Drug abuse can take a serious toll on a person’s health and ability to function. Worldwide, the abuse of opioids is far greater than the abuse of any other drug.

Heroin use has been on the rise in the past couple of years. Using prescription painkillers for non-medical purposes may have been a gateway for some adults who started using heroin.

Heart attack patients can take steps to lower their risk of future cardiac events, such as losing weight and managing high blood pressure. Some high-risk groups, however, could be doing more.

Normal body tissue needs oxygen to function. And when tissues are injured, they need extra oxygen to heal. A type of therapy that provides this extra oxygen has become popular in recent years.

Researchers have discovered a link between a common epilepsy medication and a specific birth defect in newborn babies. The study sheds light on how women taking epileptic medications during pregnancy can reduce their chance of having a baby with physical deformities.

For those with prediabetes, blood sugar levels are high but not high enough to be diabetes. If patients don’t take action, however, they risk getting not only diabetes but heart disease as well.

Gastroenteritis is inflammation of the gut caused by a virus, bacteria or parasites. Viruses called rotaviruses are the most common culprits in the US, and there's a vaccine to protect against infection from these viruses.

The hepatitis C virus (HCV) can cause serious liver disease which may require a liver transplant. And according to the authors of a new study, many cases of HCV in the US are among hard-to-treat patients with serious health issues — something not always represented in studies of this virus.

In certain parts of the country, having mosquitos around is just a part of summer. Unfortunately, that means that West Nile virus might be a part of summer too.

Coffee is among the most popular drinks on the planet. Besides the pep that the caffeine provides, a cup of joe just tastes good. Recent research suggests that this beloved beverage may also offer some health benefits for prostate cancer survivors.