If you're middle-aged and suffering from asthma, one possible remedy might be to get off your duff and clean house.

A New Zealand and Australia study found that the presence of mold in homes was associated with a higher risk of "non-allergic" asthma in middle-aged persons.

"We found that in homes with more rooms affected by mold, there was a stronger trend for asthma, wheezing and nighttime chest tightness," says lead author John Burgess of the University of Melbourne and University of Tasmania.

Men were four times at greater risk than women of developing a reaction, a finding that could be used by the latter to get the former to help more around the house.

BODY OF KNOWLEDGE

During your lifetime, you will produce enough saliva to fill two average-sized swimming pools. The average person produces two to four pints of spit a day, 99.5 percent of which is water. The remainder consists of electrolytes, mucus, glycoproteins, enzymes and antibacterial compounds.

LIFE IN BIG MACS

One hour of water aerobics burns 272 calories (based on a 150-pound person) or the equivalent of almost half a Big Mac, one entire grande Starbucks caffe latte or 3.5 glasses of wine.

COUNTS

34 — Percentage of Americans surveyed who said they would not seek genetic testing to assess hereditary cancer risk

85 — Percentage who said they would undergo genetic testing once diagnosed with cancer if it could help determine best course of treatment

8 — Percentage who have actually undergone a genetic test for cancer

Source: University of Utah Health Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute

DOC TALK

Digging for worms — varicose vein removal surgery

PHOBIA OF THE WEEK

Sciophobia — fear of shadows

NEVER SAY DIET

The Major League Eating speed-eating record for moon pies is 60 in eight minutes, held by Patrick Bertoletti. It's a record that's not likely to be eclipsed anytime soon; it probably would be lunacy to try.

BEST MEDICINE

Man: "I banged my head on the table yesterday."

Other man: "What'd you do?"

Man: "I followed that old advice about rubbing some margarine on it."

Other man: "Did it help?"

Man: "No, I can't believe it's not better."

OBSERVATION

"I don't like food that's too carefully arranged; it makes me think that the chef is spending too much time arranging and not enough time cooking. If I wanted a picture, I'd buy a painting." — Humorist Andy Rooney (1919-2011)

LAST WORDS

"I can't sleep." — Scottish author and dramatist J. M. Barrie (1860-1937), best known as the creator of Peter Pan

To find out more about Scott LaFee and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.