Try to schedule your well-woman visit at time when you do not expect to have your period, because Pap smears can't be done then. Avoid using douches, vaginal lubricants or spermicides one to two days before your exam.

For 48 hours before the test, do not douche, use vaginal medications or creams. For 24 hours before, do not have sexual intercourse.

You run two miles every other day and lift weights twice a week. You've been trying to eat more fruits and vegetables and less meat. You don't smoke. When it comes to your health, you figure you've got everything covered. But when was the last time you saw your doctor for a health screening?

To find out what your family risks are, ask people on both sides of your family. Start with your parents, siblings and children.

You don't want to spend this winter battling a runny nose, a nagging cough or a fever. Here's what to do.

Here are ways to help you fine-tune your lifestyle to promote optimum health.

Noise has social and physiological effects, and noise may be chipping away at your hearing.

If you think you don't need hearing protection at work because you're used to the steady roar of equipment or trucks, damage has already begun.

Bleach, ant killer and gasoline are poisons commonly found in the home. But plenty of other toxic or hazardous chemicals fill our shelves and cupboards, and some of them may surprise you. Hairspray, for instance, is highly flammable. Learn more about these chemicals by taking this quiz.

Carbon monoxide (CO), an odorless and colorless gas, is created from the incomplete burning of fuels like gas, oil and wood.

Always read the label. All OTC medicine labels have detailed usage and warning information to help you choose and use the products.

Parents usually know what vaccines their children need, but they may not be aware that they need shots as well. The CDC estimates that about 60,000 American adults die every year from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Treating common illnesses at home isn't complicated. Even so, doing it safely requires knowledge and a willingness to follow the rules.

Ignoring your symptoms can end up costing more in the long run because many conditions are more quickly and easily treated if diagnosed in their early stages.

The way we gauge the peril a given disorder poses is called risk perception.

Obesity, lack of physical activity, and poor nutrition cause about one in three cancer deaths. Only tobacco causes more.

“Quitting smoking was just about the toughest thing I’ve ever done,” says S. Epatha Merkerson. “But the struggle was certainly worth it."