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No need to dread putting on your shoes because of a bunion.

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Wiggle, walk, tap your toes, shop, dance, clean your basement, play the guitar to boost your NEAT "“ or if you're a scientist, your "non-exercise activity thermogenesis." Mayo Clinic researchers report that NEAT -- more powerful than formal exercise -- determines who is lean, and who is obese.

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Why do women develop multiple sclerosis (MS) almost twice as often as men? Physicians have long been intrigued by this fact -- and now a Mayo Clinic-led international research team has identified a genetic variation that may explain it.

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Mayo Clinic researchers have identified a previously unknown form of muscular dystrophy, a group of genetic diseases characterized by progressive weakness and muscle degeneration.

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A Mayo Clinic research team has discovered that a genetic defect previously shown to cause heart rhythm abnormalities also can cause heart failure, according to findings.

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Results from a Mayo Clinic laboratory study in animals suggest that using distraction osteogenesis, a procedure that uses the mechanical force of an appliance to lengthen soft tissue and bone, may be a feasible and effective method to repair cleft palate in the future.

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Mayo Clinic researchers studying endometrial cancer have found that patients at risk for relapse based on identified risk factors had a 46 percent probability of experiencing recurrence within five years despite treatment with state-of-the-art therapy.

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Have you had your cholesterol checked lately? If not, you need a blood test to get it checked -- soon. Beginning at age 20, you should have a blood test at least every five years. The results can tell you much about your risk for heart disease and stroke.

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The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation recently awarded the Professor of Survivorship to Charles Loprinzi, M.D., a Mayo Clinic medical oncologist.

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A discovery by a Mayo Clinic research team may pave the way for the creation of new drugs to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA) lung disease, which affects an estimated 500,000 patients in the United States. Currently, there are no effective treatments for RA lung disease.

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Mayo Clinic Cancer Center has received a Specialized Programs of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for brain cancer research.

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If you're trying to lose a lot of weight, and progress is slow, take heart. Losing just 5 percent to 10 percent of your body weight can have long-lasting health benefits.

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You don't need a fancy manicure to keep your fingernails healthy. The January issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers tips for healthy nails.

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What therapy can help decrease pain, anxiety, stress and depression? It can help patients with arthritis, lymphedema, fibromyalgia, scleroderma, pregnancy and psychological disorders. And it even can help relieve agitation that may occur with Alzheimer's disease and the rigidity associated with Parkinson's disease.

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What's an easy, convenient (and free) way to manage day-to-day stress? Just breathe.

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The pain relief options at your local drugstore can make your head spin. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen? Maximum strength or regular? Can you use one or do you need several for different types of pain?

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Hospital emergency departments just don't operate like the ones on television. Most emergency departments (EDs) feature far less drama and far more waiting for those who arrive without life-threatening emergencies.

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Over the past 20 years, there has been speculation about a connection between immunizations and an increase in autism. However, a study suggests the increase may be due to improved awareness, changes in diagnostic criteria and availability of services, not environmental factors or immunizations.

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A study has established rates of restless legs syndrome in children, finding that almost 6 percent of children seen in Mayo's sleep clinic have the disease. The study also notes that the most common risk factors for the disease in kids are family history of restless legs syndrome and iron deficiency.

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Misdiagnosis of a severely paralyzing disease can now be averted due to a blood test developed by researchers and their Japanese collaborators. Often misdiagnosed as multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica also causes blindness in many sufferers.

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Researchers report an association between gastrointestinal disorders and sleep disturbances. The association is important because these problems cause significant health issues including greater need for general medical and mental health treatment.

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As women age, and especially after menopause, they often report fewer headaches. That's because during younger, reproductive years, fluctuating hormones can trigger headache pain.

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Gifts that help promote the good health of a loved one say a lot about how much you care. The December issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource offers gift ideas that are fun, practical and promote wellness and healthy living.

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If the average age in your household is creeping past middle age and there's more snoring going on, you aren't alone.

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There's no magic pill to prevent cancer. But there are many foods that might help lower the risk of certain cancers.

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If your hands are dry, red, cracked and itchy, no matter how much lotion you apply, it's probably not just a simple case of dry skin.

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If you're trying to lose weight or even maintain a healthy weight, pay close attention to serving sizes -- they are key to weight control.

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The combination of two pills -- thalidomide and dexamethasone -- may be an effective alternative to the intravenous chemotherapy commonly prescribed to patients with multiple myeloma, according to a large collaborative study.

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Mayo Clinic researchers have discovered a key molecule that lets doctors identify one of the most aggressive types of kidney cancer. Patients with renal cell carcinoma who have higher levels of a molecule known as B7-H1 in their tumors are nearly five times more likely to die from the disease than patients with low levels or an absence of the molecule.

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Results from a study analyzing symptoms recorded in the medical records of ovarian cancer patients suggest ovarian cancer, long considered asymptomatic until late-stage cancer develops, does in fact have early symptoms, including urinary incontinence and abdominal pain.

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Mayo Clinic gynecologists have discovered that hysteroscopic sterilization, a new method of plugging the fallopian tubes to prevent conception, will save patients money compared to laparoscopic tubal ligation, the most commonly used method of sterilization for women.

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A new Mayo Clinic study has found a low risk of major injury from epileptic seizures. Thus, the researchers say that most patients who have epilepsy do not need to excessively restrict their daily activities to avoid injury.

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Researchers have found evidence to suggest a common genetic link between irritable bowel syndrome, alcoholism and mental illness. The results of this study are being presented on Monday at the 69th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) in Orlando, Fla.

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Decreasing testosterone boosts immunity because testosterone helps control T-lymphocytes, the attack cells of the immune system, according to Mayo Clinic-led research in laboratory animals.

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Low carb, net carbs, good and bad carbs. Product labels and even restaurant menus are pushing low carbohydrates, but the health benefits behind some of the claims aren't clear. People may buy low-carb foods believing that they're healthier. But it's not necessarily true.

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Before you pop that cookie in your mouth, take a moment to consider how long it will take to burn off those extra calories.

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One of the most promising drugs on the market today is neither new nor revolutionary. You can even buy it over the counter. What is it? Aspirin.

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Mayo Clinic researchers have identified a treatment for the fatal lung disease idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. They found that the anti-cancer drug imatinib mesylate can target a gene critical to controlling the disease process.

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Results of a study presented today by a Mayo Clinic physician at the 69th Annual Scientific Meeting of the American College of Gastroenterology in Orlando, Fla., offer a new treatment option for patients who have moderately active ulcerative colitis.

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Results of a study offer a new treatment option for patients who have moderately active ulcerative colitis.

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When someone's having a stroke, there's no time to waste.

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If you have rough, gray patches of skin that don't respond to moisturizing, it's a good idea to check with your doctor.

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Just as you're about to fall asleep, your legs begin to jitter. The only way to get them to stop is to walk around.

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Whether you're sneaking candy from the kid's trick-or-treat bag or dipping into your own stash of Halloween goodies, you're probably not thinking about calories or grams of sugar.

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Results from a Mayo Clinic study that analyzed medical records of epilepsy patients suggest a ketogenic diet, which mimics the effects of starvation, can be successfully implemented with children on an outpatient basis.

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Research by an international team of scientists provides evidence that physical training is the optimal treatment for stroke survivors' impaired movement and thinking -- not treatment with stimulants known as amphetamines, as has commonly been thought.

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Pink ribbons are everywhere, reminding us that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. But how aware are you? Did you know that this year, 216,000 American women will learn they have breast cancer?

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The medication mycophenolate mofetil is effective for managing symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus, the most common type of lupus, for patients whose SLE does not affect the kidneys. Importantly, the researchers say the drug is well tolerated and has fewer side effects than many other medications.

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Mayo Clinic investigators have found that the medication mycophenolate mofetil is effective for managing symptoms of systemic lupus erythematosus, the most common type of lupus, for patients whose SLE does not affect the kidneys.

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Researchers have found a significant number of patients who undergo "stomach stapling" or gastric bypass surgery for weight reduction develop peripheral neuropathy. The development of nerve damage is associated with malnutrition, and so the researchers contend may be largely preventable with proper nutritional care.