Monthly focus topics

Each month, we focus on a specific health topic. Here's what we've done over the last year or so.

Breast cancer - October 2008 Over the course of a lifetime, one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. The earlier you catch breast cancer, the better your chances are of surviving it.     Before your mammogram Breast self-exam Breast lumps and cancer Breast cancer Body mechanics - September 2008 Body mechanics is the way you move during everyday activities. Good body mechanics can protect your body, especially your back, from pain and injury.     Using good body mechanics Prevent back injury Beating backpack pain Asthma - August 2008 More than 20 million Americans have asthma, which causes attacks of wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and coughing.     Asthma Pediatric asthma Can't keep asthma under control? Dealing with exercise-induced asthma How to use an inhaler Vascular disease - July 2008 About 8 to 12 million Americans have vascular disease. Vascular disease is a term for a range of conditions that affect your body’s vascular, or blood vessel, systems.     Vascular disease Peripheral artery disease (PAD) How you can improve your vascular health Vascular walking program A safe summer - June 2008 Emergency room doctors call summer "trauma season" – especially for children. These tips can help your family enjoy a safe summer.     After hours care, urgent care or the emergency room (ER)? Bug bites and stings Getting enough water Going outside? Check the UV index Water safety Anxiety - May 2008 Everyone gets "stressed out" or anxious. For some people, anxiety can be so severe that it is difficult to function. Explore this struggle and ways to get help.     Anxiety inventory Anxiety attacks: Common symptoms Dealing with anxiety 15 million Americans suffer from social anxiety disorder Foot health - April 2008 People often forget about their feet, until they hurt. But good foot care can help you take care of other health issues.     Podiatry (foot care) specialists Diabetes: Caring for your feet 5 problems with feet men shouldn't walk away from Choose children's shoes carefully Eye health - March 2008 Vision problems can occur at any age. The sooner they're caught, the better the chances are of treating them effectively.     Seeing trees and the stars: Tom and Tommy's story Understanding your child's vision Understanding your vision Ophthalmology (eye care) Optometry (eye services) Food safety - February 2008 With tainted products and food recalls so often in the news, it’s no surprise that you might be worried about the food you eat.     Foodborne illnesses, a menu for disaster Protect yourself against food poisoning A grocery list of tainted products Solutions at a glance Being overweight or obese - January 2008 As we begin a new year, we explore the reason behind the common resolution to lose weight.     Overweight Obesity leaves more Americans with physical limitations Obesity and weight loss surgery: What you should know Losing weight Weight management for children Heart surgeries and procedures - December 2007 Your heart pumps oxygen-rich blood throughout your body. When your heart isn't working correctly or the arteries that carry blood to your heart become blocked, a heart procedure or surgery could save your life.     Angioplasty Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) Interventional procedures using cardiac catherization Pacemaker Diabetes management - November 2007 Diabetes is a lifelong disease that cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. Here's helpful advice from Dialog: Living with Diabetes, our free newsletter for people with diabetes.     Tips for using, maintaining your blood glucose meter Living well with diabetes, one workout at a time: Kathryn's story Lowering your risk of kidney disease, a common diabetes complication Sodium - October 2007 Most Americans eat twice the amount of salt that's recommended. Here's how to get your salt intake down to healthful levels.     Understanding sodium and low-sodium cooking Great low-sodium meals and flavorings