5 Home Safety Threats You Might Overlook 5 Home Safety Threats You Might Overlook You're a careful parent who steers children away from things that could harm them. But hidden threats lurk in every house—sometimes where you least expect the...
5 Ways to Avoid Colds and the Flu 5 Ways to Avoid Colds and the Flu You don't want to spend this winter battling a runny nose, a nagging cough, or a fever. But colds and flu come with the season, right? They don't have to. Try this a...
6 Vital Nutrients Women May Be Missing 6 Vital Nutrients Women May Be Missing Women's diets often fall short in vital minerals and vitamins. A woman's physiology can make it harder to hang onto some nutrients, too. Women also are more lik...
A Good Walk Can Make You Young A Good Walk Can Make You Young What would you do to take 20 years off your age? The answer may be as simple as walking, says Barry A. Franklin, Ph.D. "Starting at the age of 20, we lose about 1 perce...
A Must-Know Guide to Drug-Drug Interactions A Must-Know Guide to Drug-Drug Interactions Drug-drug interactions can occur when you are taking more than one medication or drug. One medication can interfere with or alter the effects of one or mor...
A Prescription for Good Health A Prescription for Good Health Many people have a prescription for long-lasting health and well being. It goes like this: Stay physically active, challenge your mind, and stay involved with others. S...
A Prescription for Health in Menopause A Prescription for Health in Menopause The best approach to menopause is to follow a healthy regimen. That includes dealing with smoking, nutrition, exercise, weight management, and stress reduction....
A Simple Way to Keep the Flu Away A Simple Way to Keep the Flu Away You can avoid the flu this season by taking one simple step: Get a flu vaccination. Unfortunately, some people think that getting a flu immunization is too much trou...
A Winter Cold: Not Inevitable A Winter Cold: Not Inevitable For most people, catching the common cold is a common part of winter. Children have three to eight colds a year; adults get two to four. Although colds cannot be prevent...
Adult Immunizations: Are You Up To Date? Adult Immunizations: Are You Up to Date? Although children receive the majority of the vaccinations, adults also need to stay up to date on a range of vaccinations, from the flu to tetanus to varicel...
Air Filters, Dehumidifiers, and Humidifiers Air Filters, Dehumidifiers, and Humidifiers Here are some tips for understanding the air in your house and the air-quality appliances that can alter it. Air filters Purpose: Air-filtration systems pu...
Air Pollution Can Break Your Heart Air Pollution Can Break Your Heart Most people know air pollution can hurt your lungs and make it tough to breathe. But a growing body of research shows air pollution can be as bad or worse for your ...
All About Sunscreen All About Sunscreen Summertime. Beach time. Long hours in the sun. Before you head out to the white hot sand, you'll want to pick up some sunscreen. But should you buy SPF 15? SPF 30? How about 45? S...
Answers to Questions About HPV Answers to Questions About HPV The human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States, with more than 20 million Americans currently infected, acc...
Anti-Aging Hormones: Do They Work? Anti-Aging Hormones: Do They Work? Wouldn't it be wonderful if you could look and feel years younger just by taking a supplement? The makers of "anti-aging" hormone supplements would like you to beli...
Are You Frenetic About Genetics? Are You Frenetic About Genetics? The headlines that greet every genetic advance can split people into two camps: Those who use the news to support a fatalistic view that healthy living isn't worth it...
As You Age, Be Aware of B12 Deficiency As You Age, Be Aware of B 12 Deficiency Are you short on stamina? Is your memory fuzzy? Don't assume it's just part of aging. Feeling tired, in a funk, or confused can point to problems you can solve...
Aspirin and Your Heart: Should You or Shouldn’t You? Aspirin and Your Heart: Should You or Shouldn’t You? In addition to taking aspirin to relieve pain and fever, millions of Americans take a low-dose or “baby” aspirin daily to reduce their risk for he...
Assess Your Goals Year-round Assess Your Goals Year-round If you set professional goals for yourself at the beginning of the year, don't forget to take a look at what you have and haven't accomplished as the year progresses. Con...
Attention Men: Doctor Knows Best Attention Men: Doctor Knows Best Men who think they're too "macho" to seek medical help could end up making more trips to the doctor's office in the long run. By waiting to see a physician, a man's p...
Avoiding Fall Allergy Triggers Avoiding Fall Allergy Triggers Many people associate allergies with springtime, but ragweed pollen and outdoor molds that arrive in the fall bring just as much misery. More than 35 million Americans ...
Avoiding Joint Injuries Avoiding Joint Injuries Most sports-related injuries involve damage to the joints. Common joint injuries include a twisted ankle, sprained wrist, overextended elbow, and damaged knee ligaments. Fortu...
Babies Need 'Tummy Time' Babies Need 'Tummy Time' Nearly 15 years ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) first recommended that parents put their babies to sleep on their back. That simple piece of advice cut the deat...
Brush Up on Toothpaste Brush Up on Toothpaste Selecting toothpaste can be confusing. With different brands promising everything from whiter smiles and fresher breath to fewer bacteria and less tartar, how do you know which...
Build Your Bones with Exercise Build Your Bones with Exercise Your bones contain about 99 percent of the calcium in your body. Every day your body also uses calcium to help nerves and muscles function, and to help blood clotting. ...
Cancer Screening: Beating Your Fears for Good Cancer Screening: Beating Your Fears for Good Many people, it seems, avoid cancer screenings, even if they schedule yearly physical exams. One reason is inconvenience. Another reason is fear. However...
Childhood Immunizations: Get the Facts Childhood Immunizations: Get the Facts If you are the parent of a young child, you may be confused about the safety of immunizations. You may have heard that vaccines cause life-threatening side effe...
'Choose My Plate' Shapes a Healthier Senior Diet 'Choose My Plate' Shapes a Healthier Senior Diet What do bananas on your cereal, onions in your chili, and pears for your dessert have in common? They're great ways to get the fruits and vegetables y...
Contraception: Many Options Contraception: Many Options About half of all pregnancies in this country are unplanned, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. For a woman who wants to plan when she b...
Curb Antibiotic Abuse in Children Curb Antibiotic Abuse in Children Your child has a runny nose, a cough, a sore throat, and a fever, so you go to the pediatrician. The doctor knows a virus caused this infection, which will just run ...
Debunking 10 Aging Myths Debunking 10 Aging Myths Many older Americans lead healthy, interesting, and productive lives well into their later years. But that’s not what we usually hear about. Instead, the emphasis is often on...
Digital X-Rays Give Dentists the Big Picture Digital X-Rays Give Dentists the Big Picture For years, an X-ray at the dentist's office went pretty much the same way. The dentist or an assistant would put a wooden or cotton block in your mouth, t...
Don't Get Burned by Tanning Salons Don't Get Burned by Tanning Salons Looking for a great tan this summer but hoping to play it safe? Many sun-worshippers who know the dangers of unprotected sun exposure want healthier options. But if...
Don't Take Your Eyes for Granted Don't Take Your Eyes for Granted Imagine what life would be like if you couldn't see well. Reading might not be possible. Watching a movie could be tough. Focusing on the face of a loved one could dr...
Drinking Water Quality and Safety Drinking Water Quality and Safety When you turn on the tap for a glass of water, do you ever wonder about the quality or safety of that water? With drinking water, it's important to consider not just...
Drugs: Read Fine Print to Avoid Side Effects Drugs: Read Fine Print to Avoid Side Effects Pat awoke one recent morning with cold symptoms. She reached into her medicine cabinet for a well-known over-the-counter cold remedy she had often used in...
Easy Ways for Older Adults to Prevent Falls Easy Ways for Older Adults to Prevent Falls Each year thousands of older men and women are disabled, sometimes permanently, by falls that result in broken bones. Yet small changes in homes and lifest...
Easy Ways You Can Safeguard Your Sight Easy Ways You Can Safeguard Your Sight Every year, thousands of Americans injure their eyes or damage their vision. Follow these guidelines to help protect yourself and your family. Everyday eye care...
Essential Eye Protection Essential Eye Protection Nearly one million people in the United States suffer eye injuries each year. Ninety percent of these injuries could have been prevented by wearing the proper protective eyew...
Exercise Ideas for Older Adults Exercise Ideas for Older Adults Finding ways to get exercise as you get older is a smart and easy way to stay fit and improve your health. Exercise is just as important in your older years as when yo...
Explore Your Genes: Create a Family Health History Explore Your Genes: Create a Family Health History You have your grandmother's eyes, your father's nose, and your mother's quick wit. But will you also get Aunt Linda's cancer and Grandpa's heart dis...
Eye-Care Essentials for Computer Users Eye Care Essentials for Computer Users If you spend hours each day working at a computer screen, you may experience eyestrain, blurred vision, itchy eyes, and occasional double vision. However, studi...
Five Minerals We All Need Five Minerals We All Need In the mineral world, iron tends to be featured in the nutrition limelight. But these five minerals deserve to shine as well. Chromium Chromium appears to be involved in car...
Five Ways to Age Gracefully Five Ways to Age Gracefully In recent years, an increasing amount of scientific evidence has supported the idea that people can do quite a lot on their own to lengthen their life span and to enhance ...
Focus on Keeping Your Spirits Up Focus on Keeping Your Spirits Up You know that you should eat healthy foods and get some exercise to feel good and live longer. Another key part to living longer is your mental health. Good mental he...
Focusing on Folate Focusing on Folate The B vitamins are a group of important nutrients you should include in your diet each day. If you're a woman of childbearing age, one of those B vitamins—folate—is especially crit...
For Healthy Eyes, Take the Long View For Healthy Eyes, Take the Long View Keeping your eyes healthy is important ,and if you follow basic rules for your general health, it is possible to avoid long term problems. Here are some tips: Eat...
For Older Adults: What Screenings Do You Need? For Older Adults: What Screenings Do You Need? One important component to living a long and healthy life is to get preventive health screenings for serious diseases. If your doctor finds a disease ea...
For Parents: Treat at Home or Call the Doctor? For Parents: Treat at Home or Call the Doctor? When a child complains of a sore throat, stomachache, or a headache, a parent naturally worries. You want to do whatever you can to help your child feel...
For Seniors: Don’t Brush Off Dental Care For Seniors: Don’t Brush Off Dental Care Older adults may have dental concerns that can’t be totally taken care of with just brushing and flossing. Your dentist may have talked with you about the den...
For Seniors: You Can Beat the Heat For Seniors: You Can Beat the Heat After age 65, your body can't adjust to changes in air temperature—especially heat—as quickly as it did when you were younger. That puts you at risk for heat-relate...
For Women: Take This Risk to Heart For Women: Take This Risk to Heart Cardiovascular disease is women's top killer. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLB), eighty percent of women between the ages of 40 and ...
For Your Heart's Sake, Lower Your Cholesterol For Your Heart's Sake, Lower Your Cholesterol There's a lot of news about cholesterol these days, and with good reason. High cholesterol contributes to heart disease, which kills more Americans than ...
Free Your Home of Asthma Triggers Free Your Home of Asthma Triggers Many of the things that trigger asthma symptoms can be found in your home. So the first step to controlling asthma is finding and removing these triggers. This will ...
Genetics and Illness: What's Your Fate? Genetics and Illness: What's Your Fate? If you have a parent or sibling with heart disease, cancer, or some other serious and possibly inherited ailment, does that mean you're doomed to the same fate...
Get to the Heart of Oral Health Get to the Heart of Oral Health Did you know that research shows a link between gum disease and heart disease and stroke? It’s true. Evidence is mounting that people with periodontal (gum) disease, a...
Good Oral Health Practices Good Oral Health Practices You know the drill--it's what you hope to avoid with regular brushing and flossing. Brushing twice a day will help get rid of plaque, the main cause of tooth decay and gum ...
Good Sources of Antioxidants Good Sources of Antioxidants Antioxidants are substances found in food. They may help block damage to cells in the body caused by free radicals. Free radicals are substances formed during normal body...
Grow Older in Good Health Grow Older in Good Health No pill or potion can guarantee you a long life filled with good health. Modern science has discovered, however, that people who follow certain commonsense health practices ...
Guard Your Baby from Rotavirus Guard Your Baby from Rotavirus A vaccine can protect babies from rotavirus, the most common cause of severe diarrhea in infants. Before the rotavirus vaccine, rotavirus accounted for up to 272,000 em...
Guarding Against Medical Scams Guarding Against Medical Scams From television infomercials touting the latest medical "cures," to mail-order schemes and newspaper and television ads that promise better health and a longer life wit...
Habits to Help You Look Good and Feel Terrific Habits to Help You Look Good and Feel Terrific You can help reduce the effects of aging by following this simple advice: Take care of yourself. According to the American Academy of Family Physicians ...
Health Precautions When You Travel by Air Health Precautions When You Travel by Air Q. How can I improve plane travel? A. Most people don't have any problems when they fly, but it's possible to make airplane travel safer and more comfortable...
Healthy Changes for Staying Young Healthy Changes for Staying Young Time takes its toll on a body, but you don't have to sit back and let the effects of aging take place without a fight. There are things you can do to control the agi...
Healthy Secrets: Avoiding the Ravages of Age Healthy Secrets: Avoiding the Ravages of Age The process of aging is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors. Although your genes seem to be the most important influence, there are some ...
Help Your Children Breathe Easier Help Your Children Breathe Easier Here's something that can take your children's breath away: the air they breathe. Air pollution hurts infants and children more than adults, studies show. Kids' lung...
Help Your Mate Stay Healthy Help Your Mate Stay Healthy Kathy's doctor recently told her she should lose weight or she would be at risk for health problems. Her husband, Joe, has been at his wits' end because Kathy continues to...
High Blood Pressure Glossary High Blood Pressure Glossary High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a complicated disease. Studies have shown that people who understand the condition are more likely to stick with their treatment ...
HIV Prevention Is Still Important HIV Prevention Is Still Important True or false: Now that drugs are available to treat HIV infection, AIDS is not much of a threat for most Americans. The answer is false. HIV/AIDS experts worry that...
Home Remedies: What Works? What Doesn’t? Home Remedies: What Works? What Doesn't? You might like the idea of treating common health problems with home remedies. In some cases, such as putting cool cucumber over your eyes as a beauty treatme...
How Much of a Threat Is Bird Influenza? How Much of a Threat Is Bird Influenza? Influenza, with its fever, aches, fatigue and threat of complications, seems a uniquely human illness. But the flu, caused by a virus, can infect animals and b...
How Safe Are Cosmetics and Personal Care Products? How Safe Are Cosmetics and Personal Care Products? You may be choosy about your moisturizer, hair color product, and makeup brand—but how much time do you spend checking out the safety of those produ...
How to Assess Your Risk for Chronic Disease How to Assess Your Risk for Chronic Disease It’s good to step back now and then and ask yourself: Are my habits reducing or increasing my health risks? Is there more I could be doing to reduce my ris...
How to Avoid Sports Injuries How to Avoid Sports Injuries Sports injuries happen when you exercise or play sports. Although not every sports injury can be prevented, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Sk...
How to Keep Bugs From Bugging You How to Keep Bugs From Bugging You Does your picnic turn into a swat-fest? Is your fishing trip a mosquito-infested nightmare? Then brace yourself for summer's sting. Although most insects are just nu...
How to Make Heart-Healthy Food Choices How to Make Heart-Healthy Food Choices Maintaining a healthy diet is one of the best weapons for fighting cardiovascular disease and other heart conditions. Assuming most Americans are familiar with ...
How to Make the Move from Crib to Bed How to Make the Move from Crib to Bed Moving your child from the crib to a first bed is a milestone event. But more than the bittersweet emotional concerns, your priorities will be safety and a healt...
How to Manage Prehypertension How to Manage Prehypertension Prehypertension is a new term that alerts people to the very real risk of developing chronic high blood pressure if they don't take timely steps to improve their lifesty...
How to Prevent and Relieve Digestive Problems How to Prevent and Relieve Digestive Problems Just as simple things can upset your digestive system, simple changes can help. The following tips can help prevent or relieve digestive ills. See your h...
How to Prevent and Treat Ingrown Hairs How to Prevent and Treat Ingrown Hairs An inflammation or infection of the hair follicles, called folliculitis, can occur anywhere on the skin or scalp. Folliculitis, also known as ingrown hairs, res...
How to Prevent Back Pain at Work How to Prevent Back Pain at Work People who work in certain occupations, such as nursing, are likely to have back pain. But so can folks who work in an office every day if they don’t take proactive s...
How to Prevent Osteoarthritis How to Prevent Osteoarthritis Osteoarthritis (OA), sometimes called degenerative arthritis, is the most common type of arthritis. In OA, the cartilage that covers the bones in a joint thins and, in s...
How to Reduce the Effects of Aging How to Reduce the Effects of Aging No need to search for a secret formula to erase the effects of getting older. You already have the power to keep yourself feeling young for years. Keep moving Inact...
How You Can Avoid Aggressive Drivers How You Can Avoid Aggressive Drivers Incidents of road rage—those times when drivers act out their anger behind the wheel by trying to hurt another driver or a pedestrian—are becoming more frequent. ...
How Your Child Can Live Well with Asthma How Your Child Can Live Well with Asthma If you have a child with asthma, you know how frightening wheezing, coughing, and other asthma symptoms can be. Some children eventually outgrow asthma, but i...
Immunization Update for Older Adults Immunization Update for Older Adults Vaccines aren't just for children. Every year, thousands of American adults become ill, are disabled, or die of diseases that could have been prevented by vaccine...
Influenza Shots Urged for Young Children Influenza Shots Urged for Young Children Each fall, you hear that influenza threatens older adults and folks with chronic ailments. Most years, it's true that the death rate from the flu peaks in tho...
International Travel Quiz How Much Do You Know About International Travel and Health? Test your knowledge of how to stay healthy when traveling abroad. 1. International travel may require prophylactic medicines and vaccines. ...
Is It a Virus or a Bacterium? Know the Difference Is It a Virus or a Bacterium? Know the Difference In general, most colds and other respiratory infections are not serious for adults in good health. It's just the hassle of dealing with runny noses, ...
Keep an Eye on These Symptoms Keep an Eye on These Symptoms If you're constantly worried that every headache or spot on your skin means you've been stricken with a dreaded disease, get your facts straight so you can stop panickin...
Keep Kids Safe from Bugs Keep Kids Safe from Bugs Lyme disease. Rocky Mountain spotted fever. West Nile virus. Flying fiends and crawling critters can spread such diseases with a bite. Few cases put kids' lives at risk, say ...
Keep Your Kidneys Working Well Keep Your Kidneys Working Well Your kidneys are your body's filters. They remove waste and excess fluid from your blood. People who have high blood pressure and diabetes are at higher risk for kidney...
Keep Your Noggin Fit with Brain Exercise Keep Your Noggin Fit with Brain Exercise The dog ran. The dog barked. The dog raced. What else did the dog do? That many seem like a silly question. But the act of thinking up verbs to go with nouns ...
Keeping an Eye on Your Bones Keeping an Eye on Your Bones Many of us start to think about osteoporosis as we approach our senior years. After all, that's when bone loss occurs, right? Wrong. Doctors tend to treat patients with o...
Keeping Your Liver Healthy Keeping Your Liver Healthy Some parts of your body provide constant reminders that they're on the job. You can feel your heart beating and your lungs filling with air when you take a breath. One of y...
Know Your Family's Health History Know Your Family's Health History You have mom's hair and dad's height. That's great, but genes can also pass down chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, and some cancers. Learn your fami...
Little League Goes to Bat for Safety Little League Goes to Bat for Safety Baseball is known for timeless traditions, but some modern retooling may help keep young players safer. That's why Little League Baseball has amended the rules fo...
Maintain a Healthy Weight for a Lifetime Maintain a Healthy Weight for a Lifetime How do some people lose weight and keep it off? How do some people avoid the natural tendency to gain weight as they age? If you have achieved your weight los...
Making Changes to Avoid Heart Disease Making Changes to Avoid Heart Disease Your heart is a vital organ that keeps your body functioning. Unfortunately, many people don't treat it that way. They may not realize that their daily habits an...
Making Your Lifestyle Heart-Healthy Making Your Lifestyle Heart-Healthy The millions of Americans diagnosed with heart and cardiovascular diseases can benefit from making healthy choices in their day-to-day lives. Follow a healthy diet...
Mammograms: What Every Woman Needs to Know Mammograms: What Every Woman Needs to Know Mammograms can detect many breast cancers before anyone can feel them. When breast cancer is found in its earliest stages, the majority of patients survive ...
Men’s Health Essentials Men’s Health Essentials Many men like to think they’re invincible, especially when their health is concerned. The facts tell a different story. The leading causes of death for American men are heart ...
Migraines: Should You Take Preventive Medication? Migraines: Should You Take Preventive Medication? What if you could stop a migraine before it even started? For some people, taking medication every day can help prevent migraines and make them less ...
Milestones in Medicine Milestones in Medicine A visit to the doctor often calls for routine procedures to prevent, diagnose, or treat an illness. The doctor might check our pulse, draw blood for analysis, give us a flu sho...
Mold Can Affect Your Health Mold Can Affect Your Health Indoor molds can be found where humidity levels are high, such as basements or bathrooms. When mold is present: Walls and ceilings are discolored and show signs of mold gr...
No Sweat? No Good! No Sweat? No Good! In the heat of summer, it's important to exercise with caution and pay attention to your body. Even if you're fairly well conditioned, overdoing it may lead to heat cramps, heat ex...
Nutrition's Role in Disease Prevention Nutrition's Role in Disease Prevention Evidence is mounting that a healthy diet can help protect you from some diseases. What you eat -- or don't eat -- may help prevent heart disease, cancer, osteop...
Older Moms, Healthy Babies Older Moms, Healthy Babies If you are older than age 35 and planning to have your first baby, you may have concerns about becoming pregnant later in life. You may have heard that a woman's risk for c...
Olympian Advice on Preventing Sports Injuries Olympian Advice on Preventing Sports Injuries Neither Olympians nor weekend warriors are immune to tendonitis, ankle sprains, low back problems, and knee pain. Although common, these injuries often c...
Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Coronary Heart Disease Omega-3 Fatty Acids and Coronary Heart Disease Most Americans eat too much fat--and too many calories. That, along with a lack of exercise, has led to an epidemic of obesity and diabetes and contribu...
On the Barbecue, Charred Is Barred On the Barbecue, Charred Is Barred Many foods seem to taste better hot off the grill. But there's a dilemma facing those of us who love to barbecue in warm weather. Researchers have found that cookin...
Optimize Your Health and Happiness Optimize Your Health and Happiness Staying healthy mentally and physically isn't simply a matter of good genes. It's a proactive project that lasts your entire life. Like a finely tuned machine, your...
Oral Health and Asthma Oral Health and Asthma If you have asthma, does your dentist know? This is important for good oral health, especially if you use a corticosteroid inhaler. Corticosteroid inhalers are medications used...
Osteoporosis: Evaluate Your Risk Osteoporosis: Evaluate Your Risk Osteoporosis is a disease that causes rapid thinning of bones. Over time, this weakens the bones and can make them more likely to break. About 10 million Americans ha...
People with Asthma Need Yearly Flu Shot People with Asthma Need Yearly Flu Shot Getting the flu can be serious business for people with asthma. The flu can leave you susceptible to serious illnesses, such as pneumonia. That’s why it’s impo...
Pets and People: The Health Connection Pets and People: The Health Connection Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, loved dogs, yet he never mentioned them in his research. Only recently have scientists begun to analyze the way we...
Pets Fill a Special Role in Seniors' Lives Pets Fill a Special Role in Seniors' Lives Having a pet can be a boon to body and soul—especially as we age. Seniors can benefit greatly from pet ownership Pets offer companionship, something to nurt...
Planning Ahead for Travel Emergencies Planning Ahead for Travel Emergencies Whether you're headed for the beach, the outback, or the big city for your summer vacation, you should add a few more items to your to-do list so that you are fu...
Play It Cool in the Hot Tub Play It Cool in the Hot Tub What's more relaxing than a good soak in a hot tub? Hot water sure makes you feel great, but hot tubs and whirlpools can sometimes be dangerous—and even deadly. Let's take...
Posture Pointers for Preventing Pain Posture Pointers for Preventing Pain Good posture can help your body function at its best. It promotes movement, efficiency and endurance, and contributes to an overall sense of well-being. It can al...
Pregnancy and Oral Health Pregnancy and Oral Health Throughout pregnancy, women may worry about their waistlines and fret about food. You take prenatal vitamins, see your doctor frequently, get regular exercise, and avoid alc...
Pregnant? Why You Should Know About Lead Pregnant? Why You Should Know About Lead Along with a new crib and new toys, many expecting parents get their baby's room ready with a new coat of paint. But before you strip the walls of the old pai...
Preparing for Severe Winter Weather Preparing for Severe Winter Weather Severe winter storms can be dangerous, even deadly. They can include blizzards, freezing rain, ice, sleet and dangerously low temperatures and wind-chill factors. ...
Preventing Falls One Step at a Time Preventing Falls One Step at a Time Although it's impossible to prevent all falls, you can help keep yourself safe as you grow older by improving your balance and employing "fall-proofing" behaviors ...
Prevention of Heart Disease Starts in Childhood Prevention of Heart Disease Starts in Childhood You may think of heart disease as a problem for adults, not your young children. But diet and exercise habits started in childhood can begin a lifetime...
Primer: Smokeless Tobacco Primer: Smokeless Tobacco Many people think using smokeless tobacco is safer than smoking. Just because there's no smoke, doesn't mean it's safe, the American Cancer Society (ACS) says. A person who ...
Protect Your Child from Medical Errors Protect Your Child from Medical Errors Medical errors are one of the leading causes of death and injury for American adults, according to a study by the Institute of Medicine. A medical error can occ...
Protecting Yourself Against Medical Errors Protecting Yourself Against Medical Errors Every year, thousands of Americans die because of medical errors. Such errors can occur anywhere in the health care system and can involve medicines, surger...
Put a Stop to Nerve Injuries Called Stingers Put a Stop to Nerve Injuries Called Stingers Body-jarring moves are part of the game for football players, wrestlers, and others who play contact sports. They're also the most common cause of stinger...
Put Up a Food Fight Against Disease Put Up a Food Fight Against Disease You can't change your family medical history, which may put you at increased risk for chronic disease, heart disease, or cancer. But you can fight back against suc...
Putting Disease Risk into Perspective Putting Disease Risk into Perspective Are you terrified you might get mad cow disease? Does news of E. coli outbreaks make you swear off spinach salads for life? True, a few people will get those ill...
Recognizing a Partner's Emotional Abuse Recognizing a Partner's Emotional Abuse Physical violence is just one form of domestic abuse. If you have a partner who verbally humiliates you, demands all your attention, blames you for everything ...
Recognizing Domestic Violence Recognizing Domestic Violence Domestic violence is behavior someone uses to control a spouse, partner, date, or elderly relative through fear and intimidation. It can involve emotional, sexual, and p...
Recognizing Medication Tampering Recognizing Medication Tampering Over-the-counter and nonprescription medicines are packaged so you can easily notice signs of tampering. Improved packaging includes the use of special wrappers, seal...
Reducing Your Risk for Breast Cancer Reducing Your Risk for Breast Cancer Common myths about breast cancer abound, relayed through word of mouth and the Internet, often frightening women unnecessarily. Despite the rumors, you can't get ...
Relaxation Techniques That Really Work Relaxation Techniques That Really Work Everyone experiences stress and its effects. Short-term effects of stress include headaches, shallow breathing, difficulty sleeping, anxiety, and upset stomach....
Retired? It's Time to Join the Club Retired? It's Time to Join the Club Congratulations! You're retired, the kids are grown and at last you can do what you want. So what are you going to do with all that spare time? "We encourage peopl...
Save Your Child From Injuries Save Your Child From Injuries Every day, injuries send 25,000 children to emergency rooms. Simple precautions could head off most of those trips. "The biggest thing is prevention," says Rick Blum, M....
Senior Centers: A Range of Opportunities Senior Centers: A Range of Opportunities Did you know that senior centers offer much more than a hot meal and bingo? "Today's senior centers are changing, and many place a strong emphasis on healthy ...
Seniors: Keep Key Documents Handy Seniors: Keep Key Documents Handy If someone asked your adult children when you last saw a doctor, could any of them answer? What if you were asked for a list of specialists you've seen in the last f...
Shake the Salt Habit Shake the Salt Habit Too much salt in your diet can lead to high blood pressure and other health problems. But salt, or sodium chloride, is hard to avoid. It’s in just about every processed or packag...
Six Symptoms You Should Never Ignore Six Symptoms You Should Never Ignore Some people rush to the doctor's office every time they feel a little ill. Others try to tough it out and hope the problem will go away. In either case, there are...
Skin, Eyes and the Sun Skin, Eyes and the Sun Along with warmth, the sun also produces light and an invisible ultraviolet (UV) radiation. UV radiation can cause sunburn, wrinkles, sunspots, cataracts and skin cancer, and p...
Sleep and Your Child Sleep and Your Child A good night's sleep is as important to your child as a hearty breakfast. Without enough shut-eye, children are more likely to struggle with their school studies, do poorly on th...
Smile! Are You Eating Healthy? Smile! Are You Eating Healthy? If you're not eating right, you may be at risk for problems with your teeth and mouth. Bad eating habits can cause tooth decay and gum disease. Children's teeth are at ...
Sound Advice for a Healthful Pregnancy Sound Advice for a Healthful Pregnancy So, you're having a baby! Once the shock of that news begins to wear off, it's important to think about your lifestyle and health habits during pregnancy. Follo...
Sound Advice for MP3 Users Sound Advice for MP3 Users As teens and preteens plug in their earphones and crank up the volume, "Can you hear me now?" threatens to become more than an ad catch phrase. Experts say today's small mu...
Stay Awake Behind the Wheel Stay Awake Behind the Wheel Would you ride in a car with a driver who’s been drinking alcohol? No way. How about riding with someone who just pulled an all-nighter? If you’re not sure, consider this:...
Steps Women Can Take to Reduce Their Diabetes Risk Steps Women Can Take to Reduce Their Diabetes Risk Type 2 diabetes can be deadly for women, especially minority women. The prevalence is two to four times higher among women who are African-American,...
Stop the Spread of Germs at Work Stop the Spread of Germs at Work Illnesses such as the flu and colds are caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat, and lungs. They’re usually spread from person to person when an infected perso...
Straight Talk on Posture Straight Talk on Posture Need more energy? It could be as close as the top of your head. If your head is held high, and you lengthen your spine by standing straight, it helps open your chest to creat...
Strategies to Living the Life You Want Strategies to Living the Life You Want You may have a profession at which you excel and a nice house in a good neighborhood. But if you still wonder when the fun starts or what you'll be when you gro...
Stress Can Increase Your Risk for Heart Disease Stress Can Increase Your Risk for Heart Disease Stress is a normal part of life. Stress can come from physical causes, such as not getting enough sleep or having an illness. It can come from mental c...
Stroke Awareness for All Ages Stroke Awareness for All Ages Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death in the United States after heart disease, cancer, and lower respiratory disease. It is also a leading cause of adult disabili...
Take Action to Beat Heart Disease Take Action to Beat Heart Disease If you’re at risk for heart disease, we have good news for you. Many people can take steps to significantly reduce their chances of developing it. Even if you alread...
Take the Bite Out of Spring Take the Bite Out of Spring Mosquitoes can be more than a nuisance--they can ruin your outdoor plans and threaten your health. So it’s a good idea to protect yourself and your family as the weather h...
Taking Care of Yourself After Childbirth Taking Care of Yourself After Childbirth After you've had your baby and returned home from the hospital, you are not yet finished with the physical transitions that pregnancy brings. Your body contin...
Taking Care with Lyme Disease Taking Care with Lyme Disease Lyme disease is a tick-borne bacterial infection that most often targets the skin, joints, brain, and heart, although any part of the body can be affected. Lyme disease ...
Taking Good Care of Your Eyes Taking Good Care of Your Eyes You should see your eye doctor regularly to help avoid or minimize vision problems. Common eye problems include blurred vision, halos, blind spots and floaters. Blurred ...
Taking Time for Tea Taking Time for Tea The spotlight is on tea, with questions about whether it may be the ultimate health drink. Drinking this age-old beverage has been reported to potentially protect the body from ai...
The ABCs of Safer Sit-Ups The ABCs of Safer Sit-Ups Doing sit-ups or crunches can strengthen your abdominal muscles. But you have to do them correctly to achieve good results. Well-toned abdominal muscles, which run from the ...
The Best and Worst Foods for Your Teeth The Best and Worst Foods for Your Teeth If you are what you eat, that's particularly true for your teeth and gums. When you drink and munch starchy or sugary foods, you're not only feeding yourself, ...
The Healthy-Bones Diet The Healthy-Bones Diet Adequate amounts of calcium and vitamin D in your diet help maintain your bone strength, reducing your risk for osteoporosis, a condition in which bones become weak because of ...
The Many Causes of Insomnia The Many Causes of Insomnia Anxiety and stress are thought to be the most common causes of insomnia. About 35 percent of people with chronic insomnia suffer from depression or anxiety. But sleeplessn...
The Myths and Facts About Donating and Receiving Blood Myths and Facts About Donating, Receiving Blood Many myths are associated with donating and receiving blood, including the threat of catching HIV, hepatitis, and other communicable diseases. Accordin...
The Threat of Metabolic Syndrome The Threat of Metabolic Syndrome Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of risk factors that greatly raises your risk for heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Risk factors If you have three or more o...
The World's Best Anti-Cancer Diet The World's Best Anti-Cancer Diet In your quest to reduce your cancer risk, don't overlook the obvious: Improving your diet can play a substantial role in preventing the disease. Helpful lessons can ...
Tips for Driving After Age 60 Tips for Driving After Age 60 Although we can get around by bike, bus, train, or sidewalk, most Americans rely on their car when it comes to getting from one place to another. Driving is a key to ind...
Tips for Preventing an ACL Knee Ligament Injury Tips for Preventing an ACL Knee Ligament Injury The knee is a joint where three main bones join: the femur, or thigh bone; the tibia, or shin bone; and the patella, or knee cap. Several ligaments att...
Traveling With a Chronic Condition Traveling With a Chronic Condition Any trip requires advance planning so you can be comfortable and lower your risk for worsening symptoms. Use this checklist to create a smart travel plan for a safe...
Trouble Flossing? Help Is at Hand Trouble Flossing? Help Is at Hand Are you one of those people who don't floss because you find it awkward to maneuver the floss between your teeth? If so, a number of products can help you get the jo...
Turning Prediabetes Around Turning Prediabetes Around According to 2011 data from the CDC, more than 28.5 million people, or 8.3 percent of the U.S. population, have diabetes. This puts them at increased risk for heart disease...
Twelve Weeks to a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Twelve Weeks to a Heart-Healthy Lifestyle Heart disease is a killer, but you can do plenty to reduce your risk and prolong your life. Research shows that making lifestyle changes can decrease your ri...
Understanding Alcohol's Effects Understanding Alcohol's Effects What happens when you drink an alcoholic beverage? Although alcohol affects different people in different ways, in general, it is quickly absorbed from your digestive ...
Understanding Cocaine and Crack Understanding Cocaine and Crack Cocaine is a powerfully addictive stimulant that directly affects the brain. Cocaine generally is sold on the street as a fine, white, crystalline powder derived from ...
Understanding Prehypertension Understanding Prehypertension Prehypertension is a new term that alerts people to the risk of developing chronic high blood pressure if they don’t take timely steps to improve their lifestyle habits,...
Use Your Medications Wisely Use Your Medications Wisely You don't have to look past your medicine chest to find prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) remedies that can make you feel better, improve your health, and even save ...
Use Your Sun Smarts Use Your Sun Smarts When the weather is nice and the sun is out, you can't wait to spend time outdoors. But before you do, play it safe and protect your skin. If you don't, you risk a painful sunburn...
Vaccine Offers Hope for Children’s Earaches Vaccine Offers Hope for Children's Earaches Earaches are common during childhood, but a vaccine can ease the pain for thousands of kids. Pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, marketed under the brand na...
Ways to Take a Bite Out of Your Dental Bills Ways to Take a Bite Out of Your Dental Bills The most effective way to lower your dental bills is to take care of your teeth, and to make sure your children do the same. Every dollar you spend on pre...
Wellness Made Easy: The Real Basics of Better Health Wellness Made Easy: The Real Basics of Better Health Wellness has three basic components: a balanced diet, regular exercise, and wise lifestyle choices. Incorporating all three into your daily routin...
What Are the Health Effects of Air Pollution? What Are the Health Effects of Air Pollution? Air pollution is the black cloud belching from an industrial smokestack. It's the smog that settles over certain cities, dimming the skyline. It's the sm...
What Can My Pharmacist Do for Me? What Can My Pharmacist Do for Me? Pharmacists are a critical part of the health care team. Many supervise pharmacy technicians, who prepare medicine to fill your prescriptions. But today's pharmacist...
What Every Parent Should Know About Vaccinations What Every Parent Should Know About Immunizations Watching your child get a shot isn't easy. It's even harder if the fearful one is you. Millions of parents immunize their kids each year without conc...
What Is Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm? What Is Exercise-Induced Bronchospasm? Exercise-induced bronchospasm (EIB) used to be called exercise-induced asthma. The term bronchospasm means tightening and narrowing of the tubes that bring air ...
What to Look For in a Toothbrush What to Look For in a Toothbrush Finding a toothbrush isn't rocket science. Even so, it's important. The wrong toothbrush can damage your gums and lead to tooth decay. Lucky for you, finding the righ...
What You Can Do About Dog Bites What You Can Do About Dog Bites Dogs are more than pets; they are family. But, even well-behaved dogs can bite. In fact, half of the dog bites that occur every year are by the family pet, according t...
What You Can Do to Prevent Atherosclerosis What You Can Do to Prevent Atherosclerosis Your good health has an enemy: atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is common, and its effects can be devastating, causing strokes, heart attacks and death. The...
What You Must Know About Suicide What You Must Know About Suicide In 2007, over 34,000 Americans committed suicide, making it the tenth leading cause of death. At one person every 16 minutes, it’s a national tragedy, but one each of...
What You Need to Know About Burn Prevention What You Need to Know About Burn Prevention Hot water Scalding burns are the most common ones in younger children, the Burn Institute says. These burns often occur when a toddler knocks over a coffee...
What You Need to Know About STDs What You Need to Know About STDs When it comes to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), you may not have any warning signs. If you are sexually active, find out the facts about STDs, and learn how to...
When to Call 911, Your Doctor, or the Hospital When to Call 911, Your Doctor, or the Hospital When a medical emergency occurs, it's not always easy to think clearly. But a crisis means that you need to act quickly. Learning about your choices in ...
Why Childhood Immunizations Are Important Why Childhood Immunizations Are Important Childhood vaccines or immunizations can seem overwhelming when you are a new parent. Vaccine schedules recommended by agencies and organizations such as the ...
Why Physical Activity Is Important Why Physical Activity Is Important If you’re like many Americans, your average day consists of driving a half hour or more to work, sitting at a desk for six or seven hours, and then driving home. Yo...
Why Real Men See the Doctor Why Real Men See the Doctor It's easy to get most men to a ball game or a hardware store. But for a lot of guys, a trip to the doctor is about as high a priority as a day of shoe-shopping. One reason...
Why the Doctor Gives You an EKG or ECG Why the Doctor Gives You an EKG or ECG An electrocardiogram--abbreviated as either ECG or EKG--is a test that records the heart's electrical activity and turns it into a graph that can be read and an...
Why We Need to Wash Our Hands Why We Need to Wash Our Hands So, you washed your hands this morning? Bravo! Because you don't want to spread potentially dangerous germs. And because experts remind us that our hands can hold from a...
Why Your Doctor Uses Medical Imaging Why Your Doctor Uses Medical Imaging Imaging techniques, such as X-rays, MRIs and ultrasound scans, provide reliable and detailed pictures of the inside of the body. Today, most of these techniques u...
Winter's Cool Advice: Watch Out for Hypothermia Winter Advice: Beware Hypothermia Winter can be fun. Think of skiing, sledding, and snowboarding. Winter can be annoying. Think of dead car batteries and shoveling the walk. And winter can be dangero...
Women's Guide to Staying Healthy Women's Guide to Staying Healthy Women can't always stay healthy and prevent disease. But by having certain screening tests and practicing healthful behaviors, they are more likely to live long, heal...
Working Mom? Aim for Less Stress Working Mom? Aim for Less Stress When Marie gets home from her full-time job as a Seattle nurse administrator, her workday is only half over. Next up is driving her two boys to band practice, soccer,...
You Can Choose to Have a Healthy Life You Can Choose a Healthy Life Each year, two out of every three deaths in the United States are caused by cancer, diabetes, heart disease, or stroke. That figure could be significantly reduced if Ame...
You Can Head Off Stress Fractures You Can Head Off Stress Fractures Whether you're an avid basketball player or a weekend hiker, you may be at risk for a stress fracture if you overdo it. A stress fracture occurs when you increase th...
You Can Sleep Better as You Age You Can Sleep Better as You Age A good night’s sleep is as important to your health as eating a healthy diet and getting regular exercise. As we age, however, it can become more difficult to get deep...
Your Child and Vitamin D Your Child and Vitamin D Does your child come home, grab a soda, and plop down in front of the TV or computer? Shunning milk and the sun is more and more common for children, and the result is a lack...
Your Lips Need Protection Your Lips Need Protection Unprotected lips are prone to a variety of ailments. Men, for example, run a higher risk of getting lip cancer, research suggests, because their lips usually have nothing on...