Diseases and Conditions

Know how to prevent, treat and control the symptoms of various diseases and medical conditions. We explain what's happening in your body when disease strikes, and what you can do to feel better faster.

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When a long-time spouse dies, it isn't that uncommon for potentially life-threatening health problems to arise in his or her partner soon afterward, or for chronic conditions to take a grave turn. Could broken hearts be to blame?

By Cristen Conger

Planning on hitting golf balls from a small boat under a tree? Probably not after reading this article. But do you know the worst place to be in a thunderstorm?

By Katie Lambert

Just because you don't wrestle alligators or fight bad guys for a living doesn't mean your workplace is safe. Here are 10 of the most dangerous items in an office.

By Chris Opfer

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Dedicated, driven and ambitious are words to describe most inventors. So, is it fate or irony that led these five to die by the hands of their own work?

By Michael Franco

Danger is all around you. Some run from it, while others embrace risk and potential peril, welcoming it into their lives in the form of a game.

By Kevin P. Allen

Water is "the stuff of life," but it can also kill in crazy ways. Check out these five real-life stories with unfortunate endings.

By Terri Briseno

The Cancer Project’s latest billboard shows a pack of hot dogs coming out of a pack of cigarettes. At first I thought this was somewhat dramatic but the fact of the matter is that it’s a fair comparison.

By Sara Novak

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If you're blowing your nose every time you feel stuffed-up, stop. Learn more about blowing your nose less, save on congestion and tissue.

By Elizabeth Seward

Urinary Tract Infections are common, particularly amongst women, but do we always need antibiotics to clear them up? Learn more about curing a UTA naturally.

By Elizabeth Seward

Fat on a low cholesterol diet is not bad in small servings, especially if it is the type of good fat. Learn more about controlling your fat intake while on a diet.

By Elizabeth Scherer

You can get rid of gas with simple dietary changes and mild exercise. Learn how to get rid of gas from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

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Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition that can be triggered by allergies. Learn what epinephrine does for anaphylaxis in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

A cystic fibrosis newborn screening test is relatively inexpensive. Learn more about the cost of a cystic fibrosis test from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Try home remedies or pharmaceutical medications for quick relief from heavy congestion. Find out about the fastest way to cure heavy congestion from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

The life expectancy for someone with emphysema depends on many factors, including the severity of the condition. Learn more about the life expectancy for someone with emphysema from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

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COPD is a progressive disease that makes it more and more difficult to breathe as the disease worsens. Learn more about COPD by reading this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Emphysema is a disease in which air becomes trapped in the lungs, making it difficult to breathe out. Learn more about emphysema in this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is bacteria that infect immunocompromised people, and can cause pneumonia, and chronic respiratory problems in vulnerable people. Learn more about pseudomonas aeruginosa and its relationship to respiratory infections from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Exercise training has many positive effects on people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Learn more about the effects of exercise training on physical functioning patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by reading this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

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If you've ever broken a bone, chances are, it was one of these five. They're the ones we break more than any others in the body.

By Tom Scheve

Emphysema occurs when the small air sacs in your lungs become damaged and destroyed. Learn more about emphysema by reading this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

There are four stages of emphysema. Learn more about the stages of emphysema by reading this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Inflammation in your lungs can cause a condition called pleurisy, and, in very severe situations, an abscess in your lung. Learn what inflammation in your lungs can cause from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

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The hiccups mean that something has irritated the nerves in your diaphragm, causing a spasm. Read this article to learn what hiccups mean.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors

Common bowel symptoms of cystic fibrosis include constipation, diarrhea and foul-smelling stools. Learn more about bowel symptoms of cystic fibrosis from this article.

By HowStuffWorks.com Contributors