Diagnosis: Cancer: Puzzle: The When, Why, and Where of Cancer, The
What causes genes to mutate? Are there factors that set such events in motion? Scientists talk about ongoing research that may lead not only to a cure for certain types of cancer but also to prevention strategies that will lessen the impact of the d...
Diagnosis: Cancer: Lifestyle Choices that Reduce the Cancer Risk
Cancer is a disease that is influenced by lifestyle choices. Some researchers contend that eating right, staying physically active, watching your weight, and not smoking or exposing yourself to too much sun could reduce your risk of cancer by 60 to ...
Living with Cancer: Breast Cancer Prevention Trial, The
The Breast Cancer Prevention Trial, the first of its kind in the United States, was designed to see whether the drug tamoxifen prevents breast cancer in women who are at high risk of developing the disease. The 13,000 women who participated in the s...
Feels So Good...Hurts so Bad: Health Dangers of Smoking, The
Smoking is a dangerous habit. It is the leading source of preventable illness and death in the United States. There are over 4,000 chemical compounds present in the gases and particles that make up cigarette smoke. Some are poisonous; some irritate ...
Final Chapter: Hospice Care
Hospice care, palliative care for dying individuals, is lauded by patients and their families. It can be provided in the home or in specialized care settings, and allows patients and their families to experience love and support during their final d...
Weighing In: Factors that Contribute to Excess Weight
Why have so many people lost the battle to achieve and maintain a healthy weight? Some people blame metabolism for excess weight; others think it is a matter of willpower. Both factors are affected by a person's genes, perhaps a leftover survival me...
Weighing In: Obesity Epidemic, The
Despite the fact that more Americans are conscious about their weight and we have more low-fat foods and sugar substitutes, the incidence of obesity is increasing in the United States due to poor food choices and sedentary lifestyles. Obesity is def...
Working It Out: Relationship Between Exercise and Health
Technology has made life easier, but it has also made us less active. Nearly one-fourth of American adults are sedentary. Another one-third are not physically active enough to be considered fit. Studies show that exercise is vital to good health. It...