Keeping a healthy weight is good for your overall health. Being overweight increases your risk for many types of diseases and health problems. If you eat more calories than your body needs, the extra calories are stored as body fat. The best and healthiest way to lose weight is to decrease the number of calories … Continue reading
The urinary tract is the body’s drainage system for removing waste and extra water. It includes two kidneys, two ureters, a bladder and a urethra. Urinary tract infections, or UTIs, are the second most common type of infection in the body. You may have a UTI if you notice: – Pain or burning when you … Continue reading
Tobacco use is the most common preventable cause of death. About half of the people who don’t quit smoking will die of smoking-related problems. Quitting smoking is important for your health and provides many benefits. Soon after you quit, your circulation begins to improve, and your blood pressure starts to return to normal. Your sense … Continue reading
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a form of arthritis that causes pain, swelling, stiffness and loss of function in your joints. It can affect any joint but is common in the wrist and fingers. More women than men get rheumatoid arthritis. It often starts between ages 25 and 55. You might have the disease for only … Continue reading
Exercising your neck can make it stronger, more flexible and reduce neck pain caused by stress and fatigue. The neck muscles are attached to the bones of the shoulders, spine, and head. The most common causes of neck pain are bad body posture, bad movement, and arthritis of the neck. Overusing the muscles, especially if … Continue reading
Overview Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of your arteries. Each time your heart beats, it pumps blood into the arteries. Your blood pressure is highest when your heart beats, pumping the blood. This is called systolic pressure. When your heart is at rest, between beats, your blood pressure … Continue reading
Overview Cholesterol is a waxy substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. If your arteries are damaged, cholesterol is sent through the blood to repair the damage. Cholesterol combines with other substances and sticks to the walls of your arteries. This is called plaque. Plaque can narrow your arteries or even block … Continue reading
Diabetes means your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. With type 2 diabetes, the more common type of diabetes, your body does not make or use insulin well. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose get into your cells to give them energy. Without insulin, too much glucose stays in your blood. … Continue reading