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Health Library: A

A Better Understanding of Stroke
A stroke is a medical emergency. That’s why some doctors call strokes “brain attacks.”

A Brain Surgeon with Heart

A Checklist for Depression
What's the difference between a bad case of the blues and the painful mental disorder known as depression? According to the experts, impaired functioning is usually a clear-cut indication of clinical depression.

A Checklist to Help You Spot Hearing Loss
Parents and pediatricians should know how to detect hearing problems at various stages during a child's first three years of life.

A Child's First Dental Visit Fact Sheet
Your child should see a dentist six months after eruption of the first tooth, experts say. The dentist can provide or recommend preventative information regarding baby bottle tooth decay, infant feeding practices, mouth cleaning, teething, pacifier habits and finger-sucking habits.

A Chubby Baby Is Not a Sign of Obesity
With childhood obesity on the rise, should parents worry about the weight of their babies?

A Close Look at Eye Exercises
Despite what the ads say, exercises for your eye muscles won't help you see better.

A Closer Look at Arthritis Treatments
Arthritis cannot be cured, but treatment can help manage the pain and prevent serious disability.

A Closer Look at Bruises
Bruises are a part of life. By the time you notice a bruise, though, it's already started to heal.

A Closer Look at the 'Health Gap' for Minorities
Government agencies, non-profit groups and other experts urge minorities to take care of their health.

A Closer Look at Three Breast Cancer Myths
With so much information out there about breast cancer, sometimes it's difficult to separate myth from reality.

A Common Plastic Comes Under Scrutiny
Polycarbonate plastic is durable, impact-resistant, and clear. It is widely used in food and beverage containers, but research has raised concerns over its health effects.

A Dentist Explains Root Canals
In a root canal, the soft tissue inside the tooth's canal is removed and the space is filled with a material that's compatible with the body's own tissues.

A Disease Often Misdiagnosed as Asthma
The first symptoms of AAT deficiency usually are shortness of breath, wheezing following activity, and a decreased ability to exercise.

A Few Tricks for Halloween Treats
It's important to encourage good eating habits, while allowing kids to enjoy the fun of the holiday.

A Fitness Plan to Combat Exercise-Induced Asthma
If you've been diagnosed with EIA, you probably don't have to sacrifice your favorite workouts or sports.

A Fitness Test for Seniors
A lack of fitness as you age can lead to immobility and frailty, hindering the simplest tasks.

A Food Lover's Guide
Here's your guide to the best foods to nourish you, as well as those foods best left for that occasional need to indulge in guilty pleasures.

A Fowl Choice: Make It Turkey
In your grocer's case, you'll find whole turkeys and parts — fresh, frozen, and smoked. You'll also see ground turkey, turkey cutlets, turkey hot dogs, turkey sausage, and turkey burgers.

A Fresh Look at Common Skin Problems
Skin problems such as pimples, blackheads, rashes, and oily skin are common in both teens and adults. But you don't necessarily need a dermatologist to treat them.

A Grandparents' Guide to Home Child-Proofing
Whether they are coming for an afternoon or a week, taking some steps before your grandchildren arrive can help keep them safe during their visit. Consider these guidelines.

A Guide to Common Medicinal Herbs
Here's a look at some of the more common medicinal herbs. Most herbs have not been thoroughly tested for effectiveness or interactions with other herbs, supplements, drugs or foods.

A Guide to Condiments

A Guide to Cooking With Herbs
If you're just getting started with herbs, go at it gradually. Experiment with one or two herbs at a time. For freshness, purchase herbs that have been newly dried, and buy in small amounts.

A Guide to Eyeglass Lenses
Eyeglasses can be prescribed for a range of vision problems, from nearsightedness to farsightedness to the diminished vision of advancing age.

A Guide to Healthier Eating
You should cut back on foods that have only limited nutritional value, that are overprocessed or that contain too much fat, salt, sugar and refined white flour.

A Guide to Jogging Strollers
Jogging strollers come in a variety of shapes and sizes to match almost anyone's needs, including parents with twins or children with physical disabilities.

A Guide to Organic Foods
In general, foods grown organically or conventionally contain the same kinds and amounts of vitamins and minerals. But there are definite advantages to going organic in terms of its impact on the environment.

A Heads-Up for Football Safety
Coaches should tell players not to tackle or block with their heads or run head-down with the ball.

A Healthier Hero
Whether they're called subs, hoagies, heroes or grinders, long sandwiches stuffed with a variety of ingredients are a favorite lunch choice.

A Healthier Pasta Carbonara

A Holiday Help Guide for Stepfamilies
No one is fond of change, and big changes during the holidays can be particularly difficult to cope with for everyone involved.

A Joint Approach to Treat ADHD
For a rising number of Americans, the formula for treating ADHD demands the involvement of parents and teachers.

A Kids' Asthma Journal
Do you want to gain better control over your asthma? Put it in writing!

A Labor in Waiting
Labor need not take you by surprise. In the last weeks, you or your healthcare provider may notice changes that mean labor is near.

A Lifestyle for Lower Blood Pressure
Here's what to do: Get more exercise. Cut back on salt. Have more fruits and vegetables. Limit your drinking. Choose which is easiest, and do it first.

A Look at Senior Nutrition
Although older adults still need plenty of fruits and vegetables, whole grains and fiber, they need to add or subtract a few things from the diet they followed earlier in life.

A Manager's Guide to Motivation
Different things motivate different people, and if you're a manager, understanding what motivates your staff is the key to everyone's success.

A Must-Know Guide to Drug-Drug Interactions
Drug-drug interactions occur when one drug interacts or interferes with another drug. Such interactions are dangerous because they can alter the way one or both of the drugs act in the body. They can also cause unexpected side effects. The following information can help you avoid drug-drug interactions.

A New Manager's Tutorial
Here are some tips to transform your panic into progress as you begin your new career as a manager.

A New Vision of Holiday Eating
Indulging over the holidays can do more than stretch your waistline. An American Heart Association report shows that the risk of having a heart attack is four times greater after eating a large meal high in fat and calories.

A Parent’s Guide to Choosing Child Care
As a parent of a young child, one of the most important decisions you will make is choosing who will care for your child while you’re at work.

A Pet Project Can Aid Your Health
In study after study, researchers have found that the presence of a pet keeps blood pressure down.

A Prescription for Good Health
For long-lasting health and well being, stay physically active, challenge your mind and stay involved with others.

A Prescription for Health in Menopause

A Primer for Preschooler Safety
Your little ones can learn a lot about safety if you take some time to teach them. Here's an ABC that you and your children can recite together.

A Primer on Parkinson's Disease
Some Parkinson's symptoms, such as slowness or stiffness, are so subtle that they may be mistaken for normal signs of aging.

A Question of Taste -- Or Is It Smell?
Our taste buds are important, but smell seems to play a bigger role. Most people who complain of loss of the sense of taste are surprised to learn they are actually having problems with their sense of smell.

A Quick Look at Reflexes
What happens when your health care provider taps on your knee with a rubber mallet? Your leg kicks forward, seemingly on its own. And in a sense, your leg has a mind of its own -- in your spine.

A Rational Diet for Bodybuilders
Many of today's generation of musclemen are told by nutritionists and bodybuilding experts that well-balanced meals will offer enough protein for all but the most intense exercisers.

A Real 8-Minute Fitness Routine
Eight minutes in the morning -- that's all it takes to help launch you toward a fitter, trimmer lifestyle.

A Reality Check for 20-Somethings
Doctors say that feeling great when you're as old as your parents may rely a lot on what you do now.

A Recipe for Food Safety
Although most foodborne illness stems from raw animal foods -- such as eggs, meats and dairy products -- fruits and vegetables may carry germs, too.

A Red Face Could Signal Rosacea
Although the cause of rosacea is unknown, people with fair skin who blush easily may be at the greatest risk for it.

A Safety Checklist for Parents
You can help keep your children safe by following these precautions.

A Serious Look at Fainting
Fainting is a loss of consciousness, falling down or needing to lie down, followed by spontaneous recovery. Fainting by itself is not a problem, but it could be a sign of a serious health condition.

A Simple Way to Keep the Flu Away
You can avoid the flu this season by taking one simple step: Get a flu vaccination.

A Strategy for Scars
To reduce scarring, keep the skin area out of the sun. Ultraviolet rays can darken your scar, making it more noticeable.

A Telecommuter's Guide to Staying Connected

A Warning on Medicinal Herbs
Herbal remedies may be popular, but just how many of the hundreds of herbs on the market act on the body isn't clear.

A Weighty Issue: Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is more prevalent in the Northeast, followed by the Midwest, South and West. It is also more prevalent in cities than in rural areas.

A Winter Cold: Not Inevitable
Although colds cannot be prevented -- or cured -- you can take precautions to reduce the chance of infection.

A Woman's Guide to Beating Heart Disease
Surveys show fewer than one in 10 women perceive heart disease as their greatest health threat. But it's the nation's number one killer, and women are its prime target.

A Woman's Guide to Cancer Screenings
You run two miles every other day and lift weights twice a week. You've been trying to eat more fruits and vegetables and less meat. You don't smoke. When it comes to your health, you figure you've got everything covered. But when was the last time you saw your doctor for a health screening?

Abdominal Pain
Most abdominal pain is linked to common problems such as emotional distress, overeating, or the flu. However, it can also point to more serious illness. The type and location of the pain often gives a clue to its cause.

Abdominal Pain in Children
Abdominal pain is very common in children, and in many cases there’s no serious cause. But stomach pain can sometimes point to a serious problem, such as appendicitis, so it is important to know when to seek help.

Ability to Concentrate Isn't What It Used to Be
With today's world filled with flashing images of MTV, quick news reports, and fast-food restaurants on every corner, are we capable of concentrating as well as we used to?

About Balance and Safety
A balance disorder is a disturbance of the inner ear that can make you feel unsteady or like you’re moving or spinning.

About High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure is a sneaky ailment. The condition has no symptoms that you can see or feel. Having your blood pressure checked is the only way to know if it is high.

About Pilates Workouts
Joseph H. Pilates (pronounced puh-LAH-teez) developed Pilates when he was in nurses training in the 1920s as a way for injured World War I soldiers to recover. The Pilates workout includes about 500 resistance-training exercises that focus on the torso, but you don't need to do them all.

About Preventive Screening Tests for Adults 20 to 39 Years
Part of taking care of yourself is getting the screenings that are recommended for you at your age. Although these tests are an important part of your health care, that doesn't mean that it will make you healthier if you get every possible screening.

About Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
Deciding when and how to stop taking several popular antidepressants is something you should always discuss with your health care provider.

Abuse of OxyContin Is on the Rise
A drug praised as a breakthrough in pain treatment has been linked with a rising death toll among young people seeking an illegal high.

Act Now to Cut Your Health Care Bills
It's important to reduce your medical expenses. Even if you have health insurance, you pay a percentage of every health care bill you incur.

Act Your (Mental) Age
Old age was long viewed as a time of decline in health and function. That is far from the case today.

Action Plan for Osteoarthritis
Taking arthritis medication is important, but what you do for yourself, including exercising, doing relaxation exercises and managing your emotions and attitudes, is just as crucial to your ability to lead an active, productive life.

Activity
Increasing the amount of activity in our daily lives can go a long way toward improving our health and even increasing longevity. Being physically active every day is good for you.

Activity Can Help Control Diabetes
Being active is a great way to help control diabetes. Exercise helps lower your blood sugar.

Acupuncture

Acupuncture Can Help Relieve Headache Pain
Researchers found that those who received the acupuncture treatments had 22 fewer days of headache per year than those who did not receive acupuncture.

ADD
For some children, difficulty concentrating or very high physical energy levels (hyperactivity) interfere with social and academic tasks appropriate for their ages.

Adding Enthusiasm to Your Leadership Skills

Adding Up the Benefits of Calcium

ADHD Drugs Safe, Experts Say
Parents of kids with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) face a tough choice: whether to medicate their children or not.

ADHD Is More Than Child's Play
If left untreated, ADHD can wreak havoc on a child’s life. Children who are inattentive seem unable to focus on anything for long. Schoolwork is often hard for them, and the results are usually incomplete or sloppy.

Adjusting Your Attitude About Menopause
Today's women understand that menopause is not a disease. It is a normal event; a passage from one stage of life to another.

Adopting a Pet--Cats and Dogs
If you've been thinking about adding a cuddly new cat or dog to your household, take some time to think about what type of pet will best suit you, your family and your lifestyle.

Adult Acne

Adult Dental Care
Basic dental care is an often overlooked part of basic health care. One reason is that many people believe the health of our teeth and gums is guaranteed until we become older and start to lose teeth because of age. But this is a misconception.

Adult Immunization Schedule

Adult Immunizations: Are You Up-To-Date?
Immunizations aren't just for children. Adults need immunizations, too. Ask your doctor which of the following shots you may need.

Advice From the Nutrition Coach

AFP Tests
It can show whether your fetus has signs of some birth defects. This test is done between weeks 15 and 20 of pregnancy.

After a Cesarean
When the cesarean is over, you may be moved to a recovery unit or taken back to your room. Your baby may be taken to the nursery. After he or she has been observed for a little while, your newborn may join you.

After Breast Cancer, Challenges Remain
Fear of recurrence joins with initial fatigue, hair loss, and perhaps discomfort from breast reconstruction.

After Delivery, Taking Care of Yourself
Having a baby is a life-changing experience, and there's no way to know just how exhilarating and challenging the first few months can be.

After Rehabilitation: Here Are Some Tools
Recovering people can use the tools they learn in rehab to begin the intense challenge of avoiding relapse.

After Your Baby Is Born
Your recovery will be closely monitored. You'll likely be able to greet your baby and start your new life together. While you're being cared for, your baby receives his or her first exam.

After Your Surgery
If you're scheduled for major surgery, take some time beforehand to organize and plan for both your hospital stay and your care after discharge.

Age and Asthma
Many people think of asthma as a childhood disease, but it often occurs as a new condition in older adults.

Age Doesn't Matter for Yoga
More than ever before, Americans older than 65 are turning to yoga for exercise. What is yoga, and why is it so popular? Yoga is a series of stretches and poses done with breathing techniques. It offers the powerful benefits of exercise. And since yoga is gentle, almost anyone can do it, regardless of age or fitness level.

Aging Eyes and Glasses
As your eyes age, their lenses become less flexible, and they slowly lose their ability to focus. It's an ongoing, lifelong process called presbyopia, which you begin to notice between ages 40 and 45.

AIDS Prevention Is Still Important
New drug treatments can delay the effects of AIDS and are helping patients live longer. But the reality is that no medicine can cure AIDS or the virus that causes it, HIV. Once inside the body, HIV destroys immune system cells, making it difficult to fight off illness.

AIDS: Live by the Facts
What's true and what's not when it comes to AIDS? Here's a look at some common myths surrounding HIV infection and AIDS.

Air Bags and Kids
A car with an air bag is considered safer than a car without one. But for children under 12 years old, air bags can be dangerous.

Air Filters, Dehumidifiers and Humidifiers
Here are some helpful tips for understanding the air in your house and the air-quality appliances that can alter it.

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 heart.

Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism: Q and A
A person addicted to alcohol can’t stop using alcohol despite the severe physical, mental, and emotional consequences.

Alcohol and Older Adults
Many older adults enjoy a glass of wine with dinner or a beer while watching the game on TV. In fact, half of Americans ages 65 and older drink alcohol. Having a drink now and then is fine—as long as you don’t overdo it.

Alcohol and Your Heart
Alcohol may have some health benefits, including lowering the risk for heart disease, but it may also lead to abusive drinking and other diseases.

Alcohol Use Among Teens Is Epidemic
The leading substance-abuse threat to children may be as close as your refrigerator. About 10 million adolescents drink alcohol. In fact, minors drink 19 percent of the alcohol consumed in the United States.

All About Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in people older than 60.

All About Aging Eyes
Do you know the difference between normal changes in vision that occur with age and abnormal changes caused by age-related eye disease? Here are some answers.

All About Blood Pressure Medication
Several kinds of medicine are commonly prescribed for high blood pressure. Here are some of the main types.

All About Child Passenger Safety
Installing your child's car seat properly and using it every time your son or daughter rides in the car is one of the best ways to help keep him or her safe in case of an accident.

All About Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs
According to the American Heart Association, there are five main types of cholesterol-lowering medications.

All About Endocrine Hormones
Hormones, which are chemical signals, affect growth, metabolism, blood pressure and even behavior.

All About Gallstones
Gallstones are rocklike substances that form inside the gallbladder, a sac-shaped organ that is on your right side, just under the liver.

All About Generic Medications
Every year, more than 400 million prescriptions are filled with generic medications in the United States.

All About Genetically Modified Foods
The first genetically modified food product for human consumption was a tomato, which went on the market in 1994.

All About Hair
Are you going bald? Which conditioner should you use? Here are the answers to these and other questions about your head of hair.

All About Hip Replacements
If hip pain limits your ability to walk, work, or perform simple activities, you may want to talk to your doctor about a hip replacement.

All About Kidney Stones
A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms in the kidney out of substances normally dissolved in the urine.

All About LSD
LSD, also called acid, is one of the most commonly used hallucinogens or psychedelic drugs.

All About Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone that regulates your circadian rhythm, or the 24-hour cycle of biological processes called your "internal body clock."

All About Menopause

All About Muscle Cramps
Muscle cramps -- involuntary muscle contractions -- are common. But even though they can be quite painful, they don't cause damage.

All About the Stomach
Your stomach's starring role is as an organ essential for digestion. The stomach breaks down all the food you eat.

All About Viruses
Viruses are familiar from the common diseases they cause: colds and flu, for instance. But what are they, and how do they cause sickness?

All About Work-Related Asthma
Occupational asthma is a lung disease in which the airways overreact to dust, vapors, gases, smoke or fumes that exist in the workplace.

All About Your Nails
Did you know that fingernails grow faster than toenails? Or, that nails grow faster in the summer than in the winter?

All Family Time Is Quality Time
Quality time should be woven into our lives. As our children get older and slip away, we need to stop worrying about the extraordinary and think more about the ordinary."

All Kinds of Problems Beset Your Nails
About half of people with nail problems have fungal infections. For some of these people, antifungal medications may help.

Allergic Reactions
Some allergies are so mild that you may not even know that you have one. But rarely some allergic reactions can be so severe that they put your life in danger. When you go into allergic shock, or anaphylaxis, your whole body has a severe reaction to an allergen that affects you.

Allergies
An allergy is a reaction in the body to a normally harmless substance. Usually the immune system functions as the body's defense against invading bacteria and viruses. In most allergic reactions, the immune system is responding to a false alarm.

Allergies on Vacation
If you’re heading out of town, and you or your child has allergies or asthma, proper planning can help you keep sneezes, sniffles, wheezing and attacks under control.

Allergies: Nothing to Sneeze At
Roughly one person in four has some kind of allergy. The most common is "allergic rhinitis," which includes seasonal hay fever and year-round allergies to dust, animal dander, mold and some foods.

Allergy Medications and Vaccinations for Older Adults
As you age, you should check with your health care provider about any allergy medications you take and make sure you are up to date on your shots.

Allergy Terms to Know
A short glossary of asthma terms.

Alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous
Some treatment programs teach problem drinkers to reduce their drinking, an approach that appeals to people who otherwise might not seek treatment.

Amblyopia: Causes and Treatments
In most cases of amblyopia, the brain ignores signals coming from one eye. Over time, the brain gets used to working only with the other eye. So amblyopia must be treated as soon as possible.

Amniocentesis
First, the fetus is located with ultrasound. A thin needle is then inserted into your belly. The doctor keeps the needle from touching the fetus by watching the screen.

Among the Missing: Vitamin D
Just when you thought you had your summertime outdoors routine down -- plenty of sunscreen, a large hat, limited exposure between 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. -- comes the news that Americans aren't getting enough of the "sunshine vitamin" -- vitamin D.

An Asthma Action Plan for Your Child
Track your child's peak flow, medications, and doctor's appointments by using this Asthma Action Plan.

An Introduction to Chinese Medicine
More than half of Americans have used an alternative therapy instead of -- or in addition to -- Western medical treatment for their conditions. Among these therapies are acupuncture and other Chinese-medicine practices that have been used for more than 3,000 years.

An Rx for RSV

An Rx for RV Living
More than a million people have pulled up roots and hit the road full time in recreational vehicles (RVs). If you're thinking of joining them, be sure to consider your health.

Anabolic Steroids, Corticosteroids: What's the Difference?
Steroids are important compounds used in medicine, but people often misunderstand what they are.

Anatomy of a First Aid Kit
Whether you buy a first aid kit at a drug store or put one together yourself, make sure it has all the items you may need, such as medications and emergency phone numbers.

Andreas Vesalius, Father of Modern Anatomy
Vesalius revolutionized the science of anatomy by basing his findings on direct observation of the body itself, rather than on centuries-old received wisdom.

Anemia
To avoid anemia, make sure you include plenty of green, leafy vegetables in your diet to maintain an adequate amount of folic acid. Many breakfast cereals also contain folic acid as a supplement. Iron-fortified foods can also help iron reserves.

Anesthesia for Cesarean
You will receive regional or general anesthesia, depending on how quickly your baby needs to be born.

Anethesia: Epidural
Epidural is a kind of anesthetic (medication to block pain). It is commonly used during labor and delivery. During an epidural, anesthetic is injected into the area around your lower spine. An anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist starts the epidural and monitors you throughout your procedure.

Anger Can Raise Cholesterol Levels
There's evidence that people who respond rigidly to anger-provoking events are likely to wind up with significantly elevated levels of heart-damaging cholesterol.

Angina
A person with angina often experiences pressure or pain that comes and goes in the chest. Angina is a warning sign that the heart isn't getting the oxygen it needs.

Animal Bites
Human bites happen more often than you think. The "biters" usually are children. Animal bites raise three concerns: bleeding, the possibility of viral infections such as rabies, and the possibility of bacterial infections.

Ankle Arthroscopy: Conditions Treated
Arthroscopy is used to find and treat ankle problems. These include loose bodies, bone spurs, osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), and synovitis.

Ankle Pain
Because of the ankle's crucial role in walking and standing, ankle injuries should be taken seriously and treated properly.

Ankle Sprains and Strains
It might not make much of a storyline on a TV medical drama, but ankle sprains are one of the most common reasons for an emergency room visit.

Answers About Anxiety
Anxiety disorders are a group of disorders that can affect adults, adolescents and children. They overwhelm people with chronic feelings of anxiety and fear.

Answers to Questions About HPV
Learning about HPV can help you avoid infection and seek treatment, if necessary.

Answers to Questions About Your Child's Mental Health
Although some behavior problems can be attributed to normal child development, some require professional help.

Answers to Your Advance-Care Questions
An advance directive spells out the types of treatment you would or would not want should you become unable to speak for yourself.

Answers to Your Diabetes Questions
What causes diabetes? Scientists aren't sure, but heredity, obesity, lack of exercise and other factors play a part.

Answers to Your Questions About Codependency
Codependency is an emotional and behavioral condition. It affects a person’s ability to have healthy, mutually satisfying relationships.

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 believe that this is possible. But before you accept their claims and open your wallet, see what medical researchers say.

Antibiotics Not the Cure for the Common Cold
Most of the time, however, a cold passes in a week, with or without the use of antibiotics. Taking these drugs does not help you get better faster. In fact, it can create problems.

Anxiety

Appendectomy

Appendicitis: Children and Teens
Appendicitis, an infection of the appendix, is the most common reason for a child to need emergency abdominal surgery.

Apple or Pear: What Is Your Shape?
Weighing too much is harmful, but the location of those extra pounds can worsen the risk.

Are Children Safe at School?
Violence at school doesn't refer just to students with weapons, but to any behavior that hurts another person physically or psychologically.

Are Feet at Fault for Back, Hip, and Knee Woes?
If you are having problems with back pain, shin splints, knees or hips, look to your feet. Although these ailments might seem totally unrelated to one another, they can sometimes be linked to problems that start with your feet and how they're built, foot experts say.

Are You a Compulsive Shopper?
Compulsive shoppers generally are people prone toward low self-esteem, anxiety and depression, as well as fantasizing, perfectionism and lack of sufficient social contacts, one expert says.

Are You at Risk in Amusement Parks?
Thrill rides at amusement parks and traveling shows are higher, faster and wilder than ever. But are they dangerous?

Are You Frenetic About Genetics?
Experts say you should pay close attention to what is, by far, the most useful genetic knowledge—your family medical history.

Are You Getting Enough Fruits and Vegetables Daily?
What if you could do one simple thing to significantly improve your health? Eating at least five servings a day of fruits and vegetables can do just that by reducing your risk for cancer, heart disease and stroke.

Are You Getting Enough Sleep?
Chronic lack of sleep can increase blood pressure; contribute to stress, car accidents, weight gain, and judgment errors; and affect your work.

Are You Taking the Right Medication?
If you don’t know for sure what you’re taking and the right way to take it, nearly any drug has the potential to harm your health.

Are You Trapped in the Net?
People often use the Net to escape from negative feelings. Many lose track of time, feel extremely uninhibited and are more likely to be intimate with another person than in a face-to-face relationship.

Are Your Shots Up-to-Date?
Parents usually know what vaccines their children need, but they may not be aware that they need shots as well. The CDC estimates that about 60,000 American adults die every year from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM)

Arthritis
The word arthritis is used to describe more than 100 different conditions that cause pain, stiffness, and swelling in the joints. There are two main types of arthritis: inflammatory and noninflammatory.

Arthritis and Exercise: Q and A
Doctors and physical therapists say people with arthritis can improve their health and fitness through exercise without damaging their joints.

Arthrogram

Arthroscopy
Arthroscopy is used to diagnose and treat joint problems. After arthroscopy, you may be able to return to the activities you enjoy.

Artificial Teeth

As Candle Sales Rise, So Do Fires

As People Age, They Grow
Through the daily grapevine of popular culture, we get the message over and over that young is better than old. But new research contradicts these age-old stereotypes. Indeed, studies suggest that the older you get, the happier you become.

As Snack Attacks Rise, Seek Healthy Options
Youths of all ages from 2 through the teen years snack more often. With 13 to 14 percent of children and adolescents overweight, we can blame eating between meals for part of the trend.

As You Age, Be Aware of B12 Deficiency
Getting too little vitamin B12 may leave you feeling fuzzy in your thinking and lead to numbness or tingling in your hands and feet.

Aspirin and Your Heart: Should You or Shouldn’t You?
Although aspirin is a common over-the-counter medication, it’s not appropriate for everyone.

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.

Asthma
Asthma interferes with normal breathing by narrowing the airways that are within the lungs and that lead to the lungs. This can happen when the muscles around the airways tighten, when there is inflammation and swelling of the airway's lining, or when extra mucus is produced.

Asthma Action Plan Worksheet
Your health care team will help you fill out your Action Plan. Provide the information requested to see how well you are managing your asthma.

Asthma and Your Child
Asthma is a disease of the airways in the lungs. No one knows exactly why some children get it. And so far there isn't a cure. But it can be controlled so your child can enjoy a happy, active life.

Asthma at Work
Occupational asthma is caused by being exposed to irritants in the form of vapors, fumes, gases, particles or allergens like dust in the workplace.

Asthma Medications and Emotional Side Effects
Although medications can successfully treat asthma symptoms, they may also have side effects that leave you feeling jittery.

Asthma on Campus
College can pose challenges for the student with asthma. New and unfamiliar living quarters, school and social stresses, and other factors can trigger a flare-up.

Asthma Terms to Know
It's important to understand common terms used in asthma management.

Asthma: A Worsening of Symptoms
By recognizing the early warning signs and talking with your health care provider, you can help keep little flare-ups from turning into big ones.

Asthma: Dealing With Your Child's School
Research shows that informed, supportive teachers and staff can play a big role in helping students manage their asthma.

Asthma: Exercising Indoors
When the weather turns cold, it's a good idea to move your workout indoors.

Asthma: First Doctor Visit for Your Child
You may be wondering what questions the provider will ask or what tests and exams your child will need.

Asthma: HFA Inhalers
Your new inhaler is better for the environment and just as good for your asthma as your old inhaler.

Asthma: Out of Breath at a Meal
Try to breathe evenly while chewing. If you begin feeling short of breath, take a break between bites.

Asthma: When to Get an Allergy Test
If you think you may have allergies, talk with your health care provider about getting tested.

Asthmatics Need Yearly Flu Shot
Getting the flu can be serious business for people with asthma. That’s why it’s important to take steps to prevent it.

At the Market, a Long List of Shortcuts
Partly prepared foods, from marinated meats to cut-and-cleaned vegetables, can slash meal-making time.

Athlete's Foot
Athlete's foot is a fungal infection that thrives in hot, moist conditions and lives on the skin. You don't have to be an athlete to get athlete's foot.

Athletic Shoes: Lace Them to Fit
Simply lacing your shoes or sneakers properly, along with choosing a shoe that fits your foot correctly, can add comfort to your stride and prevent foot injuries.

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity
For some children, difficulty concentrating or very high physical energy levels (hyperactivity) interfere with social and academic tasks appropriate for their ages.

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) in Adults

Attention Deficit Disorder in Adults
ADD can have a significant social impact on a person's life, affecting relationships in the family and on the job.

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.

Attitudes of Winning Employees
Your attitude creates your feelings, mood and overall behavior. It helps determine how high you’ll go in an organization or how low you’ll stay.

Autism
Autism is a developmental disability, usually showing up in children before age 3. It may be the result of a disruption in the development of the brain before a baby is born.

Autism Has Many Faces
Autism is called a developmental disability because it starts during a child's developmental period -- before age 3.

Autonomic Neuropathy
If you have diabetes, controlling your blood glucose, or blood sugar, is important to help you feel well on a daily basis. It’s also vital to help prevent potentially serious complications such as nerve damage, or neuropathy.

Avoid Injury Around Barbecue Grills
Because barbecue grills are operated in a casual, relaxed atmosphere, they tend to be taken for granted. And that can lead to serious injury.

Avoid Injury When You Exercise
Staying active—getting regular exercise—is one of the best ways to minimize the effects of aging. Exercise helps prevent chronic illness and loss of function in older adults.

Avoid Soccer Injuries in Your Kids

Avoid the Top Mistakes in the Gym
Not progressing wisely—exercising too much, too hard, or too often instead of gradually working out longer and harder—is a common mistake made by many fitness enthusiasts. But it’s not the only one.

Avoiding Fall Allergy Triggers
If allergies bother you in the fall, you’re most likely sensitive to one or more molds, weeds, trees or grasses.

Avoiding Joint Injuries
Common injuries include a twisted ankle, sprained wrist, overextended elbow and damaged knee ligaments. Fortunately, you can take steps to help prevent joint damage.

Avoiding Non-Impact Eye Injuries
You may think wearing goggles is enough to protect your eyes, but many injuries can happen to your eyes that goggles won't prevent.

Avoiding Salmonella Infection
Salmonella causes diarrhea and gastroenteritis, and, rarely, typhoid fever. It is often spread through contaminated food or water.

Avoiding Those Common Running Injuries
Knowing about common injuries and how to prevent them can keep you on track toward achieving your fitness goals.


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