Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a condition for which the cause is not known. Seeing how far a person can walk in six minutes may help doctors and patients understand the condition better.

One fifth of the US blood supply goes to heart operations. Because blood transfusions are costly and can lead to health complications, a blood conservation strategy may help.

A tobacco smoking habit can cost a lot of money. Even healthcare costs for surgeries unrelated to smoking can be significantly affected by the habit.

Osteoporosis decreases bone density, making bones more prone to breaks. A new medication being tested in clinical trials may help increase bone density.

It stands to reason that the longer cancer remains in the body, the greater the chances it will grow and maybe spread. This is known to be the case for some cancers, but remains unclear for others.

New drivers are more likely to be in a car crash, and distractions have been shown to play a role. Near-crashes and incidents with experienced drivers may help tell the rest of the story.

Knee arthritis can become more painful and severe as patients lose cartilage. Much research has been devoted to figuring out whether nutritional supplements can slow this process.

The CDC recently released the final numbers on births in the US in 2012.

Herniated discs can be painful and even result in disability. A recent study looked at the benefits of spinal surgery as treatment for these slipped discs.

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