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Viral Hepatitis Overview What is hepatitis? Hepatitis is inflammation of the liver. The liver is located in the upper right part of the belly (abdomen). Hepatitis can be caused by a virus that leads to damage of liver cells. Hepatitis has 2 types: Acute hepatitis. This type

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

Labor What is labor? Labor is when the uterus contracts again and again to help the cervix open (dilate) and to thin (efface). The contractions get stronger with time. This causes the fetus to move through the birth canal. Labor usually starts 2 weeks before or after the

Congenital Heart Disease According to the American Heart Association, about 9 of every 1,000 babies born in the U.S. have a congenital heart defect. This is a problem that occurs as the baby's heart is developing during pregnancy, before the baby is born. Congenital heart defects

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

Nutrition to Reduce Cancer Risk Research shows that a healthy diet may help lower your risk of getting certain cancers. In this sheet you can learn more about nutrition and its role in preventing cancer. You may need a different diet if you have cancer or are getting cancer

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

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