Cat Scan

Smokers Stop
l Good news for smokers: even if you8217;ve been clogging your lungs for years, you can still benefit from giving it up. Seven years ago 1,400 middle-aged men were tested for fitness. The smokers among them lost 13 per cent of aerobic capacity. 200 quit during the exercise and their results mimicked the non-smokers8217; suggesting that smoking damage is partly reversible even in smokers aged 40 to 59. Whether you8217;ve been at it for years or have just started, the message is clear: stop now.

Test the Waters
l As pure as water may look, you need to take care if you8217;re to avoid stomach problems. Leave it lying around, particularly in warm weather and bacteria can proliferate at an alarming rate. Tap water contains chlorine which kills off all the nasties: not so the bottled stuff. Always treat water as perishable. Drink bottled water within a day, once you8217;ve opened it. And if you use a jug filter, give the jug a cleaning every other day.