As I write this there haven’t been any cases of swine flu in Massachusetts, but no one would be surprised if it started showing up. American health officials have already declared a public health emergency.

Swine influenza viruses are not spread by food (you cannot get swine influenza from eating pork or pork products), it is spread like other flu forms. Here are some things to do to avoid being infected.

Q: I have been experiencing debilitating pain in my pelvic area for almost two years now. At first it would go away for a while and come back, but it has gotten worse. I also have chronic urine infections. What could this be from?

Here is a quick and easy way to determine if a person is over age 25 or 30. Do the cough test. If the person covers his mouth with his hand, he is older than 30. If, however, he covers his mouth with part of his arm, he is most likely less that 25 years old.

No, Trainer X isn't fishing through a time capsule, digging out a Journey concert T-shirt and dusting off cassette tapes (I'm proud to say I never purchased an 8-track, although I did listen to a Van Halen one while I first trained in my parents' living room ... but it was totally not mine!). What I'm talking about is breaking the tape like you do in a road race.

Swine flu Q&A from the CDC, with tips on how to stay healthy.

California Democrat Robert Filner, chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, filed legislation last month that if passed, would finally force the Department of Veterans Affairs to recognize a link between exposure of Agent Orange and Vietnam veterans with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

A Blue Zone, according to Dan Buettner, is a location where people live the longest, healthiest lives. Buettner is an explorer and writer for National Geographic, and he and his team of researchers have identified five such zones around the world – so far.

Kale, stinging nettles and dandelion greens in a smoothie? You bet!

Q: My aunt died of ovarian cancer over 10 years ago. Have there been any new techniques developed to screen for this awful disease? Should I be screened?

Today's parents have become very interested in finding innovative ways to help stimulate their babies and young children to become smarter and more cultured.

Getting in shape isn't easy; anyone who tells you otherwise is try to sell you something.

Each and every time I say hello to someone at my club, I feel great. I'm doing my job, making the health club a place where people like 68-years-young Rose Poland feels comfortable grimacing, contorting and carving her body into what she never though it could be. I ask more questions than I answer ("How are the kids?") and generally am friendly and try to help all the members.

A patient is critically ill and his or her family is hanging on every word the doctor utters about their loved one's condition and outlook. In such a situation, how realistic should the doctor be?

Q: Do people really freeze to death? A: Almost 1,000 Americans get hypothermic and die every year; although only in extreme circumstances does their body subsequently freeze. The very old, very young and those with mental impairments (whether congenital or from diseases, alcohol or drugs) are at an increased risk, as are those with prolonged cold exposure from outdoor jobs or recreational activities.