The heart's own "rogue DNA" appears to play a role in the development of heart failure. A new study has found that the heart's own cells mistakenly activate the immune system, contributing to heart failure.

During heart failure, immune cells cells invade the heart. This process, called inflammation, which ultimately leads to a less efficient heart with less pumping ability in the case of heart failure, can be caused by the body's own DNA.

Professor Kinya...

Increasingly, surgeons are using specialized tools to perform operations. Laparoscopic surgery - sometimes called "minimally invasive surgery" - uses tiny tubes and cameras that help the surgeon have better visibility of and access to certain areas.

Ex-smokers who notice the warning labels on cigarette packs are less likely to start smoking again.  How much of a difference do these really warning labels make for ex-smokers?

A four-country survey asks ex-smokers about cigarette warning labels over the course of 5 years to determine if they make any impact on whether or not they return to the smoking life.

Warning labels may not be 100 percent effective, but they do appear to make a difference.

Researchers from the...

Making sure that your child is protected from seasonal flu is important. Text message reminders may give parents that extra push to get their child vaccinated.

Want a cheap and easy way to reduce the likelihood that you or your children might catch - or pass on - at least one strain of the flu? Cover your mouth and use hand sanitizer.

Drinking too much sugar-sweetened soda may increase your risk of having a stroke -- even if it's a diet soft drink. Coffee, on the other hand, was associated with a lower risk of stroke.

Sugar-sweetened soft drinks and beverages have previously been tied to diabetes, weight gain, hypertension, high cholesterol, gout and coronary artery disease.

Women appeared to be at a higher stroke risk as compared to men.

Adam Bernstein, MD,

It is not easy being obese. Children who are overweight have it especially difficult because little kids can be pretty mean. In fact, little bullies can actually make the weight problem worse.

A new study shows that overweight and obese children may be liked less in school. The overweight children could respond to the negative social atmosphere by becoming less active and eating more.

The study was led by Amanda Harrist, PhD, of Oklahoma...

You're nine months pregnant and ready to pop - but the due date is still a few weeks away. What do you do if your water breaks early?

True or false: Chocolate is good for you. Yes, it's a trick question, so a couple of nutrition researchers set out to find out what kind of benefits chocolate does offer.

One of the ingredients in chocolate thought to offer some health benefits are flavanols, which are antioxidants that appear to help reduce inflammation.

Although various studies have shown a link between how many flavanols a person...