“Metabolism is like the engine of a car,” says George D. Lawrence, M.D., an endocrinologist at St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore, Md. “There are different parts in a car engine, and they all need to work together for the engine to run satisfactorily. Metabolism includes many different chemical reactions and processes that work together to maintain a healthy balance in your body.”

When you get a runny or stuffy nose, your first thought may be allergies. Think again.

In 2009, Medicare will reward physicians who are “e-prescribing.” Doctors who e-prescribe send prescriptions to pharmacies through electronic, or Internet-based, systems.