Studies have shown a link between gum disease and heart disease; both are driven by inflammation. Now it seems that link also may extend to treatments for heart problems — statins, which lower cholesterol, may help reduce gum inflammation.

While surgery can solve some potentially serious problems, it can also be a painful process to recover from. After surgery to remove tonsils, patients are likely to receive pain medications. But they may not have to turn to strong prescription drugs to relieve their pain.

Some surgeries on the abdomen are prone to the "weekend effect," where complications and illnesses occur more often when procedures are done on Saturday and Sunday compared to the rest of the week. Appendix removal, however, may not be a part of that effect.

Liver transplant patients with a history of alcohol abuse often go through a treatment program before surgery. But the temptation to drink doesn’t stop once the surgery is over.

More people are learning about celiac disease. Researchers have been trying to determine what makes a person more likely to develop the condition.

Everyone is urged to get a flu shot, but what should you do if an allergy might interact with the vaccine? Risk the flu or risk the allergic reaction?  For many patients, these concerns have now been addressed.

Research on autism spectrum disorders has uncovered more and more information each year. One area that has often been studied is the relationship between autism and digestive problems.

Lung disease often leads to difficulty breathing, congested airways and inflammation of lung tissue. Recent research suggests it might affect other parts of the body as well.

Inflammatory bowel disease may seem like a big obstacle for young couples hoping to start a family, but there may be little cause for concern.

Companies selling foods like yogurt and kombucha use advertisements boasting about their products' live probiotics and cultures, but do these products have any real health benefits?