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As we move into fall, you might be feeling at the top of your game — you’ve made it a priority to exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet and get stress under control. Last summer, you barely had a sniffle. Plus, you’re one of those people who just doesn’t get sick very often. You might be wondering: Can I skip getting a flu shot?

An epidemic of chronic diseases continues to grow in the United States; half the population — an estimated 129 million Americans — have lifelong health conditions that need continuous medical attention and limit certain daily activities.

When it comes to stroke, it’s crucial to know how to recognize its signs and symptoms so you can access care quickly and preserve brain function. One acronym — BE FAST — can make it easier to identify a stroke, which happens when there’s a blockage to the brain’s blood supply (an ischemic stroke) or a sudden rupture and bleeding in the brain (a hemorrhagic stroke).

BE FAST stands for:

Asthma, a chronic condition that affects the airways in the lungs, can lead to a range of symptoms that interfere with daily life. While most people are familiar with the most common symptoms of asthma such as wheezing or whistling sounds, shortness of breath, chest tightness and frequent coughing, several others are not as widely recognized.

Like clockwork, two times a year — cold and flu season and allergy season — we get a tingle in our sinuses that can only mean one thing: The snot floodgates are about to open.

What is the difference between cardiovascular disease and heart disease?

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but there is a difference. Cardiovascular disease is an umbrella term that encompasses several heart conditions, including heart disease, coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure and peripheral artery disease.