Farmers know that routine equipment maintenance prevents downtime. Like regular tune-ups, preventive medical checkups and screening tests for farmers, families and employees should be seen as a cost of doing business. Learn how health and safety affect a farm's bottom line in this special report.

Where you live impacts health
Place matters, when it comes to health. The 2009 State Scorecard on Health System Performance reveals serious geographic disparities. "Where you live matters in terms of your health care, and it shouldn't," says Cathy Schoen, coauthor of the study by the Commonwealth Fund Commission. "It makes a difference in whether you live a long life or not." See how your state ranks when it comes to health care.

Try these pain-saving tips
Back pain is an occupational risk for farmers, but it's gaining momentum as a public health problem. "Osteoarthritis can start with improper body mechanics," says Amber Wolfe, AgrAbility Project coordinator, Indiana Chapter of the Arthritis Foundation, Indianapolis. She offers five proactive tips farmers can take to avoid back pain.

3 lessons from Jan
Last year, Gene Johnston's wife, Jan, passed away from metastatic breast cancer. She was 63. Jan had breast cancer 12 years before, but had been cancer-free for more than a decade. Then the cancer returned in her bones. Jan was an amazing woman, and Gene shares some of the lessons he learned from her, both about managing your health and living your life.

Health benefits of flossing may be heartfelt
Taking good care of your teeth may do more than save your smile. It could save your life. Research indicates that regular brushing and flossing may improve the health of your coronary arteries and prevent certain cancers.

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Research yields new clues to Alzheimer's disease
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle may lower the risk of Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of adult dementia. Untreated high blood pressure and clogged arteries may set the stage for Alzheimer's. Learn about steps you can take to reduce the risk of Alzheimer's.

Generic drug savings and other sensible strategies
As use of prescription drugs climbs exponentially, many Americans are struggling to cope with the costs. Going with generic medications is a good way to save money, but some generics may not be advisable for certain medical conditions.

Long road to health reform
Carolyn Sheridan is watching the health insurance reform debate closely. As nurse director at Spencer (Iowa) Hospital, she has seen the financial impact of the uninsured on the bottom line. As clinical director of The AgriSafe Network, she knows the health impact on underinsured farmers. "Less coverage usually means less preventive care, a later diagnosis, and a more negative prognosis for patients," she says. "It often means bad debt for hospitals."

Have a specific medical question or concern? Try the Healia health search engine. Healia serves as an independent, unbiased gateway to the highest quality health information resources.

Holding your breath won't ward off respiratory hazards
Farm exposures to dusts, molds, gases, pesticides, and other chemicals may cause respiratory conditions, from chronic bronchitis to organic dust toxic syndrome. "Farmers generally don't smoke," says Carolyn Sheridan with AgriSafe. "Compared to other occupations, they still have a high disability rate from respiratory conditions." Learn how to stay safe.

Diabetic Living, a sister publication to Successful Farming magazine, celebrates a healthy lifestyle for people living with diabetes. Each issue is like a cookbook (with more than 50 recipes), exercise handbook and health guide rolled into one.