Second Opinion with Joan Lunden - Season 1

Nearly five million people in the United States are living with some degree of dementia. Over the next few decades, aging baby boomers are expected to push that number even higher. This episode of Second Opinion introduces a panel of researchers and healthcare providers, along with one extraordinary dementia patient, who explore the latest trends in diagnosing and treating one of the most frightening illnesses a family can face.

It is your body's engine, playing a critical part in your overall health and well-being. And like any engine, your heart can require an occasional tune-up. But what happens when it fails? Artificial hearts and organ transplants are the subjects of this episode of Second Opinion.

Cervical cancer is caused by several types of a virus called human papillomaviruses (HPV). The virus spreads through sexual contact. Most women's bodies are able to fight HPV infection. But sometimes the virus leads to cancer. You are at higher risk if you smoke, have many children, use birth control pills for a long time, or have HIV infection.

What if you could prevent cancer and heart disease by simply buying a few items off the grocery shelf? Sound crazy? Well, apparently many Americans don't think so. More than 40% of us take vitamins and other supplements, driving a $30 billion a year business that shows no sign of slowing down. But how safe is it to play your own doctor? Practitioners of both conventional and integrative medicine debate the pros and cons of nutritional supplements on this episode of Second Opinion.

It is called the silent killer, presenting few symptoms until there is serious physical damage. One out of three Americans suffer from hypertension and many of us don't even realize it. What qualifies as "high blood pressure," and what do the numbers mean? Panelists discuss the latest in diagnosis and treatment in this episode ofSecond Opinion.

More than 20 million women suffer in silence with a secret that causes embarrassment, humiliation and life-altering decisions. Join LPGA champion golfer Terry-Jo Myers in this lively episode ofSecond Opinion, when our panelists reveal why even doctors avoid the subject of incontinence and how the latest treatments offer new hope.

Breast cancer: two of the most frightening words in the English language. There's no shortage of advice for protection, detection and treatment options, and women presented with the diagnosis face an overwhelming number of choices. How do you make treatment decisions? And is there such a thing as a "survivor"? Our healthcare team tackles these questions and more on this episode of Second Opinion.

Magazine covers and newspaper headlines call it a national crisis. Confronted with the health and social costs of obesity, Americans will spend more than $30 billion dollars in their annual battle of the bulge, and most will lose the fight. Are we destined to be fat? And what's so wrong with a few extra pounds, anyway? We tackle these questions and more on this episode of Second Opinion.

It's a public health risk for 44 million Americans. It's a disease you may have and not even know it. But osteoporosis can be prevented and treated. Find out more about what can be done to help ensure healthy bones for you and your family on this episode of Second Opinion.

Once known as wonder drugs, they can actually be harmful to your health. How has our reliance on antibiotics helped create a new generation of super bugs? And what can we do to keep our families safe? These questions and more on this episode of Second Opinion.

It's something all women will face. Is menopause a natural part of aging or a medical condition? Is estrogen out and black cohosh in? What's a woman to do? And whom should she believe? From the conventional to the new age, treatments for the symptoms of menopause come front and center on this episode of Second Opinion.

A squeezing sensation in your chest, shooting pain in your left arm - classic signs of a heart attack, right? Well, not necessarily. Find out what we all need to know about heart attack and heart health on this episode of Second Opinion.