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Atherosclerosis What is atherosclerosis? Atherosclerosis is thickening of the walls of the arteries. It is also known as hardening of the arteries. It is caused by a buildup of plaque in the inner lining of an artery. Plaque is made up of deposits of fatty substances, cholesterol

Obesity in Children and Teens What is obesity in children and teens? Obesity is when a person has too much body fat. Without treatment, obesity can become a serious, long-term disease. What causes obesity in a child or teen? In many ways, childhood obesity is a puzzling disease

Coronary Heart Disease What is coronary heart disease? Coronary heart disease happens when the innermost layer of the coronary arteries becomes inflamed and narrowed. This is caused by a buildup of fatty deposits called plaque. These deposits may start in childhood and continue

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

COVID-19 What is COVID-19? COVID-19 is an infectious disease that most often causes a respiratory illness. You may hear it called COVID or coronavirus disease 2019. It's caused by a virus called SARS-CoV-2. There are many types of coronaviruses. They are a common cause of

Knee Pain and Problems Brief anatomy of the knee The knee is a vulnerable joint. It bears a great deal of stress from everyday activities, such as lifting and kneeling, and from high-impact activities, such as jogging and aerobics. The knee is formed by these parts: Tibia. This

Precocious Puberty What is precocious puberty? Puberty that happens early is called precocious puberty. This means a child's physical signs of sexual maturity develop too soon. This includes breast growth, pubic hair, and voice changes. These are known as secondary sexual

Encopresis What is encopresis? Encopresis is when your child leaks stool into their underwear. It's also called stool soiling. It's most often because of long-term (chronic) constipation. Encopresis happens to children ages 4 and older who have already been toilet trained. In

Constipation in Children What is constipation in children? Constipation means that a child has very hard stools and has fewer bowel movements than normal. It is a very common gastrointestinal (GI) problem. Signs that a child has constipation include: Having fewer bowel movements

Frequently Asked Questions: Mammograms What are the benefits of screening mammography? Today's high-quality screening mammogram is the best tool available to detect breast cancer before lumps can be felt or symptoms appear. You have a better chance of surviving breast cancer if