with a risk assessment score of 20% or more. That is, if you have a 2 in 10 chance or more of developing a cardiovascular disease within the next 10 years.
• People with an existing cardiovascular disease. This is to lower the chance of it getting worse, or of developing a further disease.
• People with diabetes. The time that treatment to reduce cardiovascular risk is started depends on factors such as: your age, how long you have had diabetes, your blood pressure, and if you have any complications of diabetes.
• People with certain kidney disorders.

What treatments are available to reduce the risk?

If you are at high risk

If you are at high risk of developing a cardiovascular disease then treatment with medicines is usually advised along with advice to tackle any lifestyle issues.

This usually means:

• Treatment with medication, usually with a statin medicine, to lower your cholesterol level. No matter what your current cholesterol level, treatment with medicines is advised. In terms of targets, your level of cholesterol has to be viewed as part of your overall cardiovascular health risk. The cardiovascular health risk from any given level of cholesterol can vary, depending on the level of your HDL cholesterol, and on other health risk factors that you may have. 
• Treatment with medication to lower blood pressure if it is high. This is even if your blood pressure is just mildly high.
• Where relevant, to encourage you even more to tackle lifestyle risk factors. This means to:

Stop smoking if you smoke.

Eat a healthy diet - including keeping your salt intake to under 5 g a day.

Keep your weight and waist in check.

Take regular physical activity.

Cut back if you drink a lot of alcohol.

If available, and if required, you may be offered a referral to a specialist service. For example, to a dietician to help you to lose weight and eat a healthy diet, to a specialist stop smoking clinic, or to a supervised exercise programme.

For details on exactly how much risk is reduced by lowering and treating risk factors, see the guidance produced by Prodigy called 'Cardiovascular risk assessment and management' - in 'References', below.

What if I am at moderate or low risk?

If you are not in the high-risk category, it does not mean you have no risk - just a lesser risk. Treatment with medicines is not usually prescribed. However, you may be able to reduce whatever risk you do have even further by any relevant changes in lifestyle (as described above).

Some people with a moderate risk buy a low-dose statin medicine from a pharmacy, to lower their cholesterol level. Statin medicines are available on prescription and funded by the NHS if your risk is high. However, you need to buy them if your risk is not in the high category. But, if you do buy a statin and take it regularly, it is best to let your doctor know so that it can be put on your medical record.