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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A bland diet consisting of bananas, rice, applesauce and toast was a standard remedy for children with diarrhea and other stomach issues. But not any more. What happened to the BRAT diet?

By Alia Hoyt

Just 10 percent of Americans with pancreatic cancer survive for at least five years. Why is the outlook so grim and what can be done about it?

By Alia Hoyt

Although it's far more common in women, men get breast cancer too. And they have a much higher fatality rate. Why is this and what can be done?

By Alia Hoyt

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We know science rarely says anything good about sitting all day. But did you know that if spend too much time on your bum, you could end up killing it?

By Kristen Hall-Geisler

Although the disease is associated with sailors of yore, it can affect anyone lacking vitamin C. And it still impacts some people today.

By Mark Mancini

The EPA deemed ethylene oxide a carcinogen in 2016, yet there are many cities across the country being polluted with the invisible gas.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

If you have a gut feeling something is off in your physical or mental well-being, a parasite could be the culprit.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

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There's been a steady uptick in Lyme disease across the United States since 1997, but the news isn't all bad.

By John Donovan

Spring is here, your pollen allergies have kicked in and you feel tired and sleepy. Could pollen have something to do with it? Or is it just the meds?

By Kathryn Whitbourne

Spring may be beautiful, but it's a tough time of year for anybody with allergies. That's why they rely on the daily pollen count for relief.

By Carrie Whitney, Ph.D.

Ever had that sinking feeling when you bite down on a sandwich and accidentally encounter a foreign object like a toothpick or a piece of plastic? If you spot it in time, you can spit it out. But what if you don't?

By Alia Hoyt

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A new study showed that about 10 percent of Americans who thought they had food allergies actually had food intolerance issues. So what's the difference?

By Dave Roos

The Spanish flu was the deadliest disease outbreak in modern history. How did it start and despite all our healthcare advances, why could it happen again?

By Alia Hoyt

Weather-driven sickness is a thing, but it isn't always the temperature that is the direct cause of the resulting illness.

By Michelle Konstantinovsky

Your body never freaked out before when you were stung by a bee. And yet one day, you have an anaphylactic reaction to a bee sting. What's the deal?

By Jesslyn Shields

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The long-standing cultural belief that milk products generate phlegm is a myth, according to a 2018 literature review.

By Jesslyn Shields

People who consume massive quantities of animal protein report experiencing the meat sweats, a sensation of feeling flushed and fatigued, accompanied by profuse perspiration.

By Patrick J. Kiger

With so many germs flying about this time of year it can be tricky to figure out what ails you. Take this quiz to test your cold versus flu IQ!

By Alia Hoyt

So far there have been no reports of people contracting zombie deer disease, but could it make the jump from animal to human?

By Laurie L. Dove

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It's kind of like the suicide booth on 'Futurama,' and its inventor says the Sarco should be available in 2018.

By Robert Lamb

Would you communicate your end-of-life wishes by tattoo? And would they be respected?

By Robert Lamb

Nearly half of all U.S. adults who have food allergies developed at least one of them during adulthood.

By Jesslyn Shields

A U.K. study that lasted years and involved thousands of people suggests a link between slow walking and cardiovascular mortality.

By Shelley Danzy

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It's called oral allergy syndrome, and it's caused when the immune system freaks out and overreacts to allergens.

By Shelley Danzy

We often feel unsure about what to say to a friend with a serious illness, so we fall back on clichés. Here are some better ways to help from people who've been through it.

By Alia Hoyt