Tax Breaks for Losing Weight? For those who find the cost of losing weight an obstacle on the road to better health, certain weight-loss costs can now be claimed as tax-deductible medical expenses.

Heart Health Should Be The Front Line of Diabetes Care Intensive treatment of cardiovascular risk factors is vital for people with diabetes, according to a series of reports from the American Heart Association.

Generic Drugs: What You Need to Know An estimated 44 percent of all prescriptions in the United States are filled with generic drugs. Here are some frequently asked questions and answers about generic drugs.

Latest on Physical Activity Still Shows Exercise Gap While more than 60 percent of those recently surveyed get some physical activity during their leisure hours, only a little over 30 percent of the population actually meet current recommendations that define regular exercise.

Should You Take a Vitamin Supplement? Recent reviews in JAMA make a strong case for adults to use a daily vitamin supplement. Meanwhile, a position paper published last year in the Journal of the ADA emphasizes that decisions about supplements should be based on an accurate appraisal of scientific evidence and individual needs. So what should you do?

Keeping Cholesterol Under Control Like the literary split personality, it has a good side because it is needed for certain important body functions. But for many Americans, cholesterol also has an evil side. When present in excessive amounts, it can injure blood vessels and cause heart attacks and stroke.

Active at Any Size If you are a very large person, you can still be physically active. Start being more active and healthier - no matter what your size!

Physical Activity and Weight Control Regular physical activity, combined with healthy eating habits, is the most efficient and healthful way to control your weight. Learn all about the important role of physical activity and include it in your lifestyle.

Tips To Reduce Sodium Simple tips that can help cut down on the amount of sodium in your diet - from the foods you prepare to those you order when eating out.

New Cholesterol-Blocking Foods: Who Benefits? Several new products, including margarine, cereal, juice and snack bars, are drawing attention as possible weapons in the battle to lower blood cholesterol.

High Blood Cholesterol: What You Need to Know Your blood cholesterol level has a lot to do with your chances of getting heart disease. High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease. In fact, the higher your blood cholesterol level, the greater your risk for developing heart disease or having a heart attack.

The Benefits of Cholesterol Lowering Recent studies have shown that cholesterol lowering in people without heart disease greatly reduces their risk for developing CHD, including heart attacks and CHD-related death. This is true for those with high cholesterol levels and for those with average cholesterol levels.

What Makes Your Cholesterol High or Low? Your blood cholesterol level is affected not only by what you eat but also by how quickly your body makes LDL cholesterol and disposes of it. In fact, your body makes all the cholesterol it needs, and it is not necessary to take in any additional cholesterol from the foods you eat.

Heart protective benefits of red wine remain uncertain; Physicians urged to rely on proven ways to lower risk Top medical authorities are cautioning the nation’s health care professionals to downplay the popular but unproven supposition that drinking red wine can help ward off heart attacks.