Another good reason to amp up your activity

You may know that sitting for hours in a car or airplane can increase your risk of a blood clot that can travel to the lungs, known as pulmonary embolism. But now a study in the British Medical Journal shows that folks who spend 41 hours or more a week sitting at home --- whether on the couch, at a desk or at the kitchen table -- are also at high risk for the condition, which affects 600,000 Americans a year.

To play it safe, whether at home, work or an airplane, get up about once an hour. And if you experience signs of pulmonary embolism: sudden shortness of breath, severe chest pain and coughing, see your doctor ASAP.