People who had chicken pox as a child may develop shingles — an often painful, blistering rash caused by the same virus — as an adult. Now researchers suggest that having shingles may lead to a more serious health issue.

HIV patients can live longer, healthier lives today and one recent study took a look at their risk for a disease usually associated with growing older.

Doctors recommend annual flu shots to help patients stay healthy during flu season. New research suggests that the flu vaccine also might help prevent stroke.

By 2015, HIV patients are expected to be surviving to and past 50 years old. Therefore, these patients may need to be closely monitored for conditions tied to older age, such as heart disease.

Cases of shingles have been rising in recent years, even among younger individuals. And the disease may be increasing other health risks as well.

Before their operations, cardiac surgery patients likely focus on the heart issue at hand. But postoperative infections can cause problems later. Antibiotics might prevent these infections.

Structural heart disease is very common in HIV patients. It's possible that the conditions are directly related.

Patients with the hepatitis C virus (HCV), which primarily affects the liver, face a higher chance of getting diabetes. Antiviral HCV medication, however, may improve diabetes outcomes.

The main purpose of the flu vaccine is to protect against influenza. But it may offer other benefits as well.

Most people get the flu vaccine for the obvious reason: to protect them from the flu. But there may be other benefits to the shot as well.