Body mass index (BMI) can help you see if your weight is raising your risk for health problems. It uses a formula to compare how much you weigh with how tall you are. A BMI lower than 18.5 is considered underweight. A BMI between 18.5 and 24.9 is considered healthy. A BMI between 25 and 29.9 is considered overweight. A...

Placebo and sham treatment are methods used in medical trials to help researchers determine the effectiveness of a drug or treatment. Placebos are inactive substances used to compare results with active substances. And in sham treatments, the doctor goes through the motions without actually performing the treatment. A...

This may sound obvious, but the best time to choose a hospital is when you don't need one. That way you have the time to compare all the hospitals in your area and think about what your preferences are. You will want to consider what type of hospital you prefer, the hospital's reputation, and how well the hospital fits...

A viral load test measures how much HIV is in the blood. It's first measured when you're diagnosed with HIV. This serves as the baseline. Future measurements are compared with it. With treatment, the viral load should go down. Within a few months, there should be very little virus in your blood.

What is health insurance? Health insurance helps you pay for your health care costs. Having insurance can help protect you from high medical costs, and it may help cover expenses if you need unexpected care. It also can make it easier to have routine doctor visits and preventive care. Insurance sometimes helps pay for...

Guides you through decision to have uterine fibroid embolization (UFE) for uterine fibroids. Explains what uterine fibroids are. Lists reasons for and against UFE. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Medicare is health insurance that the United States government provides for people ages 65 and older. It also covers some people younger than 65 who have disabilities and people who have long-term (chronic) kidney failure who need dialysis or a transplant. Medicare helps pay for most hospital services and doctor visits...

Guides you through the decision to have an amniocentesis test. Explains what amniocentesis is and how it is done. Discusses birth defects. Looks at the risks and benefits of amniocentesis. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Guides you through the decision to have chorionic villus sampling. Explains what CVS is and how it is done. Discusses birth defects. Looks at the risks and benefits of CVS. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Covers how you can start eating healthier. Looks at making small changes toward healthier eating habits. Offers advice on dealing with barriers to healthy eating. Includes how healthy eating can help lower your risk for disease.

Guides through decision to take sleeping pills for insomnia. Explains what insomnia is and how sleeping pills can help. Lists reasons for and against taking sleeping pills. Covers risks. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Guides you through decision to have surgery to treat uterine fibroids. Covers what happens during surgery. Lists reasons for and against surgery. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Guides through decision to treat abnormal uterine bleeding. Explains symptoms that doctor would look for before recommending treatment. Covers benefits and risks. Includes an interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Guides you through decision to have hysterectomy and oophorectomy to treat endometriosis. Covers risks of treating and not treating. Covers how well hysterectomy and removal of ovaries works. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Looks at forming a partnership with your doctor to manage your care. Suggests taking an active role by asking questions about treatment choices and costs, learning on your own, and prepping for office visits. Offers questions to ask when choosing a doctor.

Should you talk about cost with your doctor? A doctor's main focus is to help you get better, not to save you money. But if you speak up, your doctor may be able to help with both. Don't expect your doctor to know the exact cost of a drug or test or treatment. There are so many things that determine the cost of care...

Guides you through decision to have allergy-shot immunotherapy to treat allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and allergic asthma. Explains how allergy shots work. Covers who should not have them. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Discusses reasons to have or not have surgery or a procedure for varicose veins. Includes info on endovenous ablation, ligation and stripping surgery, sclerotherapy, external laser treatment, and microphlebectomy. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Guides through decision to have knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis. Describes other surgeries and treatment options used to decrease osteoarthritis pain. Covers benefits and risks. Includes an interactive tool to help you make your decision.