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We share more than food and culture within our homes and communities. We can also spread disease. Luckily, we live in a time when vaccines can protect us from many of the most serious illnesses.

You may have heard of psoriasis, but do you know what it is? Psoriasis is a long-term, or chronic, skin disorder that affects more than 6.7 million U.S. adults. Symptoms can vary, but it’s usually recognized by itchy or sore patches of thick, red skin with silvery scales. There’s currently no cure, but treatment often helps...

Your sense of smell enriches your experience of the world around you. Different scents can change your mood, transport you back to a distant memory, and may even help you bond with loved ones...

Practicar actividad física con regularidad y disminuir el estilo de vida sedentario pueden mejorar el estado físico y reducir muchos factores de riesgo de las enfermedades del corazón, entre ellos, reducir los niveles de colesterol LDL (“colesterol malo”), aumentar los niveles de colesterol HDL (“colesterol bueno”) en la sangre, controlar la presión arterial alta y ayudarle a perder el exceso de peso.

Por lo general, se considera que un adulto tiene un peso saludable cuando su índice de masa corporal (IMC) está entre 18.5 y 24.9. Aprenda sobre los riesgos para la salud que tienen el sobrepeso y la obesidad y sobre los beneficios de mantener un peso saludable.

Una alimentación saludable para el corazón incluye vegetales, frutas, granos enteros, productos lácteos sin grasa o bajos en grasa, pescado, carnes magras (con poca grasa), pollo y otras aves, huevos, nueces, semillas, productos de soya, legumbres y aceites vegetales (excepto los aceites de coco y de palma). Además, limita el sodio, las grasas saturadas y grasas trans, los azúcares agregados y el alcohol.

Regular physical activity can help you lose excess weight; improve physical fitness; lower many heart disease risk factors such as “bad” LDL cholesterol levels, increase “good” HDL cholesterol levels, and manage high blood pressure; lower stress and improve your mental health; and lower your risk for other conditions such as type 2 diabetes, depression, and cancer. Even modest amounts of physical activity are good for your health.

Research suggests that an emotionally upsetting event, particularly one involving anger, can serve as a trigger for a heart attack or angina in some people. Stress can contribute to high blood pressure and other heart disease risk factors. Some of the ways people cope with stress—drinking alcohol, using other substances, smoking, or overeating—are not healthy ways to manage stress.

A healthy weight for adults is usually when the body mass index (BMI) is between 18.5 and 24.9. To figure out your BMI, use our online BMI calculator.

Heart-healthy eating involves choosing certain foods, such as fruits and vegetables, while limiting others, such as saturated and trans fats and added sugars. Your doctor may recommend the heart-healthy Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan because it has been proven to lower high blood pressure and “bad” LDL cholesterol in the blood. Visit our Delicious Heart-Healthy Eating page for recipes, cooking tips, and more.