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Scars What is a scar? A scar is the body's natural way of healing and replacing lost or damaged skin. A scar is often made of fibrous tissue. Scars may be formed for many different reasons. They may be due to infections, surgery, injuries, or inflammation of tissue. Scars may

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

Car Seat Safety and Distracted Driving How important are seat belts and car seats? According to the CDC, motor vehicle accidents are a leading cause of death for children in the U.S. Thousands of children are at risk because they are not buckled up. Car seats and seat belts must

Mammograms and Breast Health What is a mammogram? A mammogram is an X-ray image of your breast. It's used to find and diagnose breast disease. A mammogram may be done if you have breast problems such as a lump, pain, or nipple discharge. A mammogram is also done as a screening

Asthma and Exercise Asthma is a long-term (chronic) condition causing swelling and narrowing of the airways. The muscles around the airways tighten, the lining of the airways swells, and extra mucus is produced. These changes make it harder to breathe. Triggers are things that

Fever in Children What is a fever? Most healthcare providers define a fever as a temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher when taken rectally or 100°F (37.8°C) or higher when taken by mouth. You might get slightly different numbers depending on how you take your child's

Overview of Obesity Facts about obesity Overweight and obesity together make up one of the leading preventable causes of death in the U.S. Obesity is a chronic disease that can seriously affect your health. Overweight means that you have extra body weight. Obesity means having a

Staying Healthy After Menopause The key to staying youthful and active after menopause is good nutrition and regular physical activity. Nutrition after menopause As you age, your nutritional needs change. Before menopause, you should have about 1,000 mg of calcium daily. After

Preventing Obesity in Children, Teens, and Adults Facts about obesity Obesity is a long-term (chronic) disease. It affects growing numbers of children, teens, and adults. Obesity rates among children in the U.S. have doubled since 1980. They have tripled for teens. About 19 out

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