Q: Can my child get the flu from the flu shot?
A: No. You can not get the flu from the flu shot. The influenza vaccine is made from killed vaccine particles and so can not cause an influenza infection. Your child may develop side effects, such as a fever or aches after getting a flu shot, but these mild reactions shouldn't be confused with an influenza infection.

Q: Can I get arthritis by cracking my knuckles?
A: If you are a knuckle-cracker, in spite of all your friends' warnings, you'll be relieved to hear that there is no clinical evidence that your habit causes arthritis in the fingers or the hand. Studies of people with osteoarthritis in their knuckles show they are no more likely to have cracked their knuckles earlier in life than people who did not develop the condition. However, the bad news is that there is some evidence that people who habitually crack their knuckles have decreased hand function, such as reduced ability to grip tightly.

Q: Are herbal medicines safe?
A: Yes. Herbal medicines have been effectively proven as an alternative means to antibiotics in preventing and cure illnesses. As antibiotics can not cure everything, herbal medicines should not to be defined as the "one all, cure all medical treatment" as well... and patients should always consult a doctor or pharmacist before taking any medication, whether the medication is herbal or antibiotic.

Q: How can I reduce the risk of a heart attack?
A: To reduce the risk of a heart attack, you should:

• Follow a heart healthy eating plan, which is low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and moderate in total fat.
  
  
• Aim for a healthy weight.
  
  
• Be physically active each day–try to do 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity such as brisk walking on most and, preferably, all days of the week.
  
  
• Don’t smoke.
  
  
• Prevent or control high blood pressure.
  
  
• Prevent or control high blood cholesterol.
  
  

Q: What is cholesterol?
A: Cholesterol is a substance present in all of us. Our bodies make cholesterol. It's also present in meat and dairy foods. Plant foods don't have cholesterol. There are several types of cholesterol, including low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL).

LDL cholesterol is called "bad" cholesterol because it can build up on the inside of your arteries, causing them to become narrow. HDL is called "good" cholesterol because it protects your arteries from plaque buildup.

Q: What foods in my diet can lower my cholesterol?
A: When trying to lower your LDL cholesterol, you want to add foods that are low in cholesterol and saturated fats, because your body turns saturated fats into cholesterol. To do this, add foods that are high in soluble fiber.

There are lots of ways to add healthy foods to your diet. Follow the tips and the serving-size guidelines below:

• Start your day out right. Have some form of grain (like whole-grain bread or whole-grain cereal) and fruit for breakfast.
  
  
• Think of grains and vegetables as your main dish in lunches and dinners. If you're serving meat or poultry as a main dish, add a tossed salad or a vegetable to the plate.
  
  
• Add beans to leafy salads, pasta salads and stews--chick peas, kidney beans and navy beans have been shown to reduce LDL cholesterol levels.
  
  
• Drink fat-free or 1 percent milk, not whole milk or 2 percent milk. Look for low-fat yogurt and cheese, too.
  
  
• Try soy products. Soy has come a long way in the last few years. Today, you can find soy products in many grocery stores and health food stores.
  
  
• Try veggie-soy burgers, soy pepperoni, tofu or soy milk.
  
  
• Serve raw or cooked fruits with low-fat yogurt for dessert.
  
  
• Eat only a little oil. If you want to use oil for cooking, try olive oil or canola oil instead of oils high in polyunsaturated fats, such as corn oil, peanut oil and many margarines. Both olive oil and canola oil are high in monounsaturated fat, which decreases LDL and total cholesterol levels.
  
  
• Eat only small amounts of sweets.
  
  
• Eat one to two servings of fish or seafood each week if you have coronary artery disease. People with coronary artery disease seem to benefit from eating fish and seafood.
  
  
• Cook with garlic. Several studies have shown that garlic reduces LDL cholesterol and lowers blood pressure.
  
  
• Eat moderate amounts of nuts that are rich in monounsaturated fat, like hazelnuts, almonds, pecans, cashews, walnuts and macadamia nuts. These nuts have been shown to improve cholesterol levels. Avoid eating nuts by the handful. Instead, garnish food with one tablespoon of chopped nuts per person.