Weight is measured in terms of body mass index (BMI). For adults, a healthy weight is a BMI of between 18.5 and 24.9. Overweight is a BMI of 25 to 29.9. A BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese.

Health experts say roughly 66 percent of American adults are overweight. The Obesity Society reports, 25.6 percent of Americans are obese. The extra weight is hard on the body and increases the risk for many types of chronic health problems, like heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, certain types of cancer, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, liver and gallbladder disease and respiratory problems.

Obesity in African Americans

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports rates of overweight and obesity are higher among African-Americans than whites. In a health survey conducted between 1999 and 2000, researchers found 69.6 percent of blacks and 62.3 percent of whites were overweight. There is a much higher disparity in rates of obesity, with 39.9 percent of blacks being obese versus 28.7 percent of whites. Among African-American women, four out of five are overweight or obese. Low-income African-American women have the highest risks of being overweight.

Read the rest of this entry »

Looking to make a change and lose some weight? I have reviewed the top diet on the internet and you can go and read over 200 comments people have made about why this diet has worked well for them, as well as some of the problems.

Tags: cancer, center for disease control, diabetes, gallbladder disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, liver disease, nurse, obesity, Obesity Society, osteoarthritis, physician, sleep apnea, Stephanie Ward, stroke, Temple University School of Medicine

This report and study is not new news to me and I would bet that you would agree that it make sense that losing sleep and not sleeping is really unhealthy.

Men have an increased risk of premature death if they have chronic insomnia along with a short sleep duration, researchers here said.

In a longitudinal study of more than 1,700 men and women followed for more than 10 years, men with insomnia and short sleep duration were almost five times more likely to die than men who had normal sleep, said Alexandros N. Vgontzas, M.D., professor of psychiatry and director of the Sleep Research Center at Penn State University Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pa.

Dr. Vgontzas reported the findings at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies.

“Until now, most studies had failed to show that insomnia, like sleep apnea, is associated with medical morbidity and mortality,” said Dr. Vgontzas. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: Alexandros N. Vgontzas, chronic insomnia, depression, director, Hershey, insomnia, Penn State University Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania, professor of psychiatry, professor of psychiatry and director, sleep apnea, Sleep Research Center, sleep-disordered breathing

You have tried eating like a baby in the name of ‘dieting’, spent hours in your local gym in the name of ‘workouts’, wasted hundreds of dollars on weight loss pills and supplements, and have even gone to the extent of procuring those attractive but useless exercise gadgets that claim to burn your fat effortlessly; yet, you are unable to lose a single pound of fat.

If this is you then weight loss surgery is the only way to go. While there are many types of weight loss surgeries available out there, most people seem to go for the gastric bypass. The gastric bypass surgery, even though it helps you lose weight, is risky. In this article I will tell you about the complications you can possibly encounter after undergoing the surgery.

Celebrities and Gastric Bypass

Gastric bypass has always been more or less popular, but it was made even more popular with celebrities such as Al Roker and Carnie Wilson going for it and losing weight successfully with its help. Now it is your turn to try it out.

It is a known fact that the key to successful weight loss lies in reducing your food intake. If you eat less than your normal diet, you would get rid of the extra pounds. However, it is easier said than done. Try as you might, you would never be able to reduce your food intake to the desired level because the constant hunger pangs won’t let you do so.

The only solution available to you is that of reducing the size of your stomach so that you don’t feel hungry even after reducing your food intake drastically. This is exactly what the gastric bypass surgery does for you, and this is the reason why it is so popular among the masses and celebrities alike.

Gastric Bypass Risks

Now let’s talk about the possible risks associated with the surgery. While weight gain can trigger a host of diseases such as heart strokes, kidney problems, digestion problems, sleep apnea, cancer, gout, asthma, diabetes, high blood pressure, hypertension, psychological problems, etc., weight loss achieved through gastric bypass can also cripple you.

Known complications associated with gastric bypass surgery are stones in gall bladder (or gallstones), anemia, hair loss or thinning of hair, osteoporosis, blood clotting, infections, ulcers, stomach stenosis, incisional hernia, and even possible death.

Your decision on Gastric Bypass

Now the ball is in your court. You have to take the decision about whether to go for the gastric bypass or not. Weigh the risks of obesity with those of the gastric bypass surgery, and then take the decision. You may also want to consult with your doctor or a health specialist, preferably someone specializing in bariatric surgery.

If you ask me though, I would suggest that you try losing weight with diet and exercise once again. Lots of people have lost weight this way, so there is no reason why you cannot. Both of them are not only risk-free, you would also gain a lot of extra weight loss benefits that are not available to those losing weight through gastric bypass. In short, you should consider gastric bypass only as your last resort.

Tags: Al Roker, anemia, Asthma, bariatric surgery, cancer, Carnie Wilson, diabetes, food intake, gallstones, Gastric bypass, Gastric Bypass Gastric bypass, gastric bypass surgery, gout, health specialist, high blood pressure, hypertension, Incisional hernia, obesity, osteoporosis, sleep apnea, strokes, surgery, weight loss surgeries, weight loss surgery

In good old times, when there was no video game, PSP, IPOD or computer, one needn’t worry about telling their kids to engage themselves in outdoor sports and exercises. Children would do it on their own, having no other (read better) choice. However, in this age of gizmos and gadgets, kids have become so much addicted to video games, TV and computers that rarely, if ever, do they venture out of home except for school classes, forget about exercising or playing sports.

As times change, parents need to change too. Now that kids no longer have any inclination for exercise, you, as a parent, need to be proactive about it, IF you want to ensure a healthy future for your kids, that is.

How would exercise benefit my kids, you may ask. Well, for starters, exercises would keep your kids fit, not only now but also forever, provided that they continue with the exercises. When kids are accustomed to leading an active life, there is little chance that they would become inactive as they grow into adulthood.

In fact, several studies have pointed out that people who lead active lives as kids usually continue with the same active lifestyle as adults; such people are much less likely to suffer from obesity, or obesity-related diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary diseases, sleep apnea, etc., than those who lead a sedentary lifestyle right from childhood.

Apart from making him physically strong and immune to diseases, exercises also make your child mentally healthy. A kid who exercises regularly is more likely to get good grades in exams, have more self-confidence, and be in a better position to socialize, than one who doesn’t exercise at all or exercises rarely. Again, these are not all lame speculations but rather proven scientific facts.

Now, here are some exercise tips for Kids:

a) Kids, being impatient by nature, won’t stick to anything, especially hard work, which lasts for more than half-an-hour. This is why kids shouldn’t be made to exercise for more than half-an-hour per day, unless they want to. If they exercise for too long, they are likely to become either bored or frustrated with their exercise routine, and that is something that you won’t want to happen.

b) Kids are least likely to be motivated to exercise if they have to go to a gym and do boring workouts. A much better alternative is to buy them a treadmill. Keep the treadmill at home and let your kids have fun with it.

c) Kids become bored very quickly, so make sure that you don’t force them to engage in the same workout day after day. For example, if your kids do the treadmill workout on the first day, have them do some hula hooping on the next day. Then send them on a scavenger hunt on the third day, tell them to play a sport like cricket or baseball on the fourth day, and engage them in relay race, swimming, skiing, or dancing on the fifth day.

With a variety of exercise activites for Kids to be done throughout the week, you can be rest assured that your kids would never become bored of exercises. Don’t forget to engage your kids in domestic chores too, as this would also help them stay fit.

Tags: baseball, coronary diseases, cricket, diabetes, high blood pressure, ipod, obesity, outdoor sports, skiing, sleep apnea, Swimming

Not too long ago, America was looked upon as the country of ‘obese population’. Today, this is no longer true. As western influences, particularly western lifestyle habits, continue to make headway into the rest of the world very swiftly, obesity is slowly becoming a worldwide problem. As waistlines continue to become wider and buttocks larger in size, we wonder whether obesity is soon going to turn into an epidemic worldwide.

Fortunately, unlike several other harmful diseases, obesity is preventable as well as curable. In my opinion though, prevention is better than cure. An obese teenager not only suffers physically but also mentally. In fact, when it comes to teens, obesity begets obesity.

When obese teens are ridiculed at by their peers, they become depressed. Consequently, they try to find solace and comfort in junk foods and eat more and more of them. This in turn worsens their health. This is why it is a good to prevent weight gain by monitoring the health of your teenage kids right from an early stage.

In any case, it is never too late to begin, so let’s get started. First, let me tell you how obesity could harm a teen:

1. Obese teenagers often suffer from depression for the reasons I mentioned above. They also suffer from low-self esteem, inferiority complex and irritability.

2. Just like their adult counterparts, obese teens also suffer from physical diseases such as sleep apnea, coronary diseases, kidney problems, high blood pressure, diabetes, etc. Additionally, recent studies point that that obese teens are more likely to die prematurely than teens of normal body weight.

3. Obesity can affect your child’s education and career in a big way. Obese teens are more likely to have their education and job applications rejected. They are less likely to get a cushy job as most companies consider the health of a prospect in a big way before employing him.

4. Obese teens are more likely to have marital troubles than others. It is no secret than obese people usually snore in sleep. Believe it or not, snoring is one of the leading causes behind the growing number of broken marriages and divorces.

5. An obese teen is very likely to live in social denial. Being used to mistreatment of the society since his childhood, he would eventually accept it as part of life and continue to allow others to mistreat him. As time goes by, he would become more and more depressed and might even want to end his life when the torture becomes too much to bear.

I am not exaggerating anything; I have seen so many obese teenagers grow and I can say that not many of them are leading happy lives as adults. If you wish to offer your kid a healthy, happy and long life, there are a few things you should do.

Teens take their parents as role models and follow their lifestyle habits. Therefore, you, as a responsible parent, can influence your kid’s lifestyle habits by following healthy habits yourself. Kids usually get attracted to junk foods after watching their parents enjoying them. By getting rid of your junk food habits and switching to healthy and organic foods, you would not only ensure a healthy and happy life for yourself but also your child.

Unless prescribed by a qualified doctor or nutritionist, a teenager shouldn’t be given any kind of diet pill or weight loss supplement. Many of these pills and supplements have harmful side effects which may do more harm than good to your teen kid.

Encouraging him to indulge in performance activities is another good way to overcome teenage obesity. These days, teenagers indulge more in video games and the like instead of playing sports which make them sweat, such as tennis, volleyball, baseball, etc. However you can reverse it by actively participating in these sports. As your teenage kid sees that you are enjoying a certain sport, he would soon emulate you and play it.

Remember that as a parent you are fully capable of influencing your kid’s lifestyle. Use that power now to insure a healthy and positive life for your teenage kid. Remember that it is never too late to begin.

Tags: America, baseball, coronary diseases, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, job applications, junk food habits, nutritionist, obesity, sleep apnea, Tennis, volleyball

Obesity is bad enough, but teenage obesity is worse. If kids and teenagers start getting overweight, it only goes on to show how bad our lifestyle habits have become and how little concern we have for our health. Today, almost fifteen per cent of teenagers are obese, that too just in America (I am not even counting the world figure, which would obviously be higher), and if we don’t take the right measures to curb it, it would only get worse with time.

Now why should we be so concerned about obesity? Obesity is a cause of concern because it not only makes a person look fat and ugly but also inflicts him with several killer diseases such as diabetes, sleep apnea, heart problems, kidney troubles, high blood pressure, etc.. Just imagine your teen as a diabetic. Obesity in itself is fatal as well; recent studies point out that people who suffer from teenage obesity are more likely to die prematurely than others.

Don’t believe me? Actually many people used to think that the concept of ‘obesity related death’ is a joke or rumor, that is, until in 1989 the National Institute for Health decided to sponsor a study designed to monitor the health of about one million women over an extended period of time.

During the study, the lifestyle habits of these women, including diet, level of activity, etc. were monitored. The study continued over a period of 12 years, and most of the women who volunteered to participate in it were nurses employed in state-run hospitals located in various parts in USA, including New York, Kentucky, Michigan, Texas, etc. All of them were aged between 22-44 years.

The participants were asked to answer a series of questions pertaining to their health, including the lifestyle habits they followed during their adolescence, their entire medical history, etc. Midway during the study, as many as 710 participants died.

The researchers conducting the study found out that the reason behind their premature deaths was that almost all of them were obese in their teens. It is then that these researchers concluded that people, in this case women, who suffer from teenage obesity are three times more likely to die prematurely than those who are of normal weight.

As you can see, teenage obesity influences the future of your kid in a big way. If you don’t want your children to die prematurely like those nurses, it is time that you start monitoring the lifestyle habits of your teenage daughters and sons. There are too many fad diets and diet pills out there, all claiming to help you with weight loss but I would rather recommend healthy eating and an active lifestyle for your teenage kids. Keep in mind that if you wish your kids to live a long life, preventing teenage obesity is the only way to ensure that.

Tags: America, diabetes, high blood pressure, Kentucky, Michigan, National Institute for Health, New York, obesity, sleep apnea, Texas, United States

In Canada we get a lot of stories in the news about obesity in the US and sometimes I thing that we look at ourselves as immune to the obesity issue. Of course that is not at all true and bad habits in the US are the same as the bad habits in Canada. While many people look at the magic BMI number of 30 as the divider of obese or not (I of course hate the whole BMI numbering) I found this article in the Calgary Herald newspaper here in Canada.

According to the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey, 2.7 per cent of the population had “class III” obesity, meaning a BMI of 40 or more. But Padwal and others believe the prevalence of extreme obesity is now closer to four or five per cent, or about 1.5 million Canadians who are severely obese. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: bad habits, bariatric surgery, BMI, Calgary Herald, Canada, Canadian Cancer Society, cancer, David Lau, depression, diabetes, director of the bariatric surgery program, fatty liver, gallbladder disease, health survey, Heart and Stroke Foundation, heart disease, hiatus hernia, high blood pressure, joint pain, leg ulcers, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Montreal's Royal Victoria Hospital, Nicolas Christou, obesity, obesity surgery, Rome, sleep apnea, stroke, surgery, the Calgary Herald, United States, weight gain, Weight Loss

I have written a little bit in the past about how important it is to get a good nights sleep but I never really laid out a plan for the best way to get a good nights sleep so I thought that i would do that now.

First of all I believe that it is important to get enough sleep. I know that we all hear about, and sometimes even meet people that can get by just fine on four hours sleep. The people at the other end of the spectrum that need 11 hours sleep are never going to admit it becasue they will be looked at as being lazy no matter how unfair that is.

How much sleep do you need?

So to get a good nights sleep firstly it is important to analyze exactly how much sleep that you get on average during a week. I am not talking about how musch time that we spend in bed, or how we were tired one day but caught up the next, no really we need to just look from monday to Monday, see how musch sleep we tend to get and break it down from there. Most people have an alarm that wakes them up on Monday to Friday, and then maybe go to bed late Friday and Saturday which inevitably leads to sleeping in on Saturday and Sunday mornings.

To be fair in this regard I wake up by myself around 6:30 every morning and maybe 30 minutes or so later on the weekends as I have a job that allows me to start anytime I would like between 6:30 and 8:30, of course the kids would get me up if I slept in on the weekend and I do not want that.

What can hurt your sleep?

There are a multitude of sleep breaking habits that many of us have. First of all make sure that you are not consuming anything that will really hurt your sleep. Coffee is one of the big culprits for people that have sleep problems.  That mid-afternoon coffee may be a great pick me up after a bad night sleep but it is going to hurt tonights sleep. I have fallen into the same trap, if only I get my energy up now I can get a good night sleep tonight.

The next issue will be heavy food or spicy food late at night. Although both may seem like they are fin they will definitely affect your sleep. Alcohol is the same, some people think that having a night cap is a good way to get tired to sleep but really it will lead to sleeping shallow and not as deep as you need.

Exercise is a good thing to do to reregulate your system so that you can sleep well. Do not exercise too late at night but a late afternoon or early evening  workout will do wonders for making sure that you get a full nights sleep.

Preparing to sleep

Next thing to remember is the dreaded reading or watching TV in bed. Beds are for sleep. Only lie in bed when you are ready to fall asleep and do not go to bed until you are really tired and ready to sleep. One of the big problems that people have is to get into bed fully awake and lie there thinking about what happened today at work, what they have to grocery shop for and anything else that just pops into your head in the dark. One great tip on this that I got lately is to read on the couch in the living room later in the evening and then once you can not read a couple of pages without keeping your concentration then you know it is time to go to sleep.

Well if this helps great. The problem for some people though is that they get enough sleep they think but are still tired. There are a couple of issues that maybe t work if you do not feel rested in the morning. First thing to notice is that if you are sleeping but occasionally waking up then you may have some additional stress in your life that you need to deal with. Another problem that you may have is Sleep Apnea. Sleep Apnea is a real disorder that is characterized by bad bad breathing that forces you to wake or nearly wake thoughout the night. If you have a problem with either of these issues then it is a good idea to check with a doctor and get some further help.

Tags: deep sleep, energy, good night sleep, head, heavy food, real disorder, sleep apnea, sleep problems, spicy food

My brother in law told me at one point that he had sleep apnea. The next week my boss, who never slept well and had a problem staying up in meetings, told me that he had sleep apnea and after having it treated he was really happy to be sleeping better and to be more rested all of the time.

Sleep Apnea is a very exhausting condition that causes you to wake up a bit all night long all the time so that you never get a restful night sleep. A horrible thought for everyone and real hell if you are the one that is suffering from this.

What is Obstructive Sleep Apnea?

The most common kind of sleep apnea is called Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome. Sleep apnea means “cessation of breath.” It is characterized by repetitive episodes of upper airway obstruction that occur during sleep, usually associated with a reduction in blood oxygen saturation. In other words, the airway becomes obstructed at several possible sites. The upper airway can be obstructed by excess tissue in the airway, large tonsils, a large tongue and usually includes the airway muscles relaxing and collapsing when asleep. Another site of obstruction can be the nasal passages. Sometimes the structure of the jaw and airway can be a factor in sleep apnea.

What are the symptoms of Sleep Apnea?

* excessive daytime sleepiness
* frequent episodes of obstructed breathing during sleep. (The patient may be unaware of this symptom — usually the bed partner is extremely aware of this).
Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: airway obstruction, apnea, deformities, depression, ENT surgery, heart attacks, heart disease, high blood pressure, home healthcare, impotence, insomnia, insurance, jaw forward, laser, maxillofacial surgery, Nelson Powell, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, oral mouth devices, plastic surgery, respiratory distress, respiratory equipment, Robert W. Riley, scar, sleep apnea, Sleep Technologist, Stanford University Sleep Disorders Center, strokes, surgery, U.S. Food and Drug Administration

I found this intro to a weight loss program sitting on the Yahoo site. It not only gives you a weight to height chart similar to the Body Mass Index that I hate so much (I have a bigger body type and would look kind of freaky at my mandate 180 pounds). The article that I have copied here also has lots of health benefits of having a healthy weight.

If you are overweight, you are more likely to develop health problems, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, certain types of cancer, gout (joint pain caused by excess uric acid), and gallbladder disease. Being overweight can also cause problems such as sleep apnea (interrupted breathing during sleep) and osteoarthritis (wearing away of the joints). The more overweight you are, the more likely you are to have health problems. Weight loss can help improve the harmful effects of being overweight. However, many overweight people have difficulty reaching their healthy body weight. Studies show that you can improve your health by losing as little as 10 to 20 pounds.

Weight-for-height chart
Use the weight-for-height chart below to see if you are overweight. Find your height in the left-hand column and move across the row to find your weight. If your weight falls within the moderate to severe overweight range on the chart, you are more likely to have health problems. Weights above the healthy weight range are less healthy for most people.

What Is Your Waist Measurement?
If you are a woman and your waist measures more than 35 inches, or if you are a man and your waist measures more than 40 inches, you are more likely to develop heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and certain cancers. You may want to talk to your doctor or other health professional about the health risks of your weight.

Heart Disease and Stroke
Heart disease and stroke are the leading causes of death and disability for both men and women in the United States. Overweight people are more likely to have high blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke, than people who are not overweight. Very high blood levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (blood fats) can also lead to heart disease and often are linked to being overweight. Being overweight also contributes to angina (chest pain caused by decreased oxygen to the heart) and sudden death from heart disease or stroke without any signs or symptoms.

The Good News
The good news is that losing a small amount of weight can reduce your chances of developing heart disease or a stroke. Reducing your weight by 10 percent can decrease your chance of developing heart disease by improving how your heart works, blood pressure, and levels of blood cholesterol and triglycerides.

Type 2 Diabetes
Noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (type 2 diabetes) is the most common type of diabetes in the United States. Type 2 diabetes reduces your body’s ability to control your blood sugar. It is a major cause of early death, heart disease, kidney disease, stroke, and blindness. Overweight people are twice as likely to develop type 2 diabetes as people who are not overweight. You can reduce your risk of developing this type of diabetes by losing weight and by increasing your physical activity.

Controlling Diabetes with Weight Loss
If you have type 2 diabetes, losing weight and becoming more physically active can help control your blood sugar levels. If you use medicine to control your blood sugar, weight loss and physical activity may make it possible for your doctor to decrease the amount of medication you need.

Cancer
Several types of cancer are associated with being overweight. In women, these include cancer of the uterus, gallbladder, cervix, ovary, breast, and colon. Overweight men are at greater risk for developing cancer of the colon, rectum, and prostate. For some types of cancer, such as colon or breast, it is not clear whether the increased risk is due to the extra weight or to a high-fat and high-calorie diet.

Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a serious condition that is closely associated with being overweight. Sleep apnea can cause a person to stop breathing for short periods during sleep and to snore heavily. Sleep apnea may cause daytime sleepiness and even heart failure. The risk for sleep apnea increases with higher body weights. Weight loss usually improves sleep apnea.

Controlling Diabetes with Weight Loss
If you have type 2 diabetes, losing weight and becoming more physically active can help control your blood sugar levels. If you use medicine to control your blood sugar, weight loss and physical activity may make it possible for your doctor to decrease the amount of medication you need.

Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a common joint disorder that most often affects the joints in your knees, hips, and lower back. Extra weight appears to increase the risk of osteoarthritis by placing extra pressure on these joints and wearing away the cartilage (tissue that cushions the joints) that normally protects them. Weight loss can decrease stress on the knees, hips, and lower back and may improve the symptoms of osteoarthritis.

Gout
Gout is a joint disease caused by high levels of uric acid in the blood. Uric acid sometimes forms into solid stone or crystal masses that become deposited in the joints. Gout is more common in overweight people and the risk of developing the disorder increases with higher body weights.

Gout notes:
Over the short term, some diets may lead to an attack of gout in people who have high levels of uric acid or who have had gout before. If you have a history of gout, check with your doctor or other health professional before trying to lose weight.

Gallbladder Disease
Gallbladder disease and gallstones are more common if you are overweight. Your risk of disease increases as your weight increases. It is not clear how being overweight may cause gallbladder disease.

Not Too Fast
Weight loss itself, particularly rapid weight loss or loss of a large amount of weight, can actually increase your chances of developing gallstones. Modest, slow weight loss of about 1 pound a week is less likely to cause gallstones.

Slow and Steady
Slow and steady weight loss of no more than 1 pound per week is the safest way to lose weight. Very rapid weight loss can cause you to lose muscle rather than fat. It also increases your chances of developing other problems, such as gallstones, gout, and nutrient deficiencies. Making long-term changes in your eating and physical activity habits is the best way to lose weight and keep it off over time.

Eat Better
Whether you are trying to lose weight or maintain your weight, you should take a look at your eating habits and try to improve them. Try to eat a variety of foods, especially pasta, rice, bread, and other whole-grain foods. You should also eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. These foods will fill you up and are lower in calories than foods full of oils or fats.

Little Loss – Big Benefit
If you are overweight, losing as little as 5 to 10 percent of your body weight may improve many of the problems linked to being overweight, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. For example, if you weigh 200 pounds and are considered overweight on the weight-for-height chart, you would need to lose 10 to 20 pounds. Even a small weight loss can improve your health.

Tags: angina, blindness, cancer, cancer of the colon, cancer of the uterus, cancers, chest pain, diabetes, diabetes mellitus, gallbladder disease, gallstones, gout, heart disease, heart failure, high blood pressure, joint disease, joint disorder, joint pain, kidney disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, stroke, United States, Yahoo