Your health and wellbeing should be important to you. Health care professionals can help keep you on the right track, but it is also possible for you to take charge of your own health using current technology and the Internet. Indeed, you don’t need to be a nurse or a doctor to find good information about how to take better care of yourself. All you need is Facebook. Here are 25 Facebook apps that can help you improve your health.

Fitness

Exercise can help you keep your body in working condition. Keep track of your fitness routine, create your own workouts and share your progress with these Facebook apps.

1. Shapelink.com fitness log: This application lets you keep track of your fitness efforts, and share them on your wall automatically. You can keep track of your fitness information, including your progress, on Facebook. You do have to sign up for Shapelink.com in order to use the app, but as a member you get detailed information on your workouts.
2. 24 Hour Fitness Get Fit Motivator: Get help with your fitness motivation, from 24 Hour Fitness. Choose a fitness goal, and then design a plan to reach that goal. You can easily track your progress and share your results with your friends.
3. easy fitness log: This application offers an easy log for your workouts and fitness progress. Compare what you are doing to your goals, and share your progress on Facebook.
4. Get Up! Get Out! Get Moving! Exercise Now!: This Facebook app is designed to motivate you to get moving with fitness tips and tracking. There is a special emphasis on bone strengthening exercise, as this one is developed by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
5. Fit-ify! Exercise Tracker: Make health and fitness goals, and create a plan. You can track your efforts in aerobics, cycling, swimming, running and more. Get your friends involved and share your progress.
6. LogYourRun.com Facebook application: Keep track of miles, pace and more when you use this Facebook app. Allows you to decide who you share information with, and which events are made public.

Nutrition

What you eat can have a big impact on how you feel and how healthy you are. These Facebook apps can help you keep track of your nutrition goals and what you put into your body, leading to a healthier you.

7. Nutrition Data: The famous Nutrition Data blog offers a Facebook app that helps you keep track of what is actually in your food, as well as provides healthy recipes.
8. My Diet: This Facebook app allows you to succeed in changing your nutrition habits, with a diary to help you keep track of your calorie intack, and help you record your progress. This is from the folks at Fat Secret.
9. Diet & Calorie Counter: Keep track of your daily caloric intake with this app. Get nutrition information about what you are eating to help you make smarter decisions.
10. Calorie Counter: Keep track of your calories, monitor your water intake (important for nutrition) and log your weight. A great way to enhance your nutrition choices.
11. Food: Share your love of food. Includes recipes, nutrition information and restaurants. Find what you’re looking for.

Mind/Body

There is a connection between your mind and body. You can improve your health with a better mindset, and by working to reduce stress and anxiety. Here are some apps that can help you strengthen the connection between mind and body, and help you with emotional and mental health.

12. More Brain Exercise: Keep your brain sharp with this helpful and fun app from Namco Bandai. Play games designed to help keep your brain active and healthy.
13. Mind Games: You can play these mind games to help you keep your brain sharp and healthy.
14. Yoga: This application helps you with your mind/body exercising so that you can relieve stress and feel healthy.
15. Heart of Buddha: Find some inspirational quotes to enhance your Buddhist meditation practice.
16. Zen Meditation Chimes: You can add this to your Facebook page or profile, and hear a chime that can help you relax and focus your meditation.

Relationships

Part of a healthy mind and emotional state is developing healthy relationships. These Facebook apps aimed at relationships can help you develop relationships that can help enhance your overall health.

17. Dopplr: Use this application to keep up with others around the world. Make travel plans and see old friends. Schedule trips with loved ones and friends.
18. Birthday Calendar: Remember important dates and keep in touch with friends and family. Keep your relationships happy.
19. Hugs: Provide long distance love and support, or just let someone in your life know you care. You can send hugs and receive them, and feel better knowing that you are loved.
20. NaughtyNotes: Keep that spark in your relationship with NaughtyNotes. Can be private or public, but it can help you develop passion with your significant other.
21. Neighborhoods: Get to know people in your area. Develop new friendships and enjoy social interaction with this Facebook app that helps you meet people in real life.

Health Reform, Quizzes and General Health Interaction

If you are interested in health care reform, and in figuring out where you stand on your own health, there are Facebook apps for that. You can learn more about health care reform, take quizzes to help you figure out how healthy you really are, or learn about a variety of different topics.

22. LiveHealthClub: Ask questions and get answers. This Facebook app features a forum in which you can ask questions on a variety of health topics, and get answers. Also includes helpful information on fitness, nutrition, relationships and other health issues.
23. Mirror Me: Get an idea of what you will look like in the future if you continue your health habits. Use a photo of yourself, answer a quiz about your health, and see what your future holds.
24. Health Care Reform App: This Facebook app from the White House offers a simple quiz that will tell you exactly how health care reform will affect you.
25. Health Quiz: Take different health quizzes related to different health concerns. Learn more about your health, and how you can improve it.

When thinking of public health issues, one of the items that comes up with increasing frequency is smoking. You don’t have to be a nurse, doctor or other health care professional to know that smoking is bad for your health. However, it is still a widespread practice, due to the addictiveness of smoking, and the pleasure and social status it provides in some cases. No matter your salary, or worldly influence, though, smoking will likely catch up with your health. And, even if you manage to escape the effects, you might affect others’ health with your smoking habit through secondhand smoke. Here are links to 25 infographics about smoking, public heath and the human body:

Smoking Stats

Learn more about smoking stats, such as when people start, and how many deaths are caused each year by smoking.

1. Global Tobacco Trade: Follow world routes for cigarettes, and get interesting facts about smoking, including stats about who is smoking (and where). Also includes an interesting list of the chemicals found in cigarettes and cigarette smoke. Fascinating infographic from Princeton.
2. Income Level and Smoking: Interestingly, income level has a correlation to smoking. Trendsspotting offers an interesting infographic illustrating the fact that those in lower income households are more likely to smoke. It’s an interesting look at who smokes — and why income matters.
3. Facts About Smoking: Drippet offers an interesting infographic describing different facts about smoking. It includes representations of racial distribution of cigarettes, ages of smokers,  and deaths caused by smoking.
4. Tobacco Use in the U.S.: If you are interested in smoking rates in the U.S., an infographic from the Global Resource for Advancing Cancer Education (GRACE) offers interesting insight. It shows that smoking has been declining in the U.S., and it shows the rates in lung cancer as well.
5. Global Tobacco Control: Smoking bans have been instigated in different countries, and an interesting infographic from New Scientist shows places where smoking is banned around the world. It also shows countries where a treaty to increase regulation of tobacco has been signed.
6. Productivity and Smoking: According to an infographic based on a San Diego State University study, differences in pay between female smokers and non-smokers in the Navy can be linked to smoking. Indeed, the study found that smokers were less productive than other workers. While this study focused on the Navy, and only on women, there could be implications for wider productivity.
7. Tobacco Spending: Apparently, tobacco companies spend more on advertising than states spend on prevention programs. The deep pockets of Big Tobacco continue to provide adequate funding for the next generation of smokers.

Health Effects

Learn more about the health effects of smoking with the following infographics, which include information on deaths related to smoking.

8. Smoking Contributes to Death: Smoking has been shown to contribute to death. Indeed, an infographic found at the Health Watch Center shows that smoking contributes to six of the top eight killers worldwide.
9. U.S. Deaths and Smoking: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have a handy infographic describing the different causes of death that are attributable to smoking each year. This includes heart disease, stroke, and, of course, lung cancer.
10. Preventable Cause of Death: According to the government web site, Health People, the leading cause of preventable disease and death is smoking. Smoking is so bad for you that not doing it is the number one way to reduce your chances of getting a life-threatening disease.
11. Smoking and Sleep: Smoking actually affects how you sleep. Sleep is important to your health, so if you are smoking — and it is affecting your sleep — that could be another health problem you can chalk up to the ills of smoking.
12. Risk Factors and Lung Cancer: An infographic from GRACE offers insight into risk factors that contribute to lung cancer. The graphic compares risk factors like race, vitamin intake and chronic respiratory infection to smoking. And smoking for 30 years can increase your chance of lung cancer way more than the other factors — by up to 20 times or more!
13. Health Costs and Smoking: The State of West Virginia has an interesting infographic describing health care costs attributable to smoking. If this holds elsewhere, it is clear that the effects of smoking include higher health care costs for all.

Secondhand Smoke

Even just breathing in when someone around you is smoking can unhealthy. Here are some infographics related to secondhand smoke.

14. Toxic Secondhand Smoke: The CDC offers this interesting poster and infographic that illustrates the toxicity of secondhand smoke, and how it kills.
15. Secondhand Smoke and Children: Another poster from the CDC offers information on the effects of secondhand smoke on children. These effects include SIDS, ear infection, lung problems and severe asthma.
16. Secondhand Smoke Exposure: Due to the nature of secondhand smoke, it is not really surprising that that the number of people in the U.S. exposed to it far exceeds the number of smokers. Indeed, an infographic from the CDC indicates that each smoker exposes more that two non-smokers to the hazards of smoke.
17. Risk for Passive Smokers: Those who inhale secondhand smoke on a regular basis will see a 25% increase in the likelihood of developing lung cancer, according to an infographic provided by the Beverly Fund.
18. Cost of Secondhand Smoke: BlueCross BlueShield offers an interesting infographic that illustrates the cost of secondhand smoke in death and in dollars.
19. Conditions Caused by Secondhand Smoke: The State of Minnesota offers an interesting look at the costs of certain conditions caused by secondhand smoke, including those related to low birth weight, heart attack, ear infection and lung cancer.

Quit Smoking

Are you interested in quitting? Here are some intersting infographics about quitting smoking.

20. When You Quit: This cool infographic found on BlissTree shows a timeline of the changes in your body that result from the moment you stop smoking. An interesting look at how you can reap almost immediate benefits when you quit.
21. Support for Quitting: One of the most difficult things about quitting smoking is finding help and support. And it’s not hard to see why. According to the CDC, most smokers receive advice to quit — without getting information on helping them quit.
22. Higher Prices and Smoking: GOOD offers an interesting infographic that allows you to compare the cost of smoking with how many people in the state smoke. Also includes states with certain smoking bans. Look at what factors might contribute to quitting.
23. Smoking Cost Calculator: This basic infographic is interactive, allowing you to enter how much you smoke each day, and uses costs of cigarettes and inflation to figure out how much money you could save if you quit smoking.
24. Attempts to Quit: Where are people trying to quit smoking? This infographic from StateMaster.com lists states, and the percentage of smokers trying to quit.
25. How Cigarettes Taste: BoingBoing offers an interesting (and subjectively tongue in cheek) look at how cigarettes might taste according to mood. It includes such items have how good they taste when you are stressed, trying to quit, or starting again.

One of the areas that many feel warrants a little more attention is men’s health and wellness. This is especially true since many men are reluctant to seek medical help — even for a regular physical or preventative visits. As a result, it is extremely important that men have access to information about remaining healthy. The Internet offers a number of resources aimed at men’s health and wellness. Here are 50 essential sites that can help men keep up with their health:

General Information

Find general information on health issues faced by men, as well as suggestions for improving health and wellness.

1. Womenshealth.gov: It may seem a little odd to go looking for men’s health information on a site geared toward women, but the government offers health information on wellness in a variety of categories of men’s health.
2. WebMD: One of the premier names in reliable health information, WebMD also has a section devoted entirely to men’s health.
3. Medicine.Net: This is another well-known health and wellness site. And it, too, has an entire section devoted to health issues faced by men.
4. Medline Plus: This is a government site offered through the National Institutes for Health. As you might expect, the “Men’s Health” section addresses wellness issues of concern to men.
5. Men’s Health Center: This section of HealthSquare.com focuses on health issues and concerns related to men.
6. About.com: Get good information on men’s health and wellness from a knowledgeable guide.
7. Men’s Health: This site is the official homepage for Men’s Health magazine.
8. Natural Nurse: This site offers information about living a health lifestyle the natural way, and includes information on men’s wellness.
9. Manifest: This is a Portland, Oregon community focused on helping improve men’s wellness. Helpful information and articles for those who do not live in the Portland area.
10. Details for Men: This popular men’s magazine includes a section on wellness at its online home.

Sexual Health

One of the biggest issues for many men is sexual health. You can get a handle on your sexual health issues with help from these sites:

11. AOL Health: This site offers information on sexual health and how to maintain it.
12. HealthCentral.com: Get a look at men’s sexual health information and issues in a practical, real-world way.
13. Men’s Sex Health: Learn about different issues related to male sexuality and health.
14. MSN Health & Fitness: There is a section on men’s sexual health, with articles addressing issues such as libido and safe sex.
15. Healthy Aging: This section on healthy aging from the Mayo Clinic’s web site looks at men’s sexual health above the age of 50.
16. Health.com: Offers a look at sexual dysfunction in men and how it can be treated.
17. HealthInsite: This site from the government of Australia offers some helpful information and resources for men’s sexual health.
18. Intellihealth: Get good information on midlife sexuality from this site that focuses on intelligent health decisions.

Mental Health

One very real issue that is difficult for many men to deal with is mental health. Here are some web sites that can help with mental health for men.

19. About.com: There is a specific section in the Mental Health section at About.com that focuses on mental health issues of import to males.
20. AskMen.com: Great information on mental health for men, and resources for increased wellness.
21. American Psychological Association: The web site for the APA publication Monitor on Psychology offers some insight into men’s mental health needs.
22. National Institutes of Health: There is a series on depression in men that can be of benefit in terms of overall wellness.
23. Medical News Today: Offers an interesting look at the men’s mental health crisis.
24. MentalHelp.net: This web site can provide a number of helpful resources for anyone — including men — who are looking for mental health help.
25. NAMI: The National Alliance on Mental Illness offers information and resources on mental health in general, and includes specific information on men’s mental health.
26. WHO: The World Health Organization has some solid information about general mental health, including men’s mental health issues.

Fitness

Physical fitness and wellness is essential to successful health. Here are some web sites that can help you improve your fitness level.

27. EveryJoe: This men’s web site has a specific section on health, which deals mainly with fitness, exercise and weight loss.
28. Men’s Fitness: The online home of Men’s Fitness magazine provides a great deal of helpful information on working out and staying physically fit.
29. Fitness Online: Get practical, helpful hints on weight loss and health workout routines.
30. Suite 101: Find a number of great exercises for men over the age of 50.
31. Men’s Total Fitness: Get reviews on exercise equipment, and learn about the basics of exercise and nutrition.
32. Bullz-Eye.com: The Fitness Channel at Bullz-Eye.com provides helpful information on exercise to help you work out more effectively.
33. Health & Fitness Tips: Get basic information on tips that can help you maintain better physical fitness.
34. LifeTips: These exercise tips form LifeTips.com can help you learn to exercise more effectively, and learn how your body functions during a workout.

Nutrition

Making sure that your body gets proper nutrition is an essential part of health and wellness. Here are some web sites that focus on men’s nutrition:

35. Personal Nutrition Guide: Includes a section on how men think about nutrition, and how men can improve how they think about their diet.
36. Discovery Health: There is a special section on Discovery Health where men’s nutrition questions are answered.
37. Brown University: Find information and resources about diet and nutrition as they relate to men.
38. NAFWA: The Nutrition and Food Web Archive offers a handy place to find some helpful information about men’s nutrition.
39. HAP.org: Nutrition information for men, including a handy chart with serving sizes and food suggestions for a healthy diet.
40. Reader’s Digest: You can find some great information on “super foods” for men here, as well as get other general information on men’s health.
41. Squidoo: A whole section is available on men’s nutrition tips and hints.
42. Young Men’s Health: This web site, as you might surmise, is aimed at helping young men develop healthy nutrition and fitness habits.

Senior Health

Aging can be difficult, even for men. Bodies change, and different health and wellness needs emerge. Here are some sites that can help you with aging concerns:

43. National Institutes of Health: The NIH offers great information on remaining healthy while aging.
44. C-Health: This web site offers a number of helpful articles on the basics of remaining healthy and maintaining wellness as you age.
45. Eons: This is an online community for those over 50 who are looking to connect with others, as well as find information on aging and maintaining wellness while doing so.
46. AFAR: This site helps you understand the challenges of aging, and how to reduce them.
47. Fit-Senior.com: Get fitness information and exercise ideas for exercising over the age 50.
48. Men’s Journal: This offers helpful information on a number of topics related to men, including health and aging.
49. American Health Assistance Foundation: Learn about common diseases that are likely with aging, and how to combat them and take control of your health.
50. AgeNet: A helpful resource for those who are interested in learning more about aging and doing so with a healthy lifestyle.

We all hear about how going green is good for the planet, and that we should be taking good care of the Earth. However, we rarely hear about the importance of going green on our health. Much of the debate focuses on issues like global warming and environmental sustainability. But going green isn’t something that only benefits the Earth. There are very real benefits that you can enjoy as far as your health is concerned. Here are 25 health benefits of going green:

Reducing Energy Use and Using Alternative Energy

Much of our energy comes from fossil fuels that can cause a number of problems beyond global warming. When we reduce our energy use, and when we use alternative energy, there are some tangible health benefits that come along with the territory.

1. Breathe easier. Pollution can enhance asthma and allergies. It is also linked to lung cancer. Going green can help clean the air space, and improve your ability to breathe.
2. Heart healthy. Some of the particulates in the air that come from pollution caused by fossil fuels can actually contribute to heart disease and other cardiac issues. Reducing pollution with greener energy practices can actually help your heart.
3. Infectious diseases. The spread of infectious diseases can be exacerbated through global warming as the by-products of our energy use are released. You can help slow the spread of pandemics by reducing your energy use.
4. Reduce acid rain. Pollution from industrial energy use, as well as home energy use that creates increased demand, can cause acid rain. Indeed, since the implementation of the Clean Air Act, the incidence of harmful acid rain has been reduced.
5. Let in the sun. Instead of relying wholly on artificial lighting, you can let in the sunlight. Open your shades and let natural lighting help you reduce your energy needs and let the sun’s health benefits help you. Natural lighting helps your calcium absorption, and there have been studies done on the helpfulness of natural sunlight on your mental health and mood.
6. Worker deaths. Energy production with fossil fuels results in hundreds of worker deaths each year. Oil rigs and coal mines are notoriously unsafe and damaging to worker health. Increasing green energy use could mean that jobs in safer, healthier environments could replace the dangerous and dirty jobs related to fossil fuels.

Changing Your Transportation Habits

The way you get from point A to point B can have an impact on your health. Changing your transportation habits can actually help you improve your health, in addition to reducing the pollution that harms the Earth.

7. Ride your bike. Riding your bike to work can provide you with good exercise. This exercise can lead to increased heart health and a number of other benefits, including weight loss.
8. Take the bus. If you are not quite up to riding your bike to work, you can take public transportation. This will cut down on pollution, and it will give you some exercise as you walk to and from your stops.
9. Meet other people. Social interactions can help us stave off depression. You can improve your mental health when you interact with neighbors as you ride the bus or carpool.
10. Increase your productivity. Make the most of your commute with public transportation. This can help you get more done on the commute, since you won’t be driving. And when you are more productive, you have more time at home to relax and be with your family, allowing you stress reduction and increased mental wellness.
11. Work from home. If your company will let you, you can reduce pollution by avoiding a commute altogether. Working from home can put you at ease, save you time, and prevent you from being exposed to unhealthy air.
12. Enjoy nature. Biking or walking to the bus stop can give you an opportunity to interact with nature. Being outside, and seeing plants and small animals can actually help improve your health. Contact with nature can enhance mood, reduce mental fatigue and increase concentration.

Buying Local Food and Avoiding Pre-Packaged Food

In addition to activities that can reduce pollution directly, going green can be done through how you eat. You can increase your health by choosing foods that are greener, and by buying local foods.

13. Avoid pesticides. Pesticides on foods that are not certified organic can cause sickness and other health issues. When you choose produce that is organically grown, it is better for the environment, and for your health.
14. Stay away from pre-packaged foods. Not only do pre-packaged foods use materials and energy, but they are often full of excess sodium and sugar and empty calories. Avoiding pre-packaged foods not only helps the environment, but it can also help you improve your health by reducing your intake of things that cause obesity, heart disease and cancer.
15. Drink non-bottled water. Bottled water uses resources and energy. Additionally, chemicals from the plastic bottles can leach into water and cause health problems. Drink more water, but get it filtered from the tap and make use of special rated reusable water bottles.
16. Get produce locally. One of the best things you can do for your health is buy local produce. Produce from far off is often picked before it is ripe. Some studies suggest that allowing produce to ripen on the plant increases its nutrient content.
17. Reduce meat consumption. The amount of energy used to bring meat to the table is rather large, and contributes to pollution and environmental degradation. Additionally, the over-consumption of meat can lead to health problems in humans. Cut back your meat consumption to something more moderate, and you will see a reduction in heart disease, obesity and other health problems.
18. Wild caught and free range meat and fish. Wild caught fish and free range chickens and grass-fed cows are usually raised with more environmentally sustainable methods. Additionally, organic meat and eggs are often not infused with hormones, while having an increase in some nutrients. This can contribute to your health, by helping you avoid chemicals and hormones, as well as create leaner meat that is healthier.

Household Products

What you have in your home can impact your health. Many of the products and chemicals we use in the home are not only bad for the environment, but also harmful to our health.

19. Avoid harmful fertilizers. What you put on your lawn can affect your health and the health of the environment. Rain can wash the chemicals into the water supply and they can seep into the ground. Additionally, if you are not careful, you can get the chemicals on your body and in your food if you get your garden. Use environmentally friendly fertilizers, or use organic means, such as mulching, to help keep your lawn healthy.
20. Stop using harmful insecticides. Like fertilizers, insecticides can cause health problems. You can increase your health — and your children’s health — by stopping the use of these insecticides. There are recipes for environmentally friendly insecticides, and other products that can help you control pests.
21. Clean with healthier household cleaners. Many cleaning products that you purchase at the store have harmful chemicals. These can cause headaches, respiratory problems and enhance other health issues. You might notice a difference when you stop using these chemicals and replace them with non-toxic household cleaners, some of which you can use at home.
22. Consider your paint: Many paints release compounds into the air of your home that can be harmful. Choosing high-quality paint for your home’s interior, with a low-incidence of volatile organic compounds can help you reduce headaches and breathe easier.
23. Use different diapers. There are estimates that viruses can live in disposable diapers up to two weeks. Sanitation can be a real issue. Additionally, infections and diaper rash can affect the health of you baby. Using cloth diapers instead for most needs can reduce environmental impact and help the health of your baby.
24. Be wary of plastic containers. Some studies suggest that contaminants found in some plastics can cause fertility issues and other health problems. Storing your food in these containers can be damaging to your health, just as their production is damaging the the environment. Use environmentally friendly containers for food storage and reduce harmful effects to your health.

25. Your financial health. Finally, going green can be good for your wallet. You can save money by making your own household products, as well as save money on transportation costs when you adopt green practices. And, of course, when you are physically healthy, you save money on insurance and medical expenses.

Learning about the human body is important if you want to work in health care or a medical-related field. Therapists, sports trainers and others can also benefit from an understanding of the human body. Happily, modern technology — in the form of the Internet — provides the tools necessary for nearly anyone to learn about anything through open courseware classes. It is possible for you to learn more about the human body, expanding your knowledge and becoming a better practitioner, from a number of schools. Here are 40 open courseware classes that can help broaden your knowledge base of how the human body works:

Anatomy and Physiology

If you want to know more about how the human body is put together, and how its systems work, anatomy and physiology courses can help.

1. Anatomy and Physiology from Western Governors University provides a look at the different systems in the body, as well as how they work and how they are built. Class is divided into modules for self-learning. Completing the course as scheduled takes most students about 14 weeks.
2. The Human Body from Harvard Medical School is comprised of a number resources on different aspects of the human body, its anatomy and physiology, and how basic functions of the body work.
3. Physiology of the Ear from MIT is a course designed to provide an in-depth look at the workings of the human ear. Assignments and projects help you apply your knowledge and internalize what you learn.
4. Occurrence of Central Nerve System/Analysis of Differentiation Mechanism from the University of Tokyo provides an interesting look at the nervous system. Lecture notes and videos are included in this resource. (Yes, it’s in English.)
5. Evolution of the Immune System from MIT offers a look at how the human immune system evolved, as well as some of the unique features of this system. Includes a syllabus, readings and assignments that you can complete on your own.
6. Human Reproductive Biology from MIT focuses on the reproductive system. Describes the physiology of female and male systems of reproduction, as well as including lecture notes, assignments and exams.
7. Gastroenterology from MIT looks at the gastrointestinal system and how it works.
8. Modern Biology from the Open Learning Initiative at Carnegie Mellon University explores how the body is put together at a molecular level. Learn about lipids and enzymes, and how the body breaks down nutrients.
9. Health is everywhere: unraveling the mystery of heath from The Open University covers the basics of health, and what makes good health. Addresses the human body, and how to keep it in proper working order.
10. Health from Yale offers readings and notes about health. This collection provides a great overview of the human body, and how it responds in real-life situations, as well as addressing issues of pandemic, globalization and genetics.

Pathology and Diseases

How disease moves through the human body is helpful information for medical and health care professionals. These courses can provide you with insight into disease and how it affects the body.

11. Principles of Human Disease from MIT takes a look at modern approaches to understanding and treating diseases that affect humans. Includes genetics information and other factors that influence the progress of diseases.
12. Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases from Johns Hopkins University provides a look at how diseases grow and spread from human to human. Includes case studies and a look at how infection develops, takes hold and spreads.
13. Basic Human Pathology from Tufts University offers lectures on different aspects of diseases and how they develop in humans. A basic understanding of injury and wound healing, how disease affects different systems and how the body adapts to disease.
14. Pathophysiology of Infectious Diseases from Tufts University looks at how disease works. Includes lecture notes, readings, case studies and quizzes.
15. Chronic Infection and Inflammation: What are the Consequences on Your Health? from MIT looks at how recurring infection can have long-term impacts on your health. Course materials are provided, along with lectures and a syllabus to help you keep on track.
16. Parkinson’s Disease Workshop from MIT provides a look at Parkinson’s Disease and offers information on how it progresses, and some of the treatments that are being attempted.
17. Fundamentals of Oncology for Public Heath Practitioners from Johns Hopkins University follows the progressions of major forms of cancer, as well as discusses common treatment options. Includes readings and lecture notes, as well as a schedule that can help you plan your study.
18. Oral Public Health: Slide Lecture 3: Issues and Hot Topics in Oral and Public Health looks at how diseases affect the mouth. This lecture looks at public health and the spread of disease. Includes flouridation, waste, HIV/AIDS, cancer and infection control.
19. Cultures of Disease and Care from Notre Dame is part of an overall course on Medicine and Public Health in American History. Lecture notes explore how society and other factors influence how we view disease, and how we seek treatment for it.

Nutrition and Fitness

The human body requires proper nutrition and physical activity in order to remain healthy. Open courseware that addresses these issues can be used in tandem with other information on normal body functioning.

20. Introductory Nutrition from the University of Texas at Austin focuses on the basic principles of nutrition and the effects of food choices on the body.
21. Nutrient Function and Metabolism from the University of California at Berkeley provides an overview of how nutrients fuel the metabolism. Includes information on carbohydrates, lipids and proteins, and addresses toxicity.
22. Nutrition: proteins from The Open University offers an overview of protiens, and how they function within the body.
23. Nutrition: vitamins and minerals from The Open University looks at how common vitamin and minerals are necessary for the body, and how they can help you maintain health.
24. Active, healthy lifestyles from The Open University helps you understand the role an active lifestyle plays in a healthy body.
25. Health and Fitness from Western Governors University provides a look at proper health through good fitness routines. Focuses on body systems and physical health, emotional health, nutrition and susbtance abuse.
26. Physical Intelligence from MIT addresses the connection between body and mind, and how you can use physical activity to improve the channel between the two while improving the health and function of the body.
27. Introduction to Cardiovascular Fitness from Wikiversity looks at how to improve the health of the cardiovascular system. Includes class discussions, projects, readings and links for further resources.
28. Things to Watch Out For from Utah State University addresses substance abuse. Learn about why substance abuse occurs and the signs that it has become a problem. This course also addresses prevention and treatment of substance abuse.

Life Stages

The body needs different things at different stages of life. Learn about specific issues confronting the body during youth and during old age.

29. Human Growth and Development from Tufts University provides an overview of the different stages of development from birth to death.
30. Health Across the Life Span: Frameworks, Contexts, and Measurements from Johns Hopkins University looks at how the body functions from the time one is born until the end of life.
31. Adolescent Health and Development from Johns Hopkins University looks at how young bodies develop, and the specific health issues that should be addressed.
32. Young people’s wellbeing from The Open Unviersity focuses on common issues, including obesity, depression, drinking and behavioral problems, that commonly affect youth.
33. Risks for STI/HIV – Opportunities for Prevention from Johns Hopkins University is focused on understanding why youth engage in risky sexual behaviors, and how it can be prevented.
34. The Wisdom Years from United Nations University explores the effects of aging on the body. It also looks at how to care for the elderly.
35. Elderly and Activity from Wikiversity looks at how physical activity can have positive effects on aging bodies.
36. Pain Management Strategies in the Elderly from Harvard Medical School addresses end of life care for the aging, and focuses specifically on how pain affects the body, and how it can be managed.

Nursing

Learn some of the things that nurses should know in order to better care for patients. These are some nursing courses that can help you learn more about the human body.

37. Medical Terminology from the College of Eastern Utah takes you through the basics of how words are used in the field of medicine.
38. Microbiology from Tufts University looks the basics of cells in the body. Aimed at providing a basic understanding of how the body works on a cellular level.
39. Health Assessment and Promotion from UMass Boston offers helpful hints on learning how to quickly assess someone’s health and make possible diagnoses of various diseases.
40. Caring in hospitals from The Open University offers a look at proper procedure and the different ways that the body can be treated in hospitals.

Your immune system is what helps your body fight off disease. This system is a collection of cells and organs in your body that attacks outside contaminents that threaten your health. When your immune system is weakened, you are more likely to become sick. Indeed, a good immune system is essential if you expect to ward of illnesses and remain in good health. Unfortunately, there are many things you could be doing right now to wreck your immune system. Here are 25 things that could put your immune system — and your health — at risk.

Food

You are what you eat. And if what you eat is junk, that’s what your immune system is likely to be. While avoiding certain foods altogether is not required to maintain a healthy immune system, it is a good idea to remember moderation. Here are some of the ways that what you choose to put into your body can affect your immune system in a negative manner.

1. Too much sugar: I have a sweet tooth. However, I have to remember to moderate how much I eat. Too much sugar interferes with the body’s ability to absorb needed nutrients — especially Vitamin C (which is thought to be good for the immune system). You can end up with a hormonal and chemical imbalance when you consumer too much sugar, and that’s rarely a good thing.
2. High amounts of fat: Just as eating too much sugar can be bad for your immune system, so too can excess fat. High amounts of fat can cause toxins to get into your body’s systems — including your immune system, weakening your ability to fight of disease. Even too much unsaturated fat can cause problems with your immune system.
3. Excess protein: It is true that protein is needed for a healthy body and properly functioning immune system. However, too much protein starts to wreak havoc with your body. This is because unused protein is converted into fat for storage. And that fat can cause immune system problems.
4. Excess alcohol: Alcohol deprives the body of nutrients that can help boost the immune system. On top of that, high amounts of alcohol can actually suppress white blood cells. White blood cells are an essential part of your immune system.
5. Drugs: Illegal drugs have obvious effects on the immune system. Marijuana and other drugs can inhibit the absorption of helpful nutrients into the blood stream. However, over the counter and prescription drugs can also effect the immune system in a negative way. In fact, there is a common antibiotic that, when combined with a specific immune system, can cause serious injury.
6. Food allergies: Food allergies contribute to immune system problems. If you are lactose intolerant, or if you have Celiac disease, or some other food allergy, your immune system is affected. Every time you eat something that your body attacks, the response is harder to overcome, and your immune system is weakened.
7. Lack of probiotics: There are certain bacteria that are actually good for you. There is speculation (nothing proven) that probiotics can boost your immune system. A lack of them can leave your illness-fighting capabilities below what is needed. Yogurt is one of the most famous sources of probiotics.
8. Not enough water: Water can help you keep your immune system healthy. It aids in flushing out toxins, and that means that your immune system does not have to work so hard. Drinking water, instead of energy drinks, soda and other unhealthy beverages can be of great help to your immune system.
9. General lack of nutrition: Without proper nutrition, your body does not have what it needs to function at a high level — and that includes your immune system.

Lifestyle

How you live your life can also affect your immune system. Your lifestyle choices can ultimately influence your immune system and your overall health. Here are some of the ways that you can mess up your immune system:

10. Lack of sleep: We’re all busy, and sometimes sleep is the thing we sacrifice in order to get done everything we need to do. However, sleep is a vital component to your immune system. Rest allows your cells to regenerate, and your body’s systems to gain strength. Without adequate rest, your immune system can falter.
11. Lack of exercise: If you are too sedentary, your body does not receive the healthy exercise it needs to be strong. Regular exercise can help boost your immune system, and help you feel better in general.
12. Too much exercise: While moderate, regular exercise is good for the immune system, too much exercise can cause problems. When you are too intense, too much of the time, you actually start to harm your body. Too much physical stress can overwhelm the body, and the immune system.
13. Chronic stress: Are you stressed out and anxious? Chronic stress can actually harm the immune system through the inability of the body to respond to certain hormonal signals. So, slow down. You may be making yourself susceptible to illness.
14. Yo-yo dieting: Another habit that may affect your immune system is yo-yo dieting. Dramatic weight changes, and attempts to lose weight quickly, wreak havoc with your body. These frequent, extreme changes to the body can lead to a weaker immune system.
15. Fun in the sun: Without proper protection, your fun in the sun could turn into an immune system problem. Prolonged exposure to ultra violet (UV) rays can interfere with the way your immune system functions. While a small amount of sunlight helps with Vitamin D production in the body, too much can be harmful. Make sure to wear sunscreen while you are outside.
16. Smoking: When you smoke, you weaken your immune system. Smoking introduces harmful elements into your system, forcing your immune processes to work overtime. Children exposed to second hand smoke are especially vulnerable when it comes to their immune systems.

Health Concerns

There are a number of health concerns and conditions that can affect the immune system. It is important that, if you have these health concerns, you do what you can to compensate for your weakened immune system:

17. Aging: There’s not much you can do about this one, except live as healthy a lifestyle as you can manage. As your body ages, its processes begin to break down, and this includes the immune system.
18. Injuries: Any stress on your body can result in stress on your immune system. Injuries definitely fall into this category. Repeated injuries — from falling or sports or some other reason — can lead to reduced capacity for your immune system.
19. Depression: One of the most difficult issues facing many people is depression. But depression does more than affect your psychological wellbeing. Depression also causes an increase in hormones that can wear down the immune system.
20. Regular infections: The more your immune system is called upon, the more worn out it becomes. If you have regular infections or sickness, you can put added stress on your immune system and reduce its ability to respond to illness.
21. Not washing your hands: Many illnesses are acquired through lack of good hygiene. Poor hygiene introduces Practice good hygiene, washing your hands, and keeping cuts and scrapes clean. You should also bathe regularly and take other measures to keep your body clean. However, don’t go overboard. Like all else, moderation is needed. Excessive hygiene can be harmful as well.
22. Treatment for illness: When you are treated for illness — espcially if that treatment is aggressive — you can end up with a weaker immune system. This is especially true of some cancer, HIV/AIDS and other chronic/terminal illness treatments.
23. Anitbiotics: Strange as it may sound, the aggressive use of antibiotics in everything from handsoap to medications may be weakening the immune system. Antibiotics can kill helpful bacteria that aid your immune system, and you also have to be concerned about antibiotic resistance amongst some germs.
24. Seasonal allergies: If you have seasonal allergies, you may find that your immune system is affected. Allergies trigger responses in your body to fight invading pathogens. The recurring trigger leads to an immune system that can become worn down.
25. Impurities in the air: What you breath in can affect your immune system. Air pollution, dust and other particles can enter your body and trigger an immune response. Whether outside or inside, try to avoid dirty air.