How much people sleep can have an impact on their health. However, the relationship between sleep duration and chronic diseases has not been well studied. A recent study was conducted to examine sleep duration in relationship to various illnesses.

The risk for various health problems increases with age. But there are steps people can take to help minimize these risks, and exercise seems to be one of those steps.

Understanding basic health information — in other words, health literacy — can help patients make the right health decisions and take their medications correctly.

Medications used to treat mental health disorders can have serious side effects. Researchers wanted to know if these medications could lead to weight gain and increased diabetes risk in children and teens like they do in adults.

People with diabetes can have high levels of blood sugar. If this high blood sugar goes uncontrolled, patients may be at risk for a number of health problems, including mental health issues. But even in people without diabetes, high blood sugar may present some risks.

It's well understood that women should not smoke while pregnant. Yet some women find it difficult to quit. Knowing some of the long-term effects may offer an extra motivational boost.

Depression is thought of as a mental disorder, but it can affect the rest of the body too. Having symptoms of depression may be linked to risks for other diseases.

Balanced blood sugar keeps energy circulating through the brain. Several studies have explored the effect of blood sugar levels on that major organ, which controls every other organ and aspect of the human body.

Diabetes has been linked to dementia. But diabetes alone may not be the cause of this type of mental decline. Heart disease risk factors may be the real driver behind cognitive impairment.

Smoking is a known health hazard for pregnancies. But being exposed to smoke in utero may follow a baby girl into her own pregnancy when she grows up.