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Cancer Overview What is cancer? Cancer is an abnormal growth of cells. The whole body is made of cells that act and grow in controlled ways as the body needs them. Cells are controlled by genes. The genes in any cell in the body can be damaged. Then the cell can grow out of

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) What are sexually transmitted infections (STIs)? STIs are infections passed from person to person through sexual contact. They may also be called STDs for sexually transmitted diseases. Millions of new cases are diagnosed every year in the U

Watching Your Weight Why do you need to watch your weight? According to the CDC, more than 7 in 10 U.S. adults older than age 20 are either overweight or obese. Why is excess weight a concern? It may cause new health problems or worsen ones you already have. Staying at a healthy

Arthritis Diagnosis Diagnosing arthritis may be difficult. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. Many symptoms are similar among the different conditions affecting the joints. Arthritis may be generally categorized into the following groups: degenerative arthritis

For Parents: Signs That Your Child Is Being Bullied Bullying is very common. About 1 in 5 children and teens ages 12 to 18 report that they were bullied over the last 12 months. Bullying can cause kids to feel depressed or anxious. Kids who are bullied can see their grades drop

Overview of Diabetes Complications What complications are linked to diabetes? Complications linked to diabetes may include: Heart disease. This is often caused by an extra buildup of plaque on the inner wall of a blood vessel (atherosclerosis). The plaque buildup limits blood

Your Child's Asthma What causes childhood asthma? Researchers continue to learn what causes asthma. It is not fully understood. The following things play a part: Genetics. Asthma runs in families. Allergies. Some allergies are more common in people with asthma. Allergies also

Wisdom Teeth Extraction What are wisdom teeth? Wisdom teeth are the last 4 permanent teeth to appear in the back of the mouth at the top and bottom. They often first appear in young adults between the ages of 17 to 21. They are also called third molars., If wisdom teeth do not

Smoking and Heart Disease The American Heart Association (AHA) says diseases caused by smoking kill more than 440,000 people in the U.S. each year. Most new smokers are children and teens. Smokers have a higher risk for lung disease and other respiratory problems, such as

Antibiotics What are antibiotics? Antibiotics are powerful medicines used to treat certain bacterial infections. Antibiotics don't cure all infections. And antibiotics that are used when not needed can be harmful. There are 2 main types of germs that cause most infections. These