Nearly 8 percent of the U.S. population has diabetes and is at increased risk from numerous serious health complications including heart disease, high blood pressure, kidney failure, foot ulcers, eye problems and impaired hearing, according to...
According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million Americans have diabetes, and of those 90 to 95 percent have type 2 (new-onset) diabetes. These numbers are based on data acquired in 2007.
The first step in donating blood is registering at a blood bank or blood drive. In most cases, blood donors are asked to fill out a form requesting their name, address, phone number and other personal information. Donors must also show valid...
Smoking weed or marijuana while pregnant may increase the risk for various problems with the baby. Many studies have examined this topic with conflicting results, but at least some studies, noted below, have identified certain risks. Although an...
Kidney stone disease can be both a terrifying a painful experience. While there is no exact cause of kidney stones, there a number of genetic and lifestyle risk factors that contribute to kidney stone formation. Understanding such factors can help...
Hypertension is another name for high blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is a blood pressure reading under 120/80. When either the systolic (first number) is between 120 and 139, or the diastolic (second number) is between 80 and 89, you may...
The ankle joint, where the leg and foot meet, is vulnerable to a variety of problems that can lead to pain. That pain may be on the inside or the outside of the foot. Sometimes the pain resolves on its own with home treatment. Severe ankle pain...
Identifying your individual risk factors for a heart attack can ensure longevity and the ability to remain active throughout life. Individuals with a genetic tendency for heart disease should become vigilant about controlling risk factors for...
A triglyceride is fat, or lipid, according to Dr. Neil Campbell and his colleagues in "Biology." Triglycerides commonly circulate in the bloodstream and are stored in the body. Although triglycerides are needed to maintain good health, the risk...
Diabetes mellitus affects the body's ability to produce insulin, resulting in high blood sugar. Insulin changes blood sugar, or glucose, into energy to fuel the body's muscle and tissue. Serious health complications result from excess glucose...
Back pain is a common problem, affecting eight out of 10 individuals at some point, according to National Institutes of Health online medical encyclopedia Medline Plus. Obesity and a sedentary lifestyle are risk factors for developing sub-acute...
Events caused by sleep apnea and atrial fibrillation, two disorders that share many of the same risk factors and symptoms, can wake you up to a pounding heart. Unless you have an emotional condition, such as anxiety, your increased pulse rate may...
You likely hear about the importance of living a healthy lifestyle often. Whether it's on the news or in a magazine, there's no shortage of information about why it's important to be healthy. Still, though, an alarming number of Americans are...
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that affects 23.6 million people in the United States or 7.8 percent of the population, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse. This metabolic disorder is caused by either a lack of or...
There are certain behavioral and lifestyle risk factors as well as unchangeable risk factors for heart disease. Your gender, age and family history are contributory factors that cannot be undone. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, smoking,...
Diabetes is a serious medical condition that can lead to blindness, kidney failure, stroke and heart disease. While some risk factors, such as a family history of diabetes, cannot be controlled, there are lifestyle risk factors that can be...
The specific causes of diabetes are unknown. However, scientists believe that people with type 1 diabetes, the form people are born with, are genetically predisposed for the condition or were exposed to certain viruses. Type 2, or adult onset,...
Diabetes is a disease that affects the way the body processes glucose. A healthy person produces the pancreatic hormone insulin, which helps to regulate glucose levels during digestion. A person with type 1 diabetes does not produce enough insulin...
"Headache" is a general term that denotes pain in and around the skull, sometimes above or behind the eyes, and often including the upper cervical spine. Headaches vary dramatically in terms of intensity, frequency and type of pain, which can...
The Alzheimer's Association estimates that Alzheimer's disease, the leading cause of dementia, affects 5.3 million Americans and 35 million people worldwide. There are various causes of dementia and there are numerous treatments. Unfortunately,...
Having high blood pressure, or hypertension, may increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. Many factors may cause high blood pressure, including genetics, diet and lifestyle. Evidence from several sources suggests that consuming vitamin B9,...
Heart disease is the largest killer in America today. According to the Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, more than a million Americans have a heart attack each year, and half a million die from heart disease. Cholesterol plays a major role in heart...
Cholesterol is a necessary substance in the body that helps build healthy cells, protect nerves, and create hormones. It is a fat, or lipid, that circulates in your bloodstream and is either naturally produced in the body or ingested from animal...
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a chronic disorder that increases your risk for kidney damage, heart attack or stroke. Hypertension occurs when your heart pumps blood through arteries that are constricted, putting stress on artery walls....
If you have ever felt a burning sensation in your throat after eating, you might be experiencing the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. For some people, certain foods can trigger an episode. If you are overweight, you are at a...
It's unfortunate but true: many of us don't appreciate the value of exercise to our health until we've suffered a set-back and it's being prescribed as a way to recover. Nowhere is this a more true statement than with heart disease. It can also be...
As a mom, your kids have likely taken over your life, and your own life and health have taken a backseat to theirs. The problem is that living a healthy lifestyle is not only important for you but also beneficial to your children. Being healthy...
Diabetes and high triglycerides are a product of an unhealthy lifestyle. Elevated triglyceride levels may lead to diabetes, and the pair can be life threatening. When you eat more than your body needs, your body stores the extra energy as fat....
Alzheimer's disease is just one of many diseases that causes dementia, a loss of brain function. Some other causes of dementia, including Parkinson's disease, are associated with the neurotransmitter dopamine, but not Alzheimer's. The causes for...
Osteoporosis is a bone disease that leads to weak bones and an increased risk of fracture. Learn more about osteoporosis in this obstetrics video.