Bill Cosby has always been a funny man, and although laughter is a healthy habit he had plenty of other less healthy ones that recently started to catch up with him. Last year he was diagnosed with high cholesterol and a partially blocked carotid artery, which spurred Cosby towards some major lifestyle changes like being more physically active and eating better. In his latest book I am what I ate...and I'm Frightened!!!, Cosby takes the very serious issue of health and puts a light hearted and easy-to-relate-to spin on it in his own signature way. It seems the smoking and bacon grease eating comedian has made some major lifestyle changes and is looking to inspire others, through humor, to do the same. I can think of few people better for the job!

Joe Montana admits that after he retired from the NFL, he kept eating as if he was playing football every day. He also concedes that his diet was less than healthy, full of burgers and french fries. Still, he was surprised when -- at a routine check up -- his doctor diagnosed him with hypertension or high blood pressure. Because high blood pressure usually has no symptoms, the only way for a person to find out if they have the condition is to be checked.

Montana began working out every day and eating in moderation to turn his health around and he also signed on as spokesperson for a campaign on hypertension awareness sponsored by Novartis. Now he wants to spread the word so that others can be screened for the condition and learn to take care of their health as well.

Montana will talk to people in 20 states this year to spread the word and teach people to lower their risk of high blood pressure. You can take part in the campaign by taking the Blood Pressure Quiz and reading through the Can Do Checklist to learn how to take control of your own high blood pressure.

In renewed efforts to curb teen smoking, Hollywood veterans Bob and Harvey Weinstein plan to include anti-smoking ads on all DVDs of films that include images of people smoking. One of the greatest -- and most preventable -- risk factors for heart disease, smoking appears in 75 percent of youth-rated films and 90 percent of R-rated films. Thirty-eight percent of all teen smoking can be traced back to the influence of these depictions.

"These messages will fight false film images of healthy and hip smokers with the real hard truth of addiction and disease," announced Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal regarding the agreement. One year ago, 32 state attorney generals petitioned Hollywood's major movie studios to include anti-smoking ads on home entertainment products. Last month, free anti-smoking ads poured into Weinstein's offices from 41 U.S. states, Puerto Rico and two U.S. territories.

In a recent Reuters Life! interview, Diet Coach Bob Harper -- who counsels contestants on NBC's weight loss reality show "The Biggest Loser" -- offered his expertise in successful pound-shedding. It isn't crash dieting, or three weeks at the gym and then you're thin. Its an overall, permanent lifestyle change.

The problem, according to Coach Harper, is that people try to loss the weight as fast as possible and make a huge drastic change all at once. He recommends a gradual change, such as slowly incorporating exercise as a daily routine. Thirty minutes a day isn't much and can make all the difference. Eating smaller meals every 4 or so hours. Don't eat fast food or drink soda. Write down everything you eat. All the little things add up.

All this brings to mind one more point -- one Coach Harper probably would have noted if he thought of it -- and that's patience. Do a little at a time and you'll get there. You didn't just wake up one morning and suddenly weighed 85 more pounds, right? Losing the weight takes time, too.

David Lynch, the surrealist American director of such works as Twin Peaks and Dune, has been practicing Transcendental Meditation (TM) for 30 years -- claiming the practice has helped rid him of anger and boosted his creativity. Letting go of anger has been documented as reducing the risk of heart disease later in life.

Perhaps healthy Mr. Lynch is onto something. He is so dedicated to the practice that he set up the David Lynch Foundation for Consciousness-Based Education and World Peace, which provides funding to teachers to promote TM in schools. Lynch, like many other TM-ers, believes that a daily practice will help promote world peace by finding it within first. Simple and effortless, it only takes 20 minutes -- and the benefits seem endless.

Previous research has shown the benefits of TM for heart patients and healthy individuals alike. TM reduces blood pressure, cholesterol levels, and relieves stress -- which prolonged exposure to can cause adverse effects on the central nervous system and heart. TM is also recommended as a helpful aid in the cessation of smoking, heavy drinking and other unhealthy habits.