More than just “feeling blue” or experiencing sadness or grief because of a specific circumstance, depression is a mood disorder characterized by a persistently sad or empty feeling, irritability, and a diminished or absent interest in everyday activities. Usually depression occurs in episodes, which can last for weeks, months, or even years. Many patients experiencing…

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A migraine is a severe, pounding headache so intense and overwhelming that it can be debilitating. Though migraines can affect the entire head, they usually begin on one side (hence the name migraine, from the Greek word hemicrania, meaning “half the skull”). In some cases, a migraine is preceded by a series of early warning…

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Technically, a person tips the scales into the overweight category when his or her body mass index (BMI) is 25 or higher. BMI is a measure of weight in relation to height. It usually reflects the amount of body fat a person has. To figure out your BMI, multiply your weight in pounds by 704…

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