You send in a sample and get your results online. But is it worth the price?

All disease is, to some degree, genetic. From cancer to the common cold, almost every human malady known to humankind has something to do with genes — the stretches of DNA containing instructions for making the proteins that govern how our bodies are built and how they function. Your genes influence your risk for degenerative disorders — the innumerable conditions from osteoporosis to Alzheimer's disease in which structure, function, or both deteriorate. They also influence allergic reactions, your ability to fend off infection, how ...

A minimally invasive approach is now the norm for treating this common urinary problem.

Stress incontinence is leakage of urine under physical pressure — for example, coughing, sneezing, laughing, or jumping. It affects up to about one-third of women at some point, and although it's a passing annoyance for some, for others it can be persistent and severe enough to disrupt their lives.

Surgery to support the urethra has been the mainstay of treatment in bothersome cases, but women are generally encouraged to try more conservative measures first, such as Kegel exercises to strengthen pelvic floor muscles or a pessary ...

As many of us know firsthand, hot flashes can be a bothersome symptom of declining estrogen levels at menopause as well as a common side effect of breast cancer treatment. For most women, hot flashes are transient and manageable, but for others, they're a daily (and sometimes nightly) burden that can persist for years, disrupting sleep and eroding quality of life. Estrogen therapy provides the most effective relief for hot flashes, but it's recommended only for short-term treatment of menopausal symptoms, and most women who've had breast cancer can't take it at all.

In recent years, randomized trials have shown ...

Researchers found that people who used indoor tanning equipment had a much higher likelihood of developing melanoma.

Q. I suffer from blepharitis and have tried many medications, but the condition always returns. How can I cure it?

A. Blepharitis is chronic inflammation of the eyelids. It tends to wax and wane, causing considerable discomfort when it flares up. The vexing symptoms may include red eyes, a burning or gritty sensation in the eye, red and swollen eyelids, itchy eyelids, flaking of the eyelid skin, crusting on the eyelashes (especially upon waking), and blurred vision. The eye and eyelid become more vulnerable to infection, and eyelashes may fall out or grow abnormally. There's no definitive cure, but you ...