Many myths are associated with donating and receiving blood, including the threat of catching HIV, hepatitis, and other communicable diseases.

Immunizations aren't just for children. Adults need immunizations, too. Ask your doctor which of the following shots you may need.

Viruses are familiar from the common diseases they cause: colds and flu, for instance. But what are they, and how do they cause sickness?

The FDA notes that shellfish, especially mollusks, are more likely to cause foodborne illness than fish because shellfish pump water through their bodies.

Understanding the medical, social and developmental issues unique to international adoption can help parents prepare for the special challenges and special needs of these children.

The kitchen is the "dirtiest" room in the house, according to a recent study, because people are less likely to use strong cleaners and disinfectants in that room.

Your body usually tells you when you are in danger -- your heart races, you breathe hard, your palms sweat. But when it comes to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), you may not have any warning signs.

In most cases, sex during pregnancy is safe. In fact, with your doctor's approval, sexual relations can continue until delivery.

Over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers are safe and effective when used as directed. It's when a person doesn't follow the label's advice that problems may occur.

Your temperature is just as important as your blood pressure and pulse. All three give your provider a sense of how your body is functioning.

Amphetamine abuse is a growing problem in the United States. Each year, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration closes down hundreds of illegal laboratories producing these drugs.

It's hard enough to get grownups to wash up. Only two-thirds of adults wash their hands after they use the restroom, studies show.

As a woman, your body is much more sensitive to the effects of alcohol and more easily damaged than a man’s body. Because women have less water in their body than men, alcohol doesn't dilute as much and more of it gets absorbed into the blood. That’s why women suffer greater physical damage and often become more intoxicated than men when they drink identical amounts of alcohol.

Before you head to the airport for your vacation abroad, have you thought about your health? Do you know whom to call in an emergency?

People who are thinking about getting a tattoo should slow down and think twice.

Learning about your condition and doing your best to manage it can help you live a less fearful and more expansive life.

Advances in sanitation, education, and vaccines—as well as other public health projects—are responsible for increasing the average life span of Americans by 30 years.

You say you feel great, but what do you really know about your health? To find out, get the screening tests you need.

It's a condition in which too much iron is absorbed from food and retained in the body.

Doctors divide autoimmune diseases in two categories: Those that attack a specific organ and those that target many organs.