Next week, millions of Americans will be flying on airplanes to head home for Thanksgiving. And a common health concern for travelers is the risk of developing deep vein thrombosis. DVT occurs when a blood clot develops in the large veins of the leg or pelvic area. It’s generally caused by sluggish blood flow through the vein, usually from sitting in cramped positions for long period of times. Some studies show the cabin pressure of an airplane also plays a role.

But just how dangerous is DVT? According to the American Heart Association, it affects up to 2 million Amerans per year. The good news is, in most cases, its not life threatening. The biggest concern is something known as pulmonary embolism, which occurs when the DVT blood clot travels from the leg to your lungs. It accounts for nearly 200,000 deaths a year.

Know if you’re at risk: Most people think DVT strikes just older adults, but a large long-term study showed that women taking birth control, people over 6 feet 1 inch tall, and adults under 30 are at increased risk as well. The more frequently they traveled, the higher the risk became. Experts say most cases of DVT develops on flights over four hours in length.

Look for the red flags: If your leg, ankle or feet are swelling, warm to the touch or cramping during a flight, that may be a sign of DVT. Also, the sudden onset of shortness of breath, anxiety or chest pain may be a warning of pulmonary embolism, or a blockage in a lung artery.

You can reduce your risk of developing DVT by staying hydrated before and during flight. But avoid beer and soda. Alcohol and anything with caffeine add to dehydration and jet lag. The most important thing is to get up and walk around every 30 to 45 minutes to get the blood flowing in your legs.

Be sure to tune in to Dr. Sanjay Gupta every weekend on HOUSE CALL. You’ll find the answers to your medical questions Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 a.m. ET on CNN.

Lower prices at the grocery store; cheaper clothes…what’s wrong with that? A lot as it turns out, especially if it lasts for a few years say economists. Here’s the lowdown on why deflation, a period where prices decline, is not good for the economy.

1) Consumers don’t buy stuff

Who’s going to buy a flat screen TV today when the price is probably be lower in a week or few months? People put off purchasing and investing, so its hard to get the economy moving. And that makes it very hard to get out of a period of deflation.

2) Businesses cut back

If consumers aren’t buying and products are getting cheaper, businesses aren’t making as much profit. So they start cutting jobs. And if you don’t have a job, you’re not spending your cash as freely. The cycle continues.

3) Borrowers are hurt

If you have a loan in a deflationary environment, you’re getting the short end of the stick. That’s because while it may be cheap to borrow, you have to pay the loan back with more expensive dollars.

Economists we spoke to say we’re a long way away from deflation. But the risks do exist. The best way to be prepared in a deflationary environment: bonds and cash.

For more of Gerri’s Top Tips, watch CNN weekdays at 11:15 am Eastern Time.

   Many people take the herb gingko biloba in hopes of staving off Alzheimer’s Disease, but a new study in the Journal of the American Medical Association says it doesn’t work.

          In the study of 3,000 people over the age of 75, some took gingko, while others took a placebo, or sugar pill. University of Pittsburgh researchers found that those who took gingko were just as likely to get Alzheimer’s Disease and other forms of dementia as those who took the placebo.

          Gingko manufacturers say this isn’t the first – or the last – word on the herb. “There is a significant body of scientific and clinical evidence supporting the safety and efficacy of ginkgo extract for both cognitive function,” said Mark Blumenthal, executive director of the American Botanical Council.

          But many experts are still skeptical. Edythe London, a professor of psychiatry and pharmacology at UCLA, says her 86-year-old mother once asked her if she should take gingko, but London told her not to bother.  “But I do tell my mother there are other things she can do,” says London, who’s studied the brain and aging. “I tell her to go out and do things and see people every day and be active.”

          Here are five tips for staving off Alzheimer’s from London and other brain experts.  

1. Antioxidants

          London makes sure her mother takes Vitamins A, C, and E. “There are studies that suggest antioxidants might prevent dementia,” she says.

2. Fish Oil Supplements

          Dr. Gary Small, director of the UCLA Center on Aging, says aging brains show signs of inflammation, and fish oil has anti-inflammatory properties.

3. Phosphatidylserine supplements

          Phosphatidylserine is a lipid found naturally in the body. Small says he’s not 100 percent convinced these supplements will help stave off dementia, but they’re worth a try. “If I start having memory problems when I get older, I’ll give them a trial run and see if they help,” says Small, author of the new book “iBrain: Surviving the Technological Alteration of the Modern Mind.”

4. Curry

          Small, who’s 57, says as he gets older he might also try eating more foods with curry in them. “Some studies in Singapore show that those who ate curry once a week had better memory scores,” he said.

5. Crosstraining your brain

          “Our brains can be made stronger through exercise,” says Andrew Carle, assistant professor of in the departent of health administration and policy at George Mason University. “In the same way physical exercise can delay many of the effects of aging on the body, there’s some evidence cognitive exercise can at least delay the onset of Alzheimer’s.”

          But Carle says it’s not enough to do just one kind of brain exercise. “Doing a crossword puzzle every day is good, but it’s the equivalent of only doing pushups – your arms will get strong, but  not the rest of your body.” He recommends doing other activities in addition, such as computing numbers in your head instead of using a calculator, or using one of the “brain gym” computer games designed to enhance brain function.

Congressional leaders again grilled the CEOs of General Motors, Chrysler, and Ford on Wednesday about a potential $25 billion bailout, and, at the end of the day, the automakers’ prospects were grim. Alabama Congressman Spencer Bachus, the ranking Republican on the House Financial Services Committee, fiercely criticized the bailout, noting that autoworkers earn more than the majority of his constituents.

The committee chairman Democrat Barney Frank — who supports the bailout — urged his peers to consider the wider implications for the American economy should the Big Three go bankrupt.

All the hullabaloo resulted in Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid calling off a scheduled vote on the bailout. That means that right now automakers are left in the lurch, especially General Motors, which reported in early November that it would likely run out of cash by the end of this year or early next year, squeezed tight by the credit crunch and poor sales. On Tuesday, Chrysler CEO Robert Nardelli told the Senate Banking Committee that his company faced a similar fate.

Let’s take a look at some of the consequences we might see should the Big Three indeed be heading the way of the dodo.

1) CEOs say bankruptcy is not a viable option. The heads of GM, Ford, and Chrysler all said they had looked into filing for bankruptcy, but that the move would likely lead to closure, as research shows customers are unwilling to buy from bankrupt automakers and suppliers would start demanding cash for parts.

2) Should the Big 3 close, consumers would likely feel the pinch. If the supply of U.S. vehicles drops off suddenly, that will probably force car and truck prices up. The failure of the Big 3 would also result in the closings of many related businesses, making finding replacement parts for American and Asian cars more difficult.

3) Foreign auto manufacturers may expand their production in America. On the New York Times’ Web site Thursday, Catherine Rampell astutely points out that the failure of the Big Three could provide a great opportunity for foreign car makers. Manufacturing vehicles in the U.S. would cut down on transportation costs, and foreign companies would find a trained workforce ready to be hired.

On Thursday, the United Auto Workers union again urged Congress to come to some loan agreement before its adjournment on Friday and, in return Senator Harry Reid requested the Big Three submit plans to detail how exactly they will spend $25 billion. Only time will tell how this will play out, so buckle your seatbelts kids.

The economy is suffering, but that doesn’t mean you need to suffer when traveling this holiday season. Here are some unconventional ways to cut your lodging expenses.

1) Think house swapping
Instead of booking a hotel, some people are house swapping. Basically its where two families agree to swap homes for a vacation. This can save you a lot of cash—thousands of dollars in some cases since you don’t have to eat out all the time. Check out homeexchange.com. Here you can search for potential house swapping buddies all over the world. Keep in mind there’s a $100 fee to join. You can also find potential house-swapping mates at craigslist.org.

2) Be wary of couch surfing

Some folks are staying on strangers’ couches to save a few bucks. There’s even a Web site devoted to it called CouchSurfing.com. Most stays last about three days and you can expect a bed, but you really have to take precautions here. It’s not always your safest option.

3) Get the discount rate
Hotel rates are slightly lower this year compared to last year, and they’re going to fall even more between Thanksgiving and New Years according to Bjorn Hanson at NYU’s Tisch Center for Hospitality. And the good news here is that hotels are doling out more discounts. First, find out what deals are out there on the Web. Then, call the hotel directly and tell them the rate that you found and ask about any packages or discount rates that are available. A third of the time, the answer will be yes.

For more of Gerri’s Top Tips, watch CNN weekdays at 11:15 am Eastern Time.

The auto industry has been hit hard by the current economic downturn and credit crunch, and oil prices’ meteoric rise to over $4 a gallon this past summer scared consumers silly. Now Detroit’s Big Three — General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler — are looking for assistance from Washington to the tune of $25 billion, and the Congress is split.

Let’s take a look at the two competing plans to bailout the automakers that are kicking around Congress.

1) Democrats are in support of propping up the automakers by reallocating $25 billion from the already approved $700 billion Wall Street bailout. This would give the government a stake in the companies and allow for strict government oversight of how the companies restructure in the coming months.

2) Republicans are reticent to draw from the $700 billion bailout intended for the financial sector. Instead, many are either suggesting that a good bankruptcy will teach those rascally automakers to run their businesses better, or insisting that the funds come from a $25 billion loan program that was already approved by Congress 2 months ago to help automakers make more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Whether you think the Big Three deserve to be bailed out by the government or not, it is undeniable that the failure of these companies wouldn’t create just ripples in the economy: it would create gigantic waves. GM alone has 120,000 employees in the U.S.; Ford has 80,000, and Chrysler has 66,000. And the Center for Automotive Research (cutely acronymed CAR) estimates that for each auto manufacturing position there are 7.5 jobs in industry-related companies. So not only will the car-maker fail, so will the company that assembles its car radios, and the company that makes the volume knob. One domino falls and they all start toppling.

CAR estimates that if the Big Three completely ceased operations, almost 3 million jobs would be lost in the first year alone. Now that’s an extreme case but should give you some sense of what’s at stake should the automakers crash.

The 32nd annual Great American Smokeout is this week.  If you’ve been putting off picking a day to quit, maybe now is your chance to really kick the habit. The American Cancer Society says there is no right way to quit. Some people go cold turkey, and others slowly wean themselves off cigarettes. Here are some tips that will help you prepare for your quit day:

1) Spread the news. Pick a date to stop smoking. Mark it on your calendar and tell your family and friends. 2) Out of sight. Get rid of all the cigarettes, ashtrays, lighters and matches in your home, car and office. 3) Stock up. Buy oral substitutes ahead of time such as sugar-free gum, hard candy and carrot sticks. Decide whether you’ll use nicotine replacement therapy or other medication. 4) Support system. Enroll in a smoking cessation class or start following a self-help plan. Ask family and friends who smoke not to smoke around you or leave cigarettes where you can see them. 5) Stay active. Try exercising or doing other activities or hobbies to keep your mind off smoking. Avoid situations where the urge to smoke is strong. Finally, change your routine on the day you quit. Try a new breakfast food. Take a different route to work. Drink tea instead of coffee. It might help you resist the urge to smoke a cigarette. Judy Fortin’s Health Minute segment runs daily on Headline News from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET weekdays.

Americans love to take their vitamins. More than 150 million Americans take dietary supplements according to the Council for Responsible Nutrition, a supplement industry trade group. But it’s hard to know what vitamins to take – any grocery store aisle has a dizzying array. That’s why this week the Empowered Patient asked two wellness experts what supplements they take every day – and what supplements they say you shouldn’t take.

Dr. Andrew Weil; Age: 66; director, Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine; drweil.com

What he takes:

1. A daily multivitamin/multimineral

2. Vitamin D. Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to breast cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, heart disease, and multiple sclerosis, as well as other conditions. Studies show many of us are vitamin D deficient. Weil says look on the label to make sure you’re getting vitamin D3, not vitamin D2.

3. Magnesium. Lack of magnesium may lead to irritablity, muscle weakness, and irregular heartbeat.

4. Juvenon (or “Omega”), a compound believed to enhance cellular health and function. This supplement contains two nutrients, acetyl-L-carnitine and alpha lipoic acid. The company that makes Juvenon says benefits include “more energy,” a “sharper mind”, and “more restful sleep.”

5. Co-Q-10, a supplement that boosts coenzyme Q10, which is produced by the human body and is necessary for the basic functioning of cells. Animal studies have found that coenzyme Q10 helps the immune system work better and makes the body better able to resist certain infections and types of cancer.

Weil, author of 10 books including, “Eight Weeks to Optimum Health,” says it is important to take studies, like the one in JAMA, with a grain of salt. “I believe vitamins E and C are important as part of our antioxidant defenses, even if we have not yet documented specific preventive effects,” says Weil.

What not to take

Weil says men shouldn’t take iron unless they’ve been diagnosed by a physician as having iron deficiency anemia. He also advises against men taking calcium supplements; he’s concerned they could increase the risk of prostate cancer.

Dr. Christiane Northrup; Age: “50 something;” author, “The Secret Pleasures of Menopause;” Drnorthrup.com

What she takes:

1. Antioxidant supplement

2. Fish oil. Some studies have found fish oil, which contains omega 3 fatty acids, can help lower triglyceride levels, lower blood pressure, and help depression, among other uses.

3. Calcium, which can help prevent osteoporosis — a problem in particular for older women

4. Magnesium

5. Coenzyme Q10

6. Vitamin D

Northrup, an authority on women’s health and wellness and author of the new book “The Secret Pleasures of Menopause,” says it is important to remember that vitamins are not drugs. They don’t work the same way in the body.

“Vitamins are best taken in the correct proportions to each other,” says Northrup. For example, she says if you are taking folic acid, which is a B vitamin, you’ll do better when you also take the other Bs that make up the B complex. Says Northrup, “That’s how nutrients occur naturally and how the body best utilizes them.”

What not to take

Northrup says postmenopausal women almost never need iron, and taking too much might pose a risk for heart health.

For more tips on taking vitamins, check out my column at CNN.com/empoweredpatient

Americans’ debt is large and growing. Collectively, we consumers owe more than $2.6 trillion, according to the Federal Reserve. If you want to survive the recession, you’ll find a way to pare back the debt.

1) Know the warning signs

Not all debt is bad. Mortgage debt – if you haven’t overbought and are paying less than a third of our income for a roof over your head – is considered good debt. That’s because you get a big fat tax deduction for owning the home. Other debt has no benefits. The primary culprit is credit card debt. At their essence, credit cards are 30-day loans that should be paid back in full.

2) Get a handle on spending

You might be amazed at how much you’re spending each month. Get a small notebook and write down everything you spend for a month. If you buy a cup of coffee or a present for a friend, write it down. You can keep track on the computer too with software like Quicken or MSMoney. At the end of the month, add it all up and find out where you’re spending your money. One way to gauge whether you are overspending is this: Add a zero to the price tag of whatever item it is you’re thinking of buying – that’s what you’d have if, instead of purchasing the item, you saved the money for 30 years and earned 8 percent. A $1,000 designer handbag, in other words, is $10,000 of retirement savings. A $40,000 car is equivalent to $400,000 in savings.

3) Negotiate your debt

When you’re ready to pay down your debt, hit the phones and start negotiating. Ask your credit card issuers to lower your interest rate. If you’re very far in debt, you might need professional help from a credit counseling agency. Check out the National Foundation for Credit Counseling to find a reputable credit counselor. They can help negotiate with credit card companies and other lenders to lower your interest rate and work out a payment plan.

For more of Gerri’s Top Tips, watch CNN weekdays at 11:15 am Eastern Time.

It’s estimated that a third of kids in America are overweight and as many as one-fifth are obese. Yet, according to one study, most parents don’t realize their child’s weight is a problem. But how could that be? According to one expert from the American Academy of Pediatrics, society has gotten accustomed to seeing children being heavier so it has become harder to spot a problem.

But the truth is the extra weight is causing our kids to develop early signs of heart disease. Research out just this week looked at a group of overweight and obese kids with high cholesterol and found the arteries of an obese 10-year-old had the same amount of plaque as a 45-year-old’s!  The kid’s arteries looked as if they were more than 30 years older than their actual age! This is significant because doctors agree we are all as old as our arteries. The condition of your heart and blood vessels are often more important than your actual age in terms of preventing diseases later on.

How do you know if your kid is overweight or obese? There is no easy rule of thumb because kids vary so much in height and body types during childhood. But according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average 5-year-old should weigh about 40 pounds, the average 8-year old-about 55 pounds and an average 10-year-old should weigh about 70 pounds.

Won’t my pediatrician tell me if there my child’s weight is a problem? Your pediatrician may not always bring it up, so you need to raise the question during the appointment. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, parents whose children live relatively sedentary lifestyles, eat at restaurants often or have a family history of obesity should ask their pediatrician to address BMI at every appointment.

What can I do to help my child lose weight? For most children, the answer is lifestyle overhaul. Let’s face it, kids today prefer watching TV and playing video games. As parents, we need to make it a priority to develop fun activities to get our kids moving. Also, just say no to fast food! Dietitians estimate that every meal eaten out has double, sometimes triple, the caloric intake of an at-home meal. And be careful of empty calories found in sugary drinks. Juice boxes can be deceiving and soda is loaded with over 100 calories and up to 40 grams of sugar! Making simple changes such as cutting out liquid calories is an easy way to make a significant difference in their diet.

The bottom line is to pay attention to our children’s weight and help provide an environment that fosters healthy habits. Because the habits they form as children, often carry over into adulthood.

Be sure to tune in to Dr. Sanjay Gupta every weekend on “HOUSE CALL.” You’ll find the answers to your medical questions Saturday and Sunday at 8:30 a.m. ET on CNN.