About 18 percent of American adults have anxiety disorders. Approximately 7 percent of the population will suffer from generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). GAD involves excessive anxiety and worry over many different activities and events occurring more days than not for at least six months. The symptoms cause clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupational or other important areas of functioning.

On most intelligence tests, the average IQ score is 100. Psychologists have discovered that 50 percent of people have an IQ between 90 and 110. The attribute of intelligence refers to quickness of mental comprehension or mental agility. Social intelligence refers to our interactions as well as our thoughts and feelings about people and our relationships. Emotional intelligence includes self-control, persistence, and the ability to motivate oneself.

As many as 27 million Americans have some type of thyroid disease; about 50 percent are undiagnosed. More than 8 out of 10 patients with thyroid disease are women. Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine cancer and is one of the few cancers that has increased in incidence rates over the past several years. Thyroid cancer is different from many other adult cancers because it usually affects younger people.

Stress in adolescence is just as prevalent as in adults. The physical, intellectual, emotional, and social changes that middle schoolers are experiencing rival those of babies and toddlers. Drives and impulses become stronger. Restraints become weaker. Sources of stress might include: school demands, changes in their bodies, problems with friends, divorce of parents, death of a loved one, moving, family financial problems, too many activities, and having high expectations.

About one in five women, three percent of men, and 50 percent of pregnant women in the United States have iron deficiency anemia, the most common form. Also, 7 percent of children ages 1-2 years and about 175,000 nursing home residents suffer from low levels of iron. Anemia can be temporary or long term and can range from mild to severe. There are many types of anemia such as iron deficiency, vitamin deficiency, sickle cell anemia, and Thalassemia (Cooley’s anemia).

There is a growing interest in probiotics and some researchers believe probiotics may improve general health. Probiotics refers to dietary supplements or foods such as yogurt, fermented/unfermented milk, some juices, miso, soy drinks, etc. that contain beneficial or “good” bacteria that are similar to those normally found in the body. Probiotics can help treat several gastrointestinal ills, delay the development of allergies in children, reduce bladder cancer occurrence, prevent eczema in children, and improve lactose intolerance.

Research indicates that at least 20 percent of people classify themselves as procrastinators. Procrastination is associated with higher stress, a greater number of acute health problems, the practice of fewer wellness behaviors, and less frequent dental and medical check-ups. It prevents people from having success and being happy. It kills dreams, interferes with relationships, and causes financial difficulties.

Marijuana is the most widely used illicit drug in the country. An estimated 25 million Americans smoked it within the last year and close to 100 million have smoked it at least once in their life. The strength of today’s marijuana is as much as ten times greater than the marijuana used in the early 1970s. There are more teens in drug treatment for marijuana dependence than for alcohol or any other drug.

Complications from chronic heartburn are on the rise. Five to 15 percent of heartburn sufferers have chronic heartburn. Esophageal cancer is the nation’s fastest growing malignancy and about 25 million Americans have some form of esophageal disease, the most common is GERD. Heartburn leads people to spend nearly $2 billion a year on over-the-counter antacids.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women. It claims more lives than colon, prostate, lymph, and breast cancers combined. Smoking accounts for nearly 90 percent of lung cancer cases. According to a Surgeon General’s report, nonsmokers exposed to secondhand smoke at home or at work increase their risk of developing lung cancer by 20 to 30 percent.