High Blood Pressure : Risk Factors

Risk factors are conditions that increase the chance of developing hypertension. Some of these risk factors can be changed to reduce the risk of developing hypertension or to lower blood pressure: being overweight or obese lack of physical activit...

Starting at what is commonly called middle age, operations of the human body begin to be more vulnerable to daily wear and tear; there is a general decline in physical, and possibly mental, functioning. In the Western countries, the length of life is often into the 70s. The upward limit of the life span, however, can be as high as 120 years. During the latter half of life, an individual is more prone to have problems with the various functions of the body and to develop any number of chronic or fatal diseases. The cardiovascular, digestive, excretory, nervous, reproductive and urinary systems are particularly affected. The most common diseases of aging include Alzheimer's, arthritis, cancer , diabetes, depression, and heart disease.

In general, only about three percent of the elderly living independently in the community will experience depression. That figure increases to around 20 to 30 percent of persons in nursing homes or with chronic illnesses like emphysema, heart disease or diabetes.

Aging is the process of growing older, a process that includes physical changes and, sometimes, mental changes. "The aged" refers to elderly people, those who have reached an advanced age.

Through the daily grapevine of popular culture, we get the message over and over that young is better than old. But new research contradicts these age-old stereotypes. Indeed, studies suggest that the older you get, the happier you become.

Starting at what is commonly called middle age, operations of the human body become more vulnerable to daily wear and tear. There is a general decline in physical, and possibly mental, functioning. In the Western countries, the length of life often extends into the 70s. However, the upward limit of the life span can be as high as 120 years. During the latter half of life, an individual is more prone to problems with the various functions of the body, and to a number of chronic or fatal diseases. The cardiovascular, digestive, excretory, nervous, reproductive, and urinary systems are particularly affected. The most common diseases of aging include Alzheimer's, arthritis, cancer , diabetes, depression , and heart disease .

13 Real-Life Age-StoppersYou can't turn back the clock, but you can slow down the aging processes often associated with getting older.Says Robert N. Butler, M.D., president and CEO of The International Longevity Center in New York City: "Many of t...

This term is used by demographers when referring to an increase over time in the proportion of older persons in the population. It does not necessarily imply an increase in life expectancy, that "people are living longer that they used to," or that they are dying on average at older ages, although these phenomena are usually observed in association with aging of the population. From the demo-graphic perspective, the principal determinant of aging in the population is a decline in the birth rate. When fewer children are born than in earlier years, the consequence is a decline in the proportion of younger persons, and it necessarily follows that there is an increase in the proportion of older persons. The proportion is further weighted toward older persons by improved survival rates from conditions that can cause death in early life, that is, in infancy and childhood and among younger adults. In the industrialized nations, a more recent phenomenon has been an increase in life expectancy that has accompanied improved survival rates, and this, of course, contributes further to the increased proportion of older persons. However, if birth rates remain high, there is also an increase in the numbers, and therefore in the proportion, of infants and children in the population. This happened in many industrialized nations after World War II, during the "baby boom" period, roughly 1946 to 1960. There was a secondary surge in birth rates when the children born during that period reached peak reproductive ages (the echo of the baby boom) in the 1980s and 1990s. The baby boom and its echo temporarily retarded and in some nations even briefly reversed the long-term trend toward smaller families. This trend began in the Western industrial nations before the 1920s and continued through the 1930s, aggravated by the Great Depression, but persisting through good times as well as bad. Although it is true that in the past, declining birth rates were primarily responsible and reductions in mortality rates played little part in the process of aging the population, in the future it can be expected that increases in life expectancy will contribute more to the process. Little further reduction in mortality rates in the first half of life can be expected to occur, so increased life expectancy, or mortality rate reduction, in the second half of life, from age forty-five onward, is beginning to exert more influence on the structure of the population (the shape of the population pyramid). This too is contributing to an increase in the proportion of older persons in the population, and over the coming decades, other things being equal, this will play an increasingly prominent role in the process. J OHN M. L AST ( SEE ALSO : Birthrate ; Demography ; Life Expectancy and Life Tables ; Mortality Rates ; Population Pyramid )

Consider this fact: More than half the people who ever lived to be 65 are alive today. That alone suggests that myths about aging based on past generations may not hold true for this one. Let's look at 10 of those myths, and see what experts have to say about them.

Discusses what we can do, if anything, to put ourselves in the category of those who live to advanced ages.

Art, music, and other challenging activities may play a role in keeping the mind alert, even for those affected by dementia.

Not only do baby boomers expect to live into their 80s or 90s, but they are expecting to be independent, one expert says.

No need to search for a secret formula to erase the effects of getting older. You already have the power to keep yourself feeling young for years.

This report helps you avoid common health woes, such as heart disease, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, and sight and hearing disorders.

Beyond giving you energy to conquer a multitasking day, your diet can help slow the tick-tock of the biological clock that governs the aging process.

This report can help you preserve your independence and remain in your home in your later years. Includes information on financial and legal planning, finding and working with a caregiver, and useful home modifications.

This report takes a view of the whole woman and helps her choose the most practical strategies for making her midlife transition.

A practical guide to the causes of memory loss and the steps you can take to improve your ability to learn and remember for a lifetime.

New research indicates that-while not exactly a fountain of youth-exercise can reverse some of the physiological signs of aging and reduce overall disease and mortality.

Like the rest of your body, your eyes naturally change throughout your life. These changes occur gradually and become apparent in later years, as the structures in and around your eyes become less efficient. For most people, the first sign is presbyopia, deterioration of close-up vision. Luckily, this problem can be treated with reading glasses or bifocals.

Learn how to put together a caregiving plan, draw on useful services, and address legal, medical, and financial planning issues. Also, find advice on involving family members, handling daily tasks, and maintaining your well being.

Aimed at older adults, this report provides practical advice on how to avoid common and often deadly accidents at home.

This report describes causes and treatments for the most common age-related skin problems. It also reviews the newest and most effective cosmetic treatments, including anti-aging creams, laser procedures, Botox injections, and surgeries.

This report details how physical changes that occur as you age can affect your sexuality.It includes information on the therapies and medications that can help you overcome sexual problems.

While regular physical activity is a cornerstone of wellness at any age, it’s during your 30s, 40s and 50s that exercise becomes especially important.

Physical removal of age spots can be costly and painful. Topical treatments take time to work, but are generally safe, cost less than removal procedures, and are easier on the skin.

It's never easy to ponder death, whether you're facing the demise of a loved one or the end of your own life. But taking some time to think and plan ahead for those final hours or days can be a future blessing for your family and others close to you. Most people want a say in all life's important decisions. The same should be true regarding decisions surrounding death, such as what kind of medical treatment you receive. But what if you're unable to make your decisions or wishes known? Say, for example, you are unconscious and can't speak or hear. Unless you have spoken with your loved ones and taken certain legal actions, there may be confusion and stress over what those decisions will be and who can make them for you.

Risk factors are things that make you more likely to have a disease or condition. Do you know your risk factors for high blood pressure?

Detailed information on high blood pressure, also called hypertension, including symptoms, diagnostic, and treatment information

Detailed information on starting an exercise program to lower your risk of heart disease

Obesity is an abnormal accumulation of body fat, usually 20% or more over an individual's ideal body weight. Obesity is associated with increased risk of illness, disability, and death. The branch of medicine that deals with the study and treatment of obesity is known as bariatrics. As obesity has become a major health problem in the United States, bariatrics has become a separate medical and surgical specialty.

Obesity is a term used to describe body weight that is much greater than what is considered healthy. If you are obese, you have a much higher amount of body fat than lean muscle mass. Adults with a body mass index (BMI) greater than 25 but less than 30 are considered overweight. Adults with a BMI greater than 30 are considered obese. Anyone more than 100 pounds overweight or with a BMI greater than 40 is considered morbidly obese.

Detailed information on obesity, including obesity causes, obesity health effects, obesity medical treatment, obesity surgical treatment, maintaining weight loss, and obesity prevention

Obesity is the condition of having an excessive accumulation of fat in the body, resulting in a body weight more than 20% above the average for height, age, sex, and body type, and in elevated risk of disability, illness, and death.

Detailed information on obesity, including obesity facts, obesity causes, and obesity health effects

Detailed information on obesity, including obesity facts, obesity causes, and obesity health effects

We've all heard warnings, yet many of us keep gaining weight. More than half of American adults are overweight or obese, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Weighing too much is harmful, but the location of those extra pounds can worsen the risk.

Detailed information on obesity, including cause, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention

Detailed information on obesity, including obesity facts, obesity causes, and obesity health effects

Obesity , defined as a body mass index of 30 or greater, is an epidemic in the United States and other industrialized nations, and it is rapidly becoming one in developing nations. As countries transition to westernized lifestyles, obesity tends to increase. Obesity rates vary from as little as 2 percent in some Asian countries to as much as 75 percent in some Pacific nations. There are more than 300 million obese persons in the world, and more than 750 million overweight persons. In the United States, 34 percent of adults are over-weight and 30.5 percent are obese. Between 1980 and 2000, the percentage of overweight children ages six to eleven doubled, from 7 percent to 15 percent, and the percentage of overweight adolescents ages twelve to nineteen tripled, from 5 percent to 16 percent (Ogden, et al.). In Europe, the thinnest country is Sweden, with about 10 percent obesity, while the fattest is Lithuania, with about 79 percent obesity. The sad fact is the prevalence of obesity appears to be increasing in all countries. An obese person has a 50 to 100 percent increased risk of premature death compared to someone of normal weight. In the United States, more than 300,000 deaths a year are attributable to obesity. Obesity is associated with type 2 diabetes , coronary heart disease , stroke , hypertension , elevated blood cholesterol , some cancers (e.g., colon, endometrial, kidney, gallbladder, and postmenopausal breast cancer ), osteoarthritis , gallbladder disease, and respiratory disease. In addition, obesity is often associated with discrimination and prejudice, causing some obese people to suffer poor self-esteem and reduced quality of life. The health care costs attributable to obesity exceed $100 billion a year in the United States, more than 6 percent of the total health care costs.

With childhood obesity on the rise, should parents worry about the weight of their babies?

Detailed information on obesity, including obesity causes, obesity health effects, obesity medical treatment, obesity surgical treatment, maintaining weight loss, and obesity prevention

obesity increases the risk for illness from 30 serious medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease and several types of cancer.

Detailed information on obesity, including obesity facts, obesity causes, and obesity health effects

Detailed information on obesity, including obesity causes, obesity health effects, obesity medical treatment, obesity surgical treatment, maintaining weight loss, and obesity prevention

Detailed information on obesity prevention strategies during infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood

Detailed information on obesity prevention strategies during infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood

Obesity is an abnormal accumulation of body fat, usually 20% or more over an individual's ideal body weight. Obesity is associated with increased risk of illness, disability, and death.

As your body mass index goes up, so does your risk for health problems. Your blood pressure goes up and so do your cholesterol levels.

Detailed information on obesity prevention strategies during infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood

Detailed information on obesity prevention strategies during infancy, childhood, adolescence, and adulthood

Obesity is an abnormal accumulation of body fat, usually 20% or more over an individual's ideal body weight. Obesity is associated with increased risk of illness, disability, and death .

The analysis of more than 15,000 young people in the United States found about a third of the cases of depression and obesity among those teens could be attributed to being from families with low incomes.

Detailed information on obesity treatment, including obesity medical treatment, obesity surgical treatment, obesity gastric bypass (malabsorptive) surgery, and obesity gastric stapling (restrictive) surgery

Detailed information on obesity treatment, including obesity medical treatment, and obesity surgical treatment

Detailed information on obesity, including obesity causes, obesity health effects, obesity medical treatment, obesity surgical treatment, maintaining weight loss, and obesity prevention

Detailed information on obesity treatment, including obesity medical treatment, obesity surgical treatment, obesity gastric bypass (malabsorptive) surgery, and obesity gastric stapling (restrictive) surgery

Detailed information on obesity treatment, including obesity medical treatment, and obesity surgical treatment

Detailed information on obesity treatment, including obesity medical treatment, obesity surgical treatment, obesity gastric bypass (malabsorptive) surgery, and obesity gastric stapling (restrictive) surgery

Detailed information on obesity treatment, including obesity medical treatment, and obesity surgical treatment

Detailed information on obesity treatment, including obesity medical treatment, obesity surgical treatment, obesity gastric bypass (malabsorptive) surgery, and obesity gastric stapling (restrictive) surgery

Detailed information on obesity treatment, including obesity medical treatment, and obesity surgical treatment

There is growing evidence that obesity increases a man's risk of developing prostate cancer. The reasons are still unclear, but obesity affects hormone production, which could in turn be influencing cancer growth.

Term describing a condition where the ratio of body fat to total body mass is higher than accepted norms. Obesity is a relative term used to describe the condition where the ratio of body fat, which is measurable, to total body mass is higher than the accepted norm. {Obesity and overweight are often used interchangeably, but their technical definitions are different. Overweight refers to an excess of body weight that includes all tissues—fat, bone, and muscle. Obesity refers specifically to an excess of body fat.) Body fat is about 15% of total body mass for the normal adult male and about 20-25% for the normal adult female. A general rule of thumb is that an individual is probably obese when his or her weight exceeds the maximum weight on standardized height and weight charts by more than 20%. However, during childhood and adolescence, when the body is growing and developing, the proportion of body fat is slightly higher than for a mature adult. In addition, the proportion of body fat fluctuates during various stages of growth. The percent of U.S. children who are overweight is estimated to be between 20-30%, but there is no firm definition of obesity for children and adolescents. The body mass index (BMI) and average weight-for-height charts provide general guidelines. Pediatricians and parents should evaluate an individual child's weight in the context of his stage of growth, level of physical activity, and general dietary habits. Richard P. Troiano, a researcher at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, encourages parents and physicians to observe children and adolescents in their environment over time, and cautions against making weight a disease. Adults should help children see the relationship between eating and exercise choices and weight.

Extreme obesity plagues more than a million teens and young adults, experts estimate. What's a parent to do?

Detailed information on weight and weight control, including healthy tips for maintaining your weight

Detailed information on obesity medical treatment, including obesity prescription medications and supplements, obesity behavioral strategies, and psychotherapy for eating disorders

Detailed information on obesity medical treatment, including obesity prescription medications and supplements, obesity behavioral strategies, and psychotherapy for eating disorders

Detailed information on obesity medical treatment, including obesity prescription medications and supplements, obesity behavioral strategies, and psychotherapy for eating disorders

Detailed information on obesity medical treatment, including obesity prescription medications and supplements, obesity behavioral strategies, and psychotherapy for eating disorders

Obesity is an abnormal accumulation of body fat, usually 20 percent or more over an individual's ideal body weight. Obesity is associated with increased risk of illness, disability, and death. The branch of medicine that deals with the study and treatment of obesity is known as bariatrics. As obesity has become a major health problem in the United States, bariatrics has become a separate medical and surgical specialty.

Bariatric surgery, which helps extremely obese people lose weight by reducing the size of the stomach and intestines, carries a higher risk of death than previously believed, new research shows. Three studies, published October 19 in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found death rates of 3% to 5% for middle-aged adults and more than twice that high for patients 65 to 74, the Associated Press (AP) reported. Among patients 75 or older, 40% of the women and half of the men died, the AP story said.

Exploring the causes and consequences of America's growing epidemic of obesity.Obesity is not a new problem. Forty years ago, 4 of every 10 Americans were overweight or obese. But obesity is a growing problem, and it’s growing quickly; today, two of every three Americans need to lose weight. In the 1960s, obesity was an epidemic; today, it’s a pandemic.

Detailed information on obesity surgical treatment, including gastric bypass surgery, and gastric stapling surgery

Detailed information on obesity surgical treatment, including gastric bypass surgery, and gastric stapling surgery

Detailed information on obesity surgical treatment, including gastric bypass surgery, and gastric stapling surgery

Detailed information on obesity surgical treatment, including gastric bypass surgery, and gastric stapling surgery

More than 19 million Americans have type 2 diabetes, and millions more have a condition that puts them at high risk for developing it.

The American Diabetes Association estimates at least 20.1 million people in the United States have pre-diabetes. Pre-diabetes means having a blood sugar level that is higher than normal, but not yet persistently high enough to be considered type 2 diabetes. By taking steps to control your blood sugar, you can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes from developing.

What is responsible for obesity, how to treat it.At one time it was commonly believed that overweight and obese people were compulsive eaters, anxious, depressed, under stress, or trying to compensate for inadequate upbringing, family conflict, or other deficiencies in their lives. But since then, when almost everyone seems to be getting heavier and obesity has become a national political issue, both experts and the public are turning away from the idea that weight gain is a personal emotional problem. Instead the trend toward obesity has become a subject for biologists and sociologists, regarded as the physical consequence of a general social condition. It’s become less clear what role psychotherapists and other mental health professionals should play in managing the problem.

America is more overweight and out of shape than ever. The result? Soaring medical costs and lost productivity. The U.S. government is working to change that with "Healthy People 2010," its latest effort to show us that national health demands personal health. The drive includes 10 "leading health indicators," modeled after our leading economic indicators.

A study claims that obese people are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression, but the findings do not prove that the conditions are causally related to each other.

The prevalence and consequences of obesity and how to treat it; explanation of BMI and waist-to-hip ratio.

Detailed information on maintaining weight loss, including weight loss benefits, weight loss maintenance strategies, and weight cycling

Detailed information on maintaining weight loss, including weight loss benefits, weight loss maintenance strategies, and weight cycling

Detailed information on maintaining weight loss, including weight loss benefits, weight loss maintenance strategies, and weight cycling

Detailed information on maintaining weight loss, including weight loss benefits, weight loss maintenance strategies, and weight cycling

Portion sizes are bigger today, and that increase has contributed to the growing numbers of overweight or obese Americans.

Each overweight or obese American spends $700 more a year on medical bills than trim neighbors, one expert says.

With two out of three Americans overweight or obese, it's become a community problem. The solution requires cooperation from public and private institutions.

Obesity has become a public health crisis in the United States, in part, because Americans are consuming more calories than they did 30 years ago. A large part of that increase in consumption can be pinned on a greater use of foods prepared away from home -- those ready-to-eat items available at restaurants, grocery store food counters and fast-food eateries.

Children whose parents are overweight or obese are at higher risk for becoming obese themselves, studies have shown. One study, in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that for a child under 10, having an obese parent more than doubled the child's risk for becoming an obese adult.

Obesity is the most common health problem facing children, child health experts say. More than 30 percent of children and teens are overweight, and 15 percent are obese.

True or false? Most overweight people got that way because they're self-indulgent weaklings without the will power to say no to super-sized french fries and fudge-slathered ice cream.

We've all heard warnings, yet many of us keep gaining weight. More than half of American adults are overweight or obese, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Many obese adults don't believe they are obese. A small survey (104 adults ages 45 to 64 were polled) found that 71% of normal-weight people placed themselves in the correct weight category, as did 73% of overweight people. However, only 15% of obese people identified themselves as obese. The Associated Press reported April 9 on the survey, done by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the CDC, an adult who is 5 feet 10 inches tall is overweight at 174 pounds and obese at 209 pounds.

Experts in one study say the study shows the limitations of the Body Mass Index (BMI) as a measure of obesity, especially because it doesn't account for weight that is muscle rather than fat. A study of 90,000 U.S. women, described in the second article, says the risk of death jumps sharply for extremely obese women -- those at least 90 pounds overweight.

The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) is warning that obesity during pregnancy increases the risk of several complications, including high blood pressure, a serious condition called preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. The ACOG opinion, published in the September issue of Obstetrics & Gynecology, says obese women also are more likely to miscarry, to need a Caesarean section, and to have excessive bleeding and infection after a Caesarean section. Babies of obese women are more likely to be stillborn, be born prematurely and have spinal cord abnormalities called neural tube defects. The risks affect women with a body mass index (BMI) of 25 to 30, and are even higher for women with a BMI of more than 30.

Experts are challenging a recent, widely reported study that suggested being overweight is not associated with early mortality.

I am 19 years old and weigh 300 pounds. I have tried diets and they don't work. I have had a physical and am healthy except for my weight. I would like to have stomach banding surgery done. Am I a good candidate for this procedure?

The fact is, you might not care as much about looks as your wife does, but that fat around your abdomen is no laughing matter. A man's potbelly often warns of later problems ranging from heart disease to cancer, diabetes, arthritis, back pain and sleep apnea.

Smoking is the inhalation of the smoke of burning tobacco encased in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Casual smoking is the act of smoking only occasionally, usually in a social situation or to relieve stress . A smoking habit is a physical addiction to tobacco products. Many health experts now regard habitual smoking as a psychological addiction, too, and one with serious health consequences.

Question: What are the negative effects of smoking? Answer: Smokers have an increased risk of the following: Lung cancer; Lung disease; Heart attack; Heart disease; Hypertension; Stroke; Oral cancer; Bladder cancer; Pancreatic cancer; Cervical cancer; Pregnancy complications; Low birth weight babies; Early menopause; Lower estrogen level for women; Facial wrinkles. Children of smokers have an increased risk of the following: Sudden infant death syndrome; Respiratory infections; Lung cancer; Ear infections.

When you smoke, toxins are carried by your blood to every organ in your body. At the same time, the carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke keeps red blood cells from carrying as much oxygen as normal.

Use of cigarettes and other tobacco products to engage in a habit that almost always leads to addiction. Every day 3,000 young people light up their first cigarette; every year a million teenagers become regular smokers. Adolescent smoking has risen steadily throughout the 1990s, following a sharp decline in the 1970s that leveled off in the 1980s. A 1994 report by the office of the U.S. Surgeon General found that approximately 28% of teens smoked in 1991 and 1992. By 1995 a survey of high school students released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the prevalence of teen smoking had increased to 34.8%. The study also found that smoking was most prevalent among white teenagers (38%), followed by Hispanics (34%), and blacks (19%). In addition to smoking more, teenagers are also starting to smoke earlier. The average teen smokes his or her first cigarette at the age of 13, becoming a regular smoker at 1444. A 1996 survey by the Public Health Service found that 21% of eighth graders and 30% of tenth graders surveyed smoked. The harmful effects of teenage smoking are known to be both short-term and long-term. During adolescence, smoking interferes with ongoing lung growth and development, preventing the attainment of full lung function. Teenagers who smoke are less fit than their nonsmoking peers and more apt to experience shortness of breath, dizziness, coughing, and excess phlegm in their lungs. They are also more vulnerable to colds, flu, pneumonia, and other respiratory problems. Smoking for even a short time can produce a chronic smoker's cough. In addition to respiratory problems and a diminished level of overall well-being in adolescence, teenage smoking is also responsible for health problems in adulthood. It is estimated that one-third of the teenagers who start smoking each year will eventually die of diseases related to tobacco use—diseases that will shorten their lives by an average of 12-15 years. Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), and stroke. The 1994 Surgeon General's report links teenage smoking to cardiovascular disease in both adolescents and adults. The same report cites evidence that the length of time a person has smoked has a greater impact on the risk of developing lung cancer and other smoking-related cancers than the number of cigarettes smoked—in other words, starting to smoke at an early age is an even greater health risk than being a heavy smoker. Several factors have been cited as inducements for teenagers to begin smoking. It is generally agreed that the most important is peer pressure. Having friends who smoke makes smoking appear desirable to teens and makes them feel different or left out if they don't smoke also. (Many teenagers overestimate the prevalence of teen smoking.) At parties or in other social situations, smoking can help teenagers mask or cope with feelings of insecurity or self-consciousness. They also use it—as adults do—to help them cope with a broad range of Stressors and negative feelings. Other factors cited as playing a role in teenage smoking include curiosity, boredom, and the desire to rebel against parents and other authority figures. Teenagers are much less likely to model parental smoking behavior than that of their peers. The main impact parents can have on teen smoking is to actively discourage their children from smoking by discussing its harmful effects and to be supportive of their children in other areas of their lives. The 6.2 billion dollars that the tobacco industry spends every year on advertising has also been shown to have a significant effect on teenage smoking. In spite of industry denials, teenagers are a crucial market for cigarette manufacturers. Since the vast majority of people who smoke start before the age of 18, this is the prime period during which tobacco companies must make their appeal to

Right away, you may cough, wheeze, and have a sore throat—that’s the tar clogging up your lungs. You may also have a headache, feel dizzy, and be nauseated—that’s the nicotine in your brain. Over time, you risk lung and throat cancer, and lung diseases like emphysema and bronchitis.

Smoking is the inhalation of the smoke of burning tobacco encased in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Casual smoking is the act of smoking only occasionally, usually in a social situation or to relieve stress . A smoking habit is a physical addiction to tobacco products. Many health experts now regard habitual smoking as a psychological addiction, too, and one with serious health consequences.

Smoking during pregnancy reduces oxygen and blood flow to your baby. This may cause bleeding problems that can put your pregnancy at risk.

Hear the facts about smoking from those who have been doing it for a few years. Find a smoker or two. Ask a few questions. See if their answers sound something like these.

Ex-smokers' risk of heart disease may eventually approach that of a lifetime nonsmoker, but their risk of lung cancer is less likely to fade, even after long periods of time.

Smoking is the inhalation of the smoke of burning tobacco that is used mostly in three forms: cigarettes, pipes, and cigars.

One of the major triggers for asthma attacks is cigarette smoke. Cigarette, pipe or cigar smoke is especially harmful to people with asthma because it damages the cells in the lungs that make the protective coating lining the bronchial tubes.

Life may seem out of control, but you're really making progress. You're going through withdrawal, which is how your body recovers from smoking.

Quitting smoking is one of the best things you can do to keep your heart disease from getting worse. Smoking reduces oxygen flow to your heart, speeds plaque buildup, and increases your risk for heart attack.

When you are trying to quit, the support of friends, coworkers and family members can make a big difference.

Detailed information on respiratory diseases and smoking, chronic bronchitis, emphysema, lung cancer

Everybody knows smoking is bad for your health. Now here's something you may not know: Smoking is bad for your looks. It's true.

The most common reasons include: "Smoking gives me more energy. I smoke to keep from slowing down. I reach for a cigarette when I need a lift. When I'm tired, smoking perks me up."

Do you have healthy gums? You may kiss them goodbye if you're a smoker.

Detailed information on teens and smoking

Smoking damages your arteries, and it’s thought that the damaged arteries in the discs and joints in your back may lead to pain and injury.

Teens who smoke are more likely to quit if they can be convinced to participate in a cessation program that emphasizes the health risks of smoking, provides motivational encouragement and coping skills, and encourages a healthy overall lifestyle.

For most people, the best way to quit smoking is some combination of medicine, a method to change personal habits and emotional support.

Smoking is an important and preventable cause of death and illness. However, as more money has been spent on smoking cessation programs, the incidence of cigarette smoking has risen. In 2002, 48 percent of men and 12 percent of women in the world were smokers (World Health Organization). Tobacco consumption increased from 1,100 million individuals during the early 1990s to 1,300 million by the year 2000 (United Nations Economic and Social Council). At this rate, the number of tobacco-related deaths is projected to reach more than 9 million by the year 2020. The number of tobacco-related deaths increased from 4.2 million to 4.9 million between 2000 and 2002, meaning that more than nine people die due to smoking-related illnesses every minute. Research indicates that tobacco causes more than twenty categories of fatal and disabling diseases, including lung cancer , cardiovascular disease, and respiratory diseases. However, tobacco is very addictive, and the majority of smokers have difficulty quitting even when they have a medical condition. For example, a 2000 study of 15,660 adults by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality found that 38 percent of people with emphysema, 25 percent of people with asthma , 20 percent of people with hypertension and cardiovascular problems, and 19 percent of people with diabetes continue to smoke. Although smoking was responsible for their health conditions, they perceived that, since their health conditions already exist, quitting would not have an affect on their future health and well-being. A recent area of concern related to tobacco use has been nonsmokers' exposure to second-hand smoke. Parental smoking has been proven to contribute to increased rates of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in addition to chronic illnesses in children such as asthma, bronchitis, colds, and pneumonia . Pregnant women who chew tobacco, smoke, or are exposed to second-hand smoke have a higher risk of miscarriage and of giving birth to low birth weight babies, who are prone to infection. Women who smoke are more likely to be victims of primary and secondary infertility, to have delays in conceiving, and to have an increased risk of early menopause and low bone density ("Current Issues and Forthcoming Events"). Most women are unaware of these dangers. Not only can the expectant mother place her unborn fetus in danger, but she can also place herself at risk for future smoking-related diseases and early mortality. An illustration of cigarette smoke entering the lungs. Cigarette smoke contains over 4,000 chemicals, many of which are toxic or carcinogenic. Repeated inhalation of the smoke causes permanent damage to internal organs and reduces the body's ability to fight infection. [Todd Buck/Custom Medical Stock Photo, Inc. Reproduced by permission.] Quitting smoking at any age improves life expectancy. The 2002 Cancer Prevention Study examined the benefits of smoking cessation in 877,243 men and women in the United States. Life expectancy of smokers who quit before age thirty-five was extended by 8.5 years in men and by 7.7 years in women. The study found that smokers who quit at any age are subjected to meaningful life extensions (Taylor, et al.). In addition to a life free from smoking-related diseases, an individual who quits smoking can experience increased longevity. SEE ALSO C ANCER ; H EART D ISEASE ; L OW B IRTH W EIGHT I NFANT ; N UTRITIONAL D EFICIENCY ; P REGNANCY . Daphne C. Watkins

Every day, nearly 6,000 teens and pre-teens try cigarettes for the first time, according to the American Lung Association. A third of these first-timers will end up becoming smokers.

When people consider the cost of smoking, they usually focus on the cost of the cigarettes alone. But that's only the first step.

Among other things, keep a personal benefits log. Write down the benefits you experience from being smoke-free (for example, I can smell flowers again!) Write the specific occurrence, the date it first happened, and your reaction.

A smoker's recovery plan includes listing those activities that you have chosen to help reduce the pressures of nicotine withdrawal and staying smoke-free.

The personal motivation list will help you identify the benefits of quitting, for you, for your family, and for your friends.

I know that smoking is very bad for me. I've cut down to one cigarette after lunch and another after dinner each day, with two or three more on most weekend nights when I socialize. I really enjoy smoking, but I want to know if I'm harming myself.

Ethyl alcohol, or ethanol, is the most commonly used drug in the world. Pharmacologically, alcohol is classified as a central nervous system depressant. Like other depressants, in small doses alcohol slows heart rate and respiration, decreases muscular coordination and energy, dulls the senses, and lowers inhibitions—resulting in feelings of relaxation and greater sociability. Large amounts of alcohol can result in depression of the various body systems, resulting in coma or death. The immediate physical effects of alcohol depend on the amount and frequency of drinking, while the mental and emotional effects are influenced by the mood of the drinker and the setting in which drinking takes place. Two physical effects resulting from prolonged, heavy alcohol use include tolerance and withdrawal. Alcohol tolerance refers to the need for increased amounts of alcohol to achieve the same level of intoxication. For example, five or six drinks may be needed to achieve the same effects produced by one or two drinks when the individual first began drinking. Alcohol withdrawal, on the other hand, refers to a number of physical and psychological reactions an individual experiences when significantly reducing or stopping prolonged heavy drinking. Symptoms of withdrawal include nausea, vomiting, anxiety, and hand tremors. An interaction of biological, psychological, and environmental factors come into play in the development of drinking behaviors and problems. For example, some individuals may be genetically predisposed to alcohol problems, but whether or not they actually experience negative alcohol consequences will also depend upon their immediate social and physical surroundings, such as family drinking patterns and alcohol availability, as well as their drinking habits.

This report includes information on recognizing the symptoms of problem drinking, treatment techniques, coping with a loved one's drinking, and overcoming denial.

Alcoholism is defined as alcohol seeking and consumption behavior that is harmful. Long-term and uncontrollable harmful consumption can cause alcohol-related disorders that include: antisocial personality disorder , mood disorders (bipolar and major depression) and anxiety disorders.

It's important to understand how alcohol and drugs can affect your health and well being.

Besides having trouble with school and relationships, teenagers taking drugs may display emotional extremes with irritability, anger and changes in sleep patterns.

Excessive drinking can cause potentially fatal conditions, not only high blood pressure, but also damage to the brain, heart or liver; diabetes and stroke.

Like cancer or heart disease, alcoholism is a primary chronic disease with its own symptoms and causes. The disease is progressive and often fatal if not treated.

Effective treatment for alcohol dependency is available, but treatment rates among alcohol abusers are low because of lack of awareness and embarrassment.

Each year, about 100,000 deaths in the United States are related to alcohol consumption. Learn more about the effects of abusing alcohol by taking this quiz.

Kidney disease is any disease or disorder that affects the function of the kidneys. This may include: Acute kidney failure; Acute nephritic syndrome; Analgesic nephropathy; Atheroembolic renal disease; Chronic kidney failure; Chronic nephritis; Congenital nephrotic syndrome; End-stage renal disease; Goodpasture syndrome; Interstitial nephritis; Kidney cancer; Kidney damage; Kidney infection; Kidney injury; Kidney stones; Lupus nephritis; Membranoproliferative GN I; Membranoproliferative GN II; Membranous nephropathy; Minimal change disease; Necrotizing glomerulonephritis; Nephroblastoma; Nephrocalcinosis; Nephrogenic diabetes insipidus; Nephropathy - IgA; Nephrosis (nephrotic syndrome; Polycystic kidney disease; Post-streptococcal GN; Reflux nephropathy; Renal artery embolism; Renal artery stenosis; Renal disorders; Renal papillary necrosis; Renal tubular acidosis type I; Renal tubular acidosis type II; Renal underperfusion; Renal vein thrombosis.

This guide discusses ways to recognize, prevent, and treat the most common types of kidney disease, such as kidney stones, glomerulonephritis, and chronic kidney disease.

Detailed information on kidney disorders

Detailed information on kidney conditions, including kidney function, nephrology, kidney problem causes, kidney disease symptoms, and 1 labeled, full-color anatomical illustration

"I thought my life was perfect," Sean Elliott says, "and then one day I went to see my doctor and he told me I had a rare form of kidney disease. Suddenly, I realized that I'd have to fight a battle to save my athletic career -- maybe even my life."

Too often, diabetes leads to kidney disease. But it doesn’t have to. When kidney problems are caught early, you can take steps to prevent more serious kidney disease.

Kidney disease is a stealth illness. It may often be silent for many years -- until it has reached an advanced stage.

Kidney ProblemsThe kidneys may fail due to problems with their blood vessels or filtering units. Such problems may be caused by an illness that affects the whole body.

Detailed information on urology, the branch of medicine concerned with the urinary tract in both genders, and with the genital tract or reproductive system in the male

What Are the Kidneys?Your kidneys are located near the back of your torso, about even with the lowest ribs.

Is there a correlation between kidney disease and loss of memory or ability to concentrate?

Three common signs of kidney disease are also strong risk factors for cardiovascular disease, according to a new study.