The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has plenty of detractors. It's accused of being sluggish and too cumbersome in approving new medications, especially vitally important anti-cancer medications.

A patient remembers the day he was diagnosed. Writing on a patient support group forum, he recalls, "I had one of the first oncologists I saw tell me 'you got the cancer I can treat. One pill a day and you carry on. Who's luckier than you?'"

The rates at which childhood obesity are increasing are cause for alarm. Parents, day care workers and government officials need to come together to fight this growing epidemic.

When it was discovered more than 100 years ago, Bipolar Disorder was believed to be the result of "bad blood," thought to be caused by black bile. Later the mental disorder best known for episodes of depression and mania was treated with lithium.

Sunscreen seems like the obvious answer for protecting your skin from the scorching summer heat. It's easy, effective and widely known that it can help prevent sunburn, skin cancer, premature aging and wrinkles.

Medical technology is moving at the speed of light and this time it's heart patients who will reap the benefits. A new type of 3D monitoring used during cardiac procedures will enable surgeons to improve their precision.

Every day, some 4,000 teenagers smoke their first cigarette. About 1,000 of them will become addicted daily smokers. Their new tobacco addiction will add to the $200 billion burden that smoking costs the United States every year. And with their first puff, these youngsters start the clock ticking toward an unhealthy - and likely fatal future. To combat this disturbing public health menace, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is requiring all cigarette packaging to be wrapped in graphic and sometimes disturbing images starting next year.

"I couldn't breathe, I could barely walk, and felt like I was going to collapse or pass out when I did." "I can't stand but for a couple minutes, or walk very far that I am not gasping for breath." "Everything feels like it’s a hill I have to climb, but don’t have the energy, and breath to do it. I am really trying to have a more positive attitude, maybe I need a swift kick in the butt!" All of these individuals - writing on a patient support forum  - are talking about what it's like for them to live with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD.

With the temperatures heating up, so does the desire to spend time outdoors soaking up the rays. With talk about irreversible skin damage, including cancer and premature aging, most of us have made more of an effort to protect our skin from the sun's harsh rays.

Dawn Cheshier had just had her first baby boy when her digestive system went haywire. She wasn't sure what to make of the stomach cramping, diarrhea and vomiting. Maybe it was associated with recovering from childbirth.