Among the most common pieces of advice offered by doctors to their patients: start running, biking, walking, swimming, playing tennis or whatever it takes to get in regular exercise.

About 90 percent of U.S. adults are incorporating too much sodium into their diets. However it doesn't appear the dinner-side salt shaker is at fault.

Viagra is known to boost men’s sexual vigor, but it can also treat a totally different type of condition in children: One small study says that the drug can diminish the size of a birth defect in kids.

Blood pressure checks are a common part of most doctor visits. However, if physicians are not checking blood pressure in both arms, they could fail to identify a greater risk of dying from heart disease.

Weight loss surgery is a last resort for morbidly obese teenagers. For those that do receive the operation, researchers are finding it is offering them benefits in addition to shedding extra pounds.

The common practice of predicting the risk of heart attack and stroke a decade into the future might be giving some patients a false sense of security.

Parents have long warned teens to skip sugary sweets such as soda and candy to prevent them from loading up on empty calories. New research has revealed that excess sugar consumption could affect their future health.

In most cases blood pressure can easily be controlled by drugs. The key is ensuring patients stick to their drug regimen. That may be as simple as positive affirmation and small, unexpected gifts.

For most with hypertension, blood pressure cutting methods such as reducing salt, avoiding alcohol and exercising are less than thrilling ways to start the day. 

People with diabetes are often treated with insulin. Now, it seems that insulin also can repair some of the damage done by heart disease, a condition that diabetes patients are especially prone to.