It used to be that group classes at gyms were broken into a few small categories -- men/women, high intensity/low impact and so forth. But gyms have started to offer special classes that are designed to benefit much smaller groups. Most recently, gyms are offering classes designed for people with certain conditions or illnesses.

Osteoporosis, cancer, and cardiovascular conditions are just a few of the health problems gyms are starting to target. Depending on the condition, the classes may aim to improve the symptoms and/or reduce risk factors for recurrence.

If you have a specific condition, talk to one of the trainers at your gym. (Or call a local gym if you don't have a membership.) Even if they don't have condition-specific classes scheduled yet, they may have other gym-goers who are interested. In the meantime, a trainer can design a program that works specifically for your health needs.

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Does the controversial in-the-news troubled British singer Amy Winehouse strike you as someone who cares about what people think of her? Well, she's not.

Winehouse, 24, is not hiding away then as she deals with her diagnosis of impetigo, a bacterial skin infection that causes pimple-like lumps. Her bumps, which are highly contagious and capable of spreading to other parts of the body and other people, are on her face. She's doing fine, though, says a pal to PEOPLE magazine. Winehouse is currently taking prescribed antibiotics for her condition.

For an overview of impetigo, including signs, symptoms, causes, risk factors, and treatment, check out this Mayo Clinic resource.

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Thyroid conditions affect as many as 25 million Americans, oftentimes making daily life very arduous. With that being the case, you can probably imagine how tough it sometimes can be for these same people to endure a workout. All of this can be extremely frustrating, as the best of intentions to be healthier can sometimes be thwarted by your own body. Thankfully, if you have a thyroid condition, there are some easy lifestyle changes that may help get you through your day.

Avoid the Tap. Unless your tap water is filtered, you may be ingesting too much fluoride, which can hinder thyroid function. Opt instead for bottled water.

Get Your Selenium. Since your body needs this mineral to produce thyroid hormones, it's vital that you are taking in adequate amounts. Selenium can be found in abundance in rice, Brazil nuts, and tuna.

Get your Iodine, Too. This trace mineral is also required for thyroid hormone production. Get your fill of it easily from table salt and seafood.

Cut Back on Soy. Isoflavones in soy can interfere with the production and use of thyroid hormones, so you would do well to keep your soy intake to a minimum.

If any of you suffer from a thyroid condition and have any additional tips or comments, please feel free leave them in the section below.

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Dealing with the symptoms of diabetes, along with treating the disease itself, can be an exhausting challenge. Those of you out there currently dealing with diabetes might be interested in this piece, which says that as little as 20 minutes a day of exercise can help raise energy levels, as well as deal with a number of the side-effects that come with the condition.

According to the information in the piece, daily physical activity can also increase whole-body insulin levels, lower A1C (blood glucose test) levels, and decrease the risk of developing cardiovascular disease and hypertension. Not bad for a short, brisk walk arond the block! And of course, any kind of regular activity is good for your body and mind as a whole, so if you're dealing with diabetes, finding time for a bit of exercise has numerous benefits.

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Multiple Sclerosis is one of those scary diseases that doesn't have a cure and that no one knows the cause of. I admit that I'm a bit of a hypochondriac so any condition for which there are no known preventive measures worries me quite a bit. I never really knew much about MS until someone I know was diagnosed with the disease and filled me in on some of its idiosyncrasies.

First of all, as information on this site states, there seems to be some weird link between MS and the weather. There is a much higher instance of the disease among those who grew up in cold climates and no one really knows why. Similarly, symptoms of the disease seem to worsen for some when they spend too much time in a hot climate. At the same time though, I've heard about people with the disease who find that their symptoms are much better when they visit warm and humid climates. Go figure. It's definitely a mysterious disease.

While it's frustrating to known that you can't really take any steps to prevent MS, I also learned that, depending on the severity of the disease, for many the symptoms can be controlled by lifestyle. The person I know with MS says that she feels pretty much normal as long as she sticks to a healthy diet with lots of exercise and little drinking. Alternative therapies like acupuncture and herbal medicine also seem to help. So while being diagnosed with the condition is pretty scary, it's important to keep in mind that there are a variety of ways to treat, deal with and live with the disease.

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For most kids the phrase "Go ask your mother," or conversely, "Go ask your father" was an annoying tactic that parents used to delay denying or consenting to a request. There are some important health-related questions, though, that only your parents can answer and as such, it's important to go ask both your mom and dad about the family history of a range of health problems.

A number of physical conditions tend to run in families and knowing whether or not you are genetically predisposed to these conditions can help when diagnosing, treating or even preventing them. This article lists seven important questions to ask both parents in order to gain insight into your family's health history. These include whether there is a family history of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, breast cancer and melanoma. While there are a range of ways to protect yourself against such conditions, it is always helpful to know whether you may also be predisposed.

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