When a high profile cultural icon like Steve Jobs, co-founder of Apple and creator of the iPod, iPhone and iPad dies as young as fifty-six years old, we all have to wonder – with all his billions of dollars and connections with people in high places, wasn’t there more that could have been done to save his life?

He surely had the best advice available, but by the time someone’s body gets sick or wears out, the chances of recovery decrease. All the money in the world can’t rebuild even one body part that is diseased past repair, and that’s why we must do everything possible to keep our bodies healthy, because in the final analysis, health is wealth.

There’s no guarantee of a long healthy life, but there are certainly habits you can develop that make it more likely that you will be healthy. Some are obvious, like eating right and resting enough, while others may be less known, but not less important.

One common condition most people don’t know about is dehydration, a fancy way of saying that someone is not getting enough water. The symptoms can be subtle and seemingly unrelated – fatigue, uneven digestion, skin problems, dizziness or headache, for example – and diagnosis can be elusive.But the solution is very simple, so simple in fact that there’s no need to wait around to become dehydrated – just include sufficient water in your daily intake, and that easy, inexpensive habit will make a big difference. On average, most people need about an ounce of water daily for every two pounds of body weight – so, if you weigh 128 pounds, you need about eight glasses of water each day, about a half gallon, and if you weigh 192 pounds, you need about 12 glasses of water each day, about three quarts.

Note that coffee, juice and soda don’t count, as your body looks at these as food – only water is water, so drink enough every day.

Another common condition that most people don’t know about is subluxation, which occurs when spinal bones go out of position and interfere with the delicate nerves your body uses as its wiring system. The brain uses nerves to communicate with the body parts, and any interference or disturbance in the nerve system can prevent normal healing and maintenance of your body.

To see if you have subluxations in your spine that are preventing your body from working right, you need to go to the doctor who specializes in correcting subluxations, your doctor of chiropractic. With a quick and painless examination, he or she can tell you if you and your family have good spine and nerve system health. Even if you are feeling well, getting regular check-ups is smart and responsible.

If health is wealth, then live a long, healthy life by keeping your body working at peak efficiency. Eat well, drink enough water, rest and sleep well, and visit your health and wellness professionals to get well and stay well.