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How Much Alcohol Is Too Much?

What counts as a drink? Contrary to popular belief, drinking beer or wine is not safer than a shot of liquor. Rather, think about how much alcohol is in your drink, and not the type of alcohol you drink. In the US, one standard drink usually has about 14 grams (or 0.6 ounces) of pure alcohol. This amount of pure alcohol is generally found in 12 ounces of beer (usually 5% alcohol), 8 ounces of malt liquor (7% alcohol), 5 ounces of wine (12% alcohol), and 1.5 ounces or a “shot” of distilled...

Does Being a Person of Color Increase Your Health Risks?

The US has become more ethnically diverse in the last century, and in general our health and the quality of care we receive has improved. Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case for some people of color. In fact, certain medical conditions and health behaviors—and the factors that can lead to them—are more common or severe among some people of color. Below are facts about 5 such conditions and behaviors, followed by steps you can take to help prevent them. Diabetes. Among adults in the US...

Protect Yourself From Lyme Disease

Lyme disease is one of the most commonly reported tick-borne illnesses in the U.S. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that about 300,000 people are diagnosed with Lyme disease in the U.S. every year. Lyme disease is caused by the bite of tiny Lyme-infected black-legged ticks (sometimes called deer ticks), yet 30% to 50% of people with the disease do not recall being bitten by a tick. Although people may think of Lyme as an East Coast disease, it is found throughout the U.S...

My Story: Lupus and Pregnancy, What If?

Having lupus and wanting to have a child I always knew I wanted to be a mother—and to be one at a relatively young age too. It was something I started thinking seriously about after I graduated from college. The issue for me was that I was diagnosed with lupus when I was 17. For many women with lupus, it is possible to have a successful pregnancy. However, all lupus pregnancies are considered high risk, for both mother and baby. That made the decision to get pregnant the biggest health-related...

Latest Guidelines on Blood Pressure for Optimal Health

High blood pressure is sometimes called a “silent killer.” It often has no symptoms, which means many people don’t even know they have it. That’s why a healthcare provider often checks your blood pressure at medical appointments. Having high blood pressure can be dangerous as it increases your risk for heart attack, stroke, and other serious conditions.If you have high blood pressure (called hypertension), you may be familiar with the numbers 140/90. The top number—140—is called systolic and the...

Mammogram Myths and Facts

In the fight against breast cancer, screening mammograms can help healthcare providers check for breast cancer in women who don’t have any signs or symptoms of the disease. For example, among women 40 to 74 years of age, mammograms—X-ray pictures of the breast—have been shown to help reduce the number of breast cancer deaths. At age 50, regular screening mammograms are recommended for all women. However, mammograms are recommended as early as age 40 for women who have a family history of breast...

Real People

Esther’s Breast Cancer Journey: From How I Told My Kids to How I Give Back

Life is really good right now. I just had a birthday, and I’m happy to have had it, too! Getting here was challenging, but I was raised to persevere. Here’s my breast cancer story. My hope is that it will help other women who are going through a similar experience and inspire them to lend a helping hand to others.My breast cancer journeyTwelve years ago, I found a lump in my breast. My doctor checked it out and didn’t think it was anything to worry about. The plan was to keep an eye on it. Three...

Living With Ulcerative Colitis

If you’re one of the almost 1 million people in the US living with ulcerative colitis, you’re probably well aware of the challenges of this debilitating and often unpredictable disease. Symptoms can be mild to severe and can get worse over time. Sometimes the disease may be active and symptoms are present. At other times, few or no symptoms are present (called remission). This can make it even more difficult for you to live your life. Read on to learn about ulcerative colitis and ways to manage...

5 Ways That May Help You Manage Pain

If you suffer from certain types of acute or chronic pain, there are alternative and complementary health approaches that may help you manage it. Acupuncture, deep breathing exercises, and yoga are just a few of the techniques that you may try to help manage your pain. Read more to learn about these and other pain management techniques. If you are experiencing pain, talk with your healthcare provider before trying any of these, or other, pain management techniques. Acupuncture Used to treat...

Exploring NASH - Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

What is NASH?Did you know that you can get liver disease even if you don’t drink alcohol? Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (or NAFLD) is a condition in which fat builds up in the liver. NASH (or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis) is a type of NAFLD that can damage the liver. NASH occurs when the fat buildup in the liver leads to inflammation (hepatitis) and scarring. NASH can be life-threatening, as it can cause liver scarring (called cirrhosis) or liver cancer. It is estimated that 3% to 5% of the...

What Is Bacterial Meningitis?

Even though they’re rare, outbreaks of bacterial meningitis often make the news, which can lead to people having questions about the disease, including what it is, how it is treated and spread, and how it can be prevented. Here are some basic facts about bacterial meningitis. What is bacterial meningitis? Bacterial meningitis is an uncommon but very serious infection of the membranes that surround the brain or spinal cord. These membranes are called the meninges. Bacterial meningitis can be...

Can You Have Prediabetes and Not Know It?

While you have probably heard of diabetes, you may not be as familiar with the medical condition known as prediabetes. A person is said to have prediabetes when their blood sugar levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Even though it’s estimated that more than 1 out of every 3 adults (that’s 84 million people) in the US has prediabetes, 90% of them don’t know it. Studies have shown that most people with prediabetes develop type 2 diabetes within...