In the last issue of A Closer Look, we introduced the idea of creating a 'Top 100 Things To Do in this Lifetime' list. Such a list can help keep you focused on life's fun and fulfilling aspects, and it can motivate you to adopt and maintain more positive, life-prolonging ways of living.

We started our own list in the last issue with 10 items; and as promised, we're expanding our list with 10 more 'wishes' in this issue.

(If you entered our Live Larger contest, you might just see an item or two from your list included in ours.)

Congratulations to our 'Live Larger' winner!

In a random draw of all the entrants who sent us items from their 'Top 100 Things To Do in this Lifetime' lists, the winner was Terry of Calgary, who received a Mayfair Diagnostics car safety kit. Thanks to everyone who entered.

Although the future is impossible to predict, medical science makes it possible to 'guesstimate' life expectancy based on certain lifestyle and family history factors.

If you'd like to know how many years your life might have in store – and what you can do to increase the number – you might like to try an intriguing online resource: the 'Living to 100' Life Expectancy Calculator. Requiring only about 10 minutes of your time to complete, the Life Expectancy Calculator asks 40 questions related to your health and family history. It then uses current, carefully researched medical and scientific data to estimate how old you might live to be.

In addition to a life expectancy estimate based on your lifestyle and family history, you will receive:

• Personalized feedback for each of your answers
• A personalized 'To Do' list for you and your physician
• A list of things you can do differently (and how many years they'll add to your life)
• The option to sign up to review the calculator again so you can keep track of your answers and your calculated life expectancy over time. The Web site will even send you a yearly reminder to come back and complete the questionnaire.

The warning signs of high stress are familiar to us all. A persistent lump in your throat. Chronic headaches. Irritability at work and at home. Relentless fatigue with a dogged inability to sleep.

While a little stress is a normal part of everyone's life, ongoing, unmanageable stress can have dire consequences. If such stress-related symptoms as those listed above last more than a week, your blood pressure can begin to climb. And high blood pressure (a.k.a. hypertension) is the number one cause of stroke and a major risk factor for heart attack. Reducing stress now could lead to a healthy future with a lower risk of heart disease.

Five Effective Stress Busters

1. Try to pinpoint what's really causing your stress. It may help to keep a diary of when you feel stressed. Being overworked is one of the leading causes of stress: a 2006 study funded by the Heart & Stroke Foundation showed that when subjects (both men and women) experienced job strain, systolic blood pressure went up over the course of a year. At work, try to find a balance between the effort you put into a task and the reward you receive from it.

2. Commit to a sound sleep routine. Not getting enough quality sleep can make it difficult to handle everyday stress. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day – even on weekends. Before you retire at night, avoid alcohol, upsetting TV programs, arguments, discussions about financial matters or anything else that may cause you distress.

3. Sign up for an assertiveness training class, available at local community centres and other organizations. Such training empowers people to control their emotions and set boundaries with others – important factors in managing stress.

4. Visualization is a proven means of reducing stress. When you need to calm yourself down, visualize a place or memory that you find relaxing.

5. Get physically active on a regular basis. Exercise is your body's natural way of getting rid of toxins caused by stress. Make it specific and commit to the time: a walk around the block every evening after dinner, a run on the treadmill three times a week, a 30-minute bike ride on Tuesdays and Thursdays, gardening on the weekends. If you've been inactive, talk to your physician before starting an exercise program.

6. A leading cause of stress is concern about personal health. Especially if your family history puts you at risk of heart disease, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, osteoporosis or other serious illnesses, consider a Mayfair Diagnostics Health Assessment Scan. Designed to reveal health concerns which, if identified early, can most often be treated or completely cured, our Health Assessment Scans offer the peace of mind that comes with knowing exactly where you stand with respect to your health.