Weight Loss Surgery

If you're very overweight and can't lose pounds with a healthy diet and exercise, surgery might be an option for you. The surgery is usually for men who are at least 100 pounds overweight and women who are at least 80 pounds overweight. If you are somewhat less overweight, surgery still might be an option if you also have diabetes, heart disease or sleep apnea.

Weight loss surgery limits the amount of food you can take in. Some operations also restrict the amount of food you can digest. Many people who have the surgery lose weight quickly. If you follow diet and exercise recommendations, you can keep most of the weight off. The surgery has risks and complications, however, including infections, hernias and blood clots.

Health

In 1948, the World Health Assembly defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

In 1986 the World Health Organization in the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion said health is “a resource for everyday life, not the objective of living.

Health is a positive concept emphasizing social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities.” Classification systems such as the WHO Family of International Classifications (WHO-FIC) (composed of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability, and Health (ICF) and the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)) also define health.

Women's Health

Women and men have many of the same health problems, but they can affect women differently. For example, women may have different symptoms of heart disease. Some diseases or conditions are more common in women, such as osteoarthritis, obesity and depression. And some conditions, such as menopause and pregnancy, are unique to women.
Women sometimes neglect their own health and focus instead on their partner's and their children's. Take care of yourself first:
* Plan for pregnancies and see your healthcare provider regularly while you are pregnant
* Have regular mammograms
* Get regular checkups and screenings. Early detection is important for treating breast, cervical, uterine and ovarian cancer.

Warts

Warts are growths on your skin caused by an infection with human papilloma virus, or HPV. Types of warts include
* Common warts, which often appear on your fingers
* Plantar warts, which show up on the soles of your feet
* Genital warts, which are a sexually transmitted disease
* Flat warts, which appear in places you shave frequently

In children, warts often go away on their own. In adults, they tend to stay. If they hurt or bother you, or if they multiply, you can remove them. Chemical skin treatments usually work. If not, various freezing, surgical and laser treatments can remove warts.

Wegener's Granulomatosis

Wegener's granulomatosis is a rare disease. It is a type of vasculitis, or inflammation of the blood vessels. This limits the flow of blood to important organs, causing damage. It can affect any organ, but it mainly affects the sinuses, nose, trachea (windpipe), lungs and kidneys.

The cause of Wegener's granulomatosis is unknown. Symptoms may include joint pain, weakness, tiredness and cold symptoms such as a runny nose that doesn't get better. Doctors use blood tests and chest x-rays to diagnose the disease and rule out other causes of the symptoms.
Early treatment is important. Most people improve with medicines to slow or stop the inflammation

Weight Control

If you are overweight, you are not alone. Sixty-six percent of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Achieving a healthy weight can help you control your cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. It might also help you prevent weight-related diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and some cancers.
Eating too much or not being physically active enough will make you overweight. To maintain your weight, the calories you eat must equal the energy you burn. To lose weight, you must use more calories than you eat. A weight-control strategy might include
* Choosing low-fat, low-calorie foods
* Eating smaller portions
* Drinking water instead of sugary drinks
* Being physically active

Wounds

Wounds include cuts, scrapes, scratches and punctured skin. They often occur as a result of an accident or injury, but surgical incisions, sutures, and stitches also cause wounds. Minor wounds usually aren't serious, but even cuts and scrapes require care. To avoid infection and aid healing

* Apply pressure with a clean cloth to stop bleeding
* Clean the wound with water
* Use an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection
* Bandage the wound if it's in an area that might get dirty
* Watch for swelling and redness
* Get a tetanus booster if you are due for one
Serious and infected wounds require medical attention. You should also seek attention if the wound is deep, if you cannot close it yourself, if you cannot stop the bleeding or get the dirt out, or if it does not heal.

Winter Weather Emergencies

Severe winter weather can lead to health and safety challenges. You may have to cope with

• Cold related health problems, including frostbite and hypothermia
• Household fires and carbon monoxide poisoning from space heaters and fireplaces
• Unsafe driving conditions from icy roads
• Power failures
• Floods after snow and ice melt

Although there are no guarantees of safety during winter weather emergencies, you can take actions to protect yourself. You should have a disaster plan. Being prepared can help reduce fear, anxiety and losses.

West Nile Virus

West Nile virus (WNV) is an infectious disease that first appeared in the United States in 1999. Infected mosquitoes spread the virus that causes it. People who contract WNV usually have no symptoms or mild symptoms. Those with symptoms may have a fever, headache, body aches, skin rash or swollen lymph glands.

If West Nile virus enters the brain, however, it can be deadly. It may cause inflammation of the brain, called encephalitis, or inflammation of the tissue that surrounds the brain and spinal cord, called meningitis.

Older people are most at risk. There are no specific vaccines or treatments for human WNV disease. The easiest and best way to avoid WNV is to prevent mosquito bites:

* Use insect repellent
* Get rid of mosquito breeding sites by emptying standing water from flower pots, buckets or barrels
* Stay indoors between dusk and dawn, when mosquitoes are most active
* Use screens on windows to keep mosquitoes out

Drinking Water

Every living creature needs clean and safe drinking water. How much do you need? It depends - your size, activity level and the weather all make a difference.

The water you drink is a combination of surface water and groundwater. Surface water includes rivers, lakes and reservoirs. Groundwater comes from underground. The United States has one of the safest water supplies in the world, but drinking water quality can vary from place to place. It depends on the condition of the source water and the treatment it receives. Treatment may include adding fluoride to prevent cavities and chlorine to kill germs.

Your water supplier must give you annual reports on drinking water. The reports include where your water came from and what contaminants are in it.