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Children who test positive for high blood pressure (or hypertension) have blood pressure that is the same as or higher than 90 percent of children within the same age, height, and gender group, according to the Mayo Clinic. There is no standard blood pressure reading for all children as there is with all adults because children’s bodies have different “normal” blood pressure ranges at various stages of growth. However, since some factors make certain children more likely to develop high blood pressure than others, it is important to know if your child is at risk.

Turmeric, also called curcumin, is a spice widely used in India and Southeast Asia to add flavor to dishes. Many believe that the wide use of turmeric in India is the reason that country has such a low incidence of Alzheimer’s disease. Turmeric is easy to take in gel caps to receive many of the same benefits.

Ulcerative colitis is a condition that affects the colon and the rectum. Marked by ulcers and inflammation, the disease causes a number of symptoms, including anemia, fatigue, weight and appetite loss, rectal bleeding and joint pain. It may also lead to growth failure in children. The preferred method of treating the disease depends on how severe it is, but drug therapy or surgery may be involved.

NuvaRing is a birth control device placed inside the vagina that releases hormones to halt ovulation. NuvaRing side effects are similar to oral contraceptive side effects. FDA research indicates that up to 14 percent of women using NuvaRing experience side effects, but only 2.5 percent are severe enough to stop usage.

Osteopenia is a type of bone loss common in men and women, though post-menopausal women are at a higher risk of bone loss and weakness than men, due to a decrease in hormones that results in reduction of bone mass. However, weight-bearing exercise has been found to reduce such bone loss, especially those exercises that help strengthen the spine and hips. High-impact exercise is also recommended for treatment and relief of symptoms caused by lumbar osteopenia.

A woman’s risk for depression rises when she reaches mid-life and enters the menopausal phase. There are many reasons why a woman’s mental health becomes vulnerable at this time in her life. Estrogen deficiency, which occurs in menopause, can have a tremendous impact on a woman’s moods and her cognitive function.

Osteoporosis is a medical condition that occurs when bones become weaker and extremely brittle. Bones affected by osteoporosis are easily fractured. Osteoporosis is most often the result of deficiencies in calcium and phosphorus. In women, osteoporosis can also occur as a result of bone loss associated with menopause. Osteoporosis can affect both men and women; however, women are more likely to suffer from fractures. Individuals with osteoporosis may experience back pain and fractures of the hips, vertebrae and wrists.

Colitis, also commonly called ulcerative colitis, is a disease that affects the bowels. Colitis results in inflammation of the lining of the large intestine, the colon and the rectum in the majority of cases. Symptoms include abdominal pain from severe cramping, blood in the stool (which can become very loose) and loss of weight. The medications used to treat colitis focus on improving the symptoms, as there is no cure.

Lead poisoning can pose serious problems in both children and adults, but children younger than 6 are the most vulnerable to the effects of lead, which may cause problems with physical and mental development. Lead poisoning occurs over time as lead builds up during repeated exposures. Lead can be found in lead-based paint and in dust present in old buildings. Also, lead may contaminate water, air and soil. In addition, some toys and cosmetics contain lead. According to the Mayo Clinic, the use of lead in toys and paint was banned in the U.S. in 1978 but the paint may still be present in older homes and toys from overseas may have lead in them. Symptoms of lead poisoning usually do not become obvious until lead levels in the body are already dangerously high. Lead poisoning can be detected with a blood test.