Testosterone drugs such as Androgel 1.62% and Axiron increase the risk of heart attacks, strokes, and other cardiovascular events in men who take the drugs. Children accidentally exposed to testosterone can experience early puberty, and women who touch the stuff can experience acne and the growth of body hair. Need another reason to steer clear of the drugs? Consider this: The gels are flammable.

Q. I have a water purifier in my fridge and one in my sink. Is there a way to verify that they're working? A.L., Columbus, Ga.

Not from your vet. They sharply mark up their drug prices, and tack on a $5 to $15 dispensing fee, according to the American Animal Hospital Association. For many pet meds, a better bet is your local pharmacy.

Ever since the major video game platforms (the Nintendo Wii U, Sony PlayStation 3, and Microsoft Xbox 360) added motion-controlled gaming, players have been jumping off the couch and moving more than their trigger fingers. But say you're new to the world of games and are more interested in fitness than collecting virtual coins or battling digital aliens. Which console should you buy?

Angelina Jolie's announcement this week that she had both breasts surgically removed to reduce her risk of breast cancer has raised lots of questions about how to best prevent the disease in the women at highest risk of it.

Summer sun increases the risk of age-related macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in adults. A number of steps can help prevent that disease, as well as your risk of developing cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, and glaucoma.

Think "natural" sex supplements are safer than prescription drugs like Cialis and Viagra? In many cases, the answer is no, and for a simple reason: The supplements sold online are often spiked with the real thing.

The tech folks at Consumer Reports spent nearly 100 hours putting together treadmills and ellipticals last year! And just last week I found mechanical engineer Kyaw Naing stretched out on the floor putting together 8 new stationary bikes we'll be testing soon. Kyaw joked that unpacking the equipment sometimes takes more time than putting it together. He photographs all the pieces once they're out of the box to make sure we're not missing any parts and as proof of what we received since we buy our products off the shelves or online, just like you.

Q. I've heard that bats are good to have around because they eat bugs. But don't they also carry rabies? —M.O., White Plains, N.Y.

Not if the screening device scans your heel to capture your bone density measurement, instead of the lower spine or hip. Bone density measurements help determine if you have osteoporosis. But heel scans can be inaccurate, say our medical consultants. The problem is that "normal" results could provide a false sense of security. For a better assessment, and to help determine whether you even need the test at all, discuss with your doctor.

Looking for some chips for a summer party and a quick, healthy dip to go with them? We've got you covered, with updated reviews of veggie chips and some recipes whipped up in the Consumer Reports' test kitchens.

If you've been blamed for giving Mom gray hair, here's what not to give her this Mother's Day: a bottle of Go Away Gray, a supplement that claims to "prevent and reverse gray hair" via a daily dose of catalase, an enzyme produced by hair cells that naturally declines with age.

Pregnant women often undergo medical procedures and invasive interventions, including induced labors and cesarean sections, without fully understanding the risks or being involved in making decisions about their care. Those are some of the findings of a major new survey to be released on Thursday of 2,400 women who recently had babies.

Think a pill that packs two cholesterol-lowering drugs in one potent package is a good idea? The Food and Drug Administration thinks so. It recently approved the combination of the popular statin drug Lipitor (atorvastatin) with another medication called Zetia (ezetimbe). But our medical advisers say the new product, Liptruzet, is too risky and too expensive.

Fish-oil pills and supplements of lutein and zeaxanthin, nutrients found in many fruits and vegetables, don't boost the effectiveness of a popular vitamin and mineral combination previously found to help fight macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness.