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  • 2 Flu Types = 2 Shots

    Protect Yourself This Flu Season Protect yourself against the seasonal flu by following the same advice you followed last year: Get vaccinated. Everyone who is at least 6 months old should get a flu ...

  • 5 Ways to Avoid Colds and the Flu

    5 Ways to Avoid Colds and the Flu You don't want to spend this winter battling a runny nose, a nagging cough, or a fever. But colds and flu come with the season, right? They don't have to. Try this a...

  • 8 Mistakes Heart Patients Make

    8 Mistakes Heart Patients Make If you've already been through one heart attack, you're at increased risk for another, but with a few smart moves you can reduce that risk. Unfortunately, many heart pa...

  • A Checklist to Help You Spot Hearing Loss

    A Checklist to Help You Spot Hearing Loss Although most states now have mandatory requirements for hearing tests while a newborn is still in the hospital, some hearing-impaired children slip by the s...

  • A Closer Look at Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)

    A Closer Look at Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) IBS is not a disease; it is a disorder that interferes with the normal function of the large intestine (colon) and is characterized by cramping, abdomi...

  • A Fresh Look at Common Skin Problems

    A Fresh Look at Common Skin Problems Skin problems such as pimples, blackheads, rashes and oily skin aren't just for teens. They're also common in adults. But you don't necessarily need a dermatologi...

  • A Kids' Asthma Journal

    A Kids' Asthma Journal Do you want to gain better control over your asthma? Put it in writing! By following the examples below, you can use a journal to track day-to-day changes in your asthma. This ...

  • A Red Face Could Signal Rosacea

    A Red Face Could Signal Rosacea Most of us have seen someone with rosacea, a chronic skin condition that can cause facial redness, bumps, pimples, thick skin, and even bloodshot eyes. But we're often...

  • A Simple Way to Keep the Flu Away

    A Simple Way to Keep the Flu Away You can avoid the flu this season by taking one simple step: Get a flu vaccination. Unfortunately, some people think that getting a flu immunization is too much trou...

  • A Woman's Guide to Beating Heart Disease

    A Woman's Guide to Beating Heart Disease Surveys show fewer than one in 10 women perceive heart disease as their greatest health threat. But it's the nation's number one killer, and women are its pri...

  • A Woman's Guide to Cancer Screenings

    A Woman's Guide to Cancer Screenings You run two miles every other day and lift weights twice a week. You've been trying to eat more fruits and vegetables and less meat. You don't smoke. When it come...

  • Ability to Concentrate Isn't What It Used to Be

    Ability to Concentrate Isn't What It Used to Be When you are rolled into the operating room at the hospital, you want to know that the surgeon is ready to concentrate on your procedure. When you boar...

  • About Balance and Safety

    About Balance and Safety Having good balance means you’re able to control and maintain your body’s position, whether you’re in motion or remaining still. Learning about the causes of balance problems...

  • About High Blood Pressure

    About High Blood Pressure High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a condition that may not cause any noticeable symptoms for years. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a condition that may not ...

  • Action Plan for Osteoarthritis

    Action Plan for Osteoarthritis Stiff, painful joints are typical symptoms of osteoarthritis, also called degenerative joint disease. Joint pain is caused by a breakdown and destruction of cartilage t...

  • Acupuncture Can Help Relieve Headache Pain

    Acupuncture Can Help Relieve Headache Pain A recent study confirms what some migraine sufferers already know: Acupuncture may help relieve chronic headache pain. Acupuncture typically involves insert...

  • ADHD Drugs Safe, Experts Say

    ADHD Drugs Safe, Experts Say Parents of kids with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) face a tough choice: whether to medicate their children or not. And this affects a lot of families. E...

  • AEDs: High-Tech Help for Heart Attacks

    AEDs: High-Tech Help for Heart Attacks You've seen it time and again on television shows: After someone suffers a sudden heart attack, emergency room doctors grab the paddles and deliver an electric ...

  • Age and Asthma

    Age and Asthma Many people think of asthma as a childhood disease, but it often occurs as a new condition in older adults. Asthma in older adults presents some special concerns because the normal eff...

  • Aging Eyes and Glasses

    Aging Eyes and Glasses As your eyes age, their lenses become less flexible, and they slowly lose their ability to focus on nearby objects. It's an ongoing, lifelong process called presbyopia, which y...

  • Air Pollution Can Break Your Heart

    Air Pollution Can Break Your Heart Most people know air pollution can hurt your lungs and make it tough to breathe. But a growing body of research shows air pollution can be as bad or worse for your ...

  • All About Age-Related Macular Degeneration

    All About Age-Related Macular Degeneration Age-related macular degeneration (AMD or ARMD) is the leading cause of irreversible vision loss in people older than 60. What it is Macular degeneration is ...

  • All About Aging Eyes

    All About Aging Eyes Do you know the difference between normal changes in vision that occur with age and abnormal changes caused by age-related eye disease? Here's a look at some common eye problems ...

  • All About Blood Pressure Medication

    All About Blood Pressure Medication Your doctor may prescribe antihypertension medication if your blood pressure is high. There are several kinds of medication commonly taken alone or in combination,...

  • All About Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs

    All About Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs Making healthy lifestyle changes alone is enough to help some people reach the cholesterol goals prescribed by their doctor. Others, however, need to take a chole...

  • All About Color Blindness

    All About Color Blindness People often use the term color blind to describe trouble seeing certain colors. The medical term for this problem is color vision deficiency. Most people with color vision ...

  • All About Gallstones

    All About Gallstones Gallstones are rocklike substances that form inside the gallbladder, a sac-shaped organ that is on your right side, just under the liver. About 80 percent of gallstones are made ...

  • All About Hip Replacements

    All About Hip Replacements If hip pain limits your ability to walk, work, or perform simple activities, you may want to talk to your doctor about a hip replacement. In hip replacement surgery, the di...

  • All About Kidney Stones

    All About Kidney Stones A kidney stone is a solid piece of material that forms in the kidney out of substances normally dissolved in the urine. Each year, about 1 million people in the United States ...

  • All About Muscle Cramps

    All About Muscle Cramps Most of us have experienced the pain of a muscle cramp. Maybe you called it "charley horse," especially if the cramp was in your calf. Muscle cramps--involuntary muscle contra...

  • All About Viruses

    All About Viruses Viruses are familiar from the common diseases they cause: colds and flu, for instance. But what are they, and how do they cause sickness? A virus is a tiny, infectious particle made...

  • All About Work-Related Asthma

    All About Work-Related Asthma Occupational asthma is a lung disease in which the airways overreact to dust, vapors, gases, smoke or fumes that exist in the workplace. Occupational asthma is more like...

  • All About Your Nails

    All About Your Nails Did you know that fingernails grow faster than toenails? Or, that nails grow faster in the summer than in the winter? Nails are made of a protein called keratin that's also part ...

  • All Kinds of Problems Beset Your Nails

    All Kinds of Problems Beset Your Nails Paronychia. Onychomycosis. Surely, these are the names of six-armed Greek monsters that might attack Jason and the Argonauts. In fact, they're microscopic monst...

  • Allergies on Vacation

    Allergies on Vacation If you or your child has allergies or asthma, planning can help you keep sneezes, sniffles, wheezing, and attacks under control while you're on vacation. Tips for travel The fol...

  • Allergies: Nothing to Sneeze At

    Allergies: Nothing to Sneeze At Like other allergy symptoms, hay fever's watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, and itching mean your immune system is overreacting to an otherwise harmless substance you'...

  • Allergy Terms to Know

    Allergy Terms to Know Allergen. A substance, such as pollen, mold, dust mites, or animal dander, that can cause an allergic response. Bronchoconstriction. A tightening of the muscles around the airwa...

  • Alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous

    Alternatives to Alcoholics Anonymous Although Alcoholics Anonymous and other abstinence-based 12-step programs are the primary form of treatment for alcoholism in the United States, many people are u...

  • Alzheimer's Disease Quiz

    What Do You Know About Alzheimer's Disease? Find out more about this degenerative disease of the brain by taking this quiz. 1. Alzheimer's is the most common form of which of these? You didn't answer...

  • An Rx for RSV

    An Rx for RSV This cold-like virus hits some infants hard As a child, you probably never heard of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). But today, doctors believe RSV is one of the most common cause of ...

  • Anemia Quiz

    What Do You Know About Anemia? Anemia is a condition that affects the number of red blood cells in your body. A number of medical diseases and conditions can cause anemia. Find out more by taking the...

  • Answers to Questions About HPV

    Answers to Questions About HPV The human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States, with more than 20 million Americans currently infected, acc...

  • Antibiotics Not the Cure for the Common Cold

    Antibiotics Not the Cure for the Common Cold You can catch a cold at any time during the year. And often, you and your family may find yourselves seeking your health care provider's help in battling ...

  • Are Feet at Fault for Back, Hip, and Knee Woes?

    Are Feet at Fault for Back, Hip, and Knee Woes? If you are having problems with back pain, shin splints, knees, or hips, look to your feet. Although these ailments might seem totally unrelated to one...

  • Arthritis and Exercise: Q and A

    Answers to Your Questions About Arthritis and Exercise If you have arthritis, you may think you shouldn’t exercise because it could make your condition worse. But doctors and physical therapists insi...

  • Ascites

    Ascites Ascites is a condition in which fluid collects in spaces within your abdomen. Although the most common cause of ascites is cirrhosis of the liver, for about 10 percent of people with ascites,...

  • Asthma on Campus

    Asthma on Campus College can pose challenges for the student with asthma. New and unfamiliar living quarters, school and social stresses, and other factors can trigger a flare-up. As always, preventi...

  • Asthma Terms to Know

    Asthma Terms to Know Stepwise. A “stepwise” approach to managing asthma means stepping up (increasing) or stepping down (decreasing) your number and doses of medicines, based on how well your asthma ...

  • Asthma: A Worsening of Symptoms

    Asthma: A Worsening of Symptoms You can do a lot to control your asthma. Avoiding triggers, taking controller medicines, and monitoring your symptoms can help keep problems at bay. Occasionally, thou...

  • Asthma: Dealing with Your Child's School

    Asthma: Dealing with Your Child's School If your child has asthma, you probably worry about how he or she copes with asthma at school. Having this disease can have a big impact on your child’s grades...

  • Asthma: Exercising Indoors

    Asthma: Exercising Indoors When you have asthma, it’s a good idea to work out inside if the weather turns cold. People tend to breathe through their mouth during vigorous activity. When chilly, dry a...

  • Asthma: First Doctor Visit for Your Child

    Asthma: First Doctor Visit for Your Child Your child has been coughing or wheezing, and you’re wondering whether it might be asthma. The first step toward finding out is scheduling a visit to your ch...

  • Asthma: HFA Inhalers

    Asthma: HFA Inhalers Hydrofluoroalkane (HFA) inhalers are the only type available today. If you've had asthma for a long time, you may wonder how these compare with your old inhalers. Here's what you...

  • Asthma: Out of Breath at a Meal

    Asthma: Out of Breath at a Meal If you have asthma and feel short of breath during meals, take these steps to help catch your breath: Eat when you feel rested and relaxed. Don’t wait until you’re exh...

  • Asthma: When to Get an Allergy Test

    Asthma: When to Get an Allergy Test If you often have allergy symptoms—such as itchy, watery eyes; a runny nose; wheezing; sneezing; and hives or itchy skin—an allergy test can help determine what yo...

  • Attention Deficit Disorder in Adults

    Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Adults Restless. Messy. Easily distracted. These are just some of the words used to describe people with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A...

  • Avoiding Fall Allergy Triggers

    Avoiding Fall Allergy Triggers Many people associate allergies with springtime, but ragweed pollen and outdoor molds that arrive in the fall bring just as much misery. More than 35 million Americans ...

  • Babies Need 'Tummy Time'

    Babies Need 'Tummy Time' Nearly 15 years ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) first recommended that parents put their babies to sleep on their back. That simple piece of advice cut the deat...

  • Beating an Eating Disorder

    Beating an Eating Disorder With eating disorders affecting girls at ever-younger ages, a surprisingly simple tactic might help: Dine as a family. Since society has so much influence on adolescents be...

  • Bed-Wetting: Help Your Child Stay Dry at Night

    Bed-Wetting: Help Your Child Stay Dry at Night Bed-wetting is a common event in young children. It is normal for a child up to age 6 to wet the bed once in a while. As children get older, they can co...

  • Beyond Cholesterol

    Beyond Cholesterol Cholesterol is a household word, synonymous with coronary artery disease. But a growing body of research shows that this fat-like substance in your blood is just the tip of the ice...

  • Biofeedback: Another Way to Manage Pain

    Biofeedback: Another Way to Manage Pain You probably don't give much thought to whether your muscles are tense, how fast you're breathing or the number of times your heart beats in a minute. These th...

  • Blood Pressure Rising Among Children

    Blood Pressure Rising Among Children The next time you hear folks talking about their blood pressure, take a look. They may be kids. Yes, children can have high blood pressure, and experts say the nu...

  • Bone Spurs Are a Thorny Problem

    Bone Spurs Are a Thorny Problem If you wonder what that stabbing pain is in your heel, it may be a bone spur. "Bone spur" is a general term used to describe a knobby, abnormal bone growth. Bone spurs...

  • Cancer Caused by Chemotherapy or Radiation

    Cancer Caused by Chemotherapy or Radiation Fortunately, the likelihood of chemotherapy or radiation treatment causing a second cancer is rare. And in most cases, the potential benefits of the treatme...

  • Cancer Survivor Tips

    Cancer Survivor Tips Learning how to take care of your physical and mental health after a cancer diagnosis is the key to living your life to the fullest. These steps from the National Cancer Institut...

  • Caring for a Child With Type 1 Diabetes

    When Your Child Has Type 1 Diabetes If your child suddenly grows weak, tired, and nauseated, the youngster probably has the flu or some other virus. But the symptoms could also be warning signs of ty...

  • Caring for an Ill Loved One

    Caring for an Ill Loved One Caring for anyone is difficult, even in the best of circumstances. If you’ve been called on to care for a chronically ill loved one, the following recommendations can help...

  • Caring for Your Sick Child

    Caring for Your Sick Child Parents know they have choices when their child is sick. They can treat the child at home, make a doctor's appointment, go to the emergency room, or call 911. But at times,...

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: It's All in the Wrist

    Carpal Tunnel Syndrome: It's All in the Wrist Do you spend your days using a computer, sorting mail, or assembling small parts? If your workplace duties put stress on your wrists, you may be at risk ...

  • Celiac Disease Can Harm Digestion

    Celiac Disease Can Harm Digestion Suppose you or a friend has frequent abdominal distress, bloating, and other symptoms that seem to puzzle doctors. Today, experts believe those doctors should consid...

  • CHF and Physical Activity

    Heart Failure and Physical Activity If you have heart failure (HF), you may wonder if physical activity is good for you. How could putting more strain on your heart and making it work harder be a goo...

  • Children and Cholesterol

    Children and Cholesterol If you, your parents, or your parents' siblings had a heart attack before age 55 and you have a child, this advice from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) might surpris...

  • Chlamydia Can Lead to Infertility

    Chlamydia Can Lead to Infertility A lot of us don't realize that some sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) can cause no symptoms, meaning you could have an STD and not know it. And some STDs can sile...

  • Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome

    Chronic Fatigue and Immune Dysfunction Syndrome The illness was once known as "yuppie flu" and chronic Epstein-Barr syndrome because of its suspected link to that viral disease. But more than 15 year...

  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Still a Mystery

    Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Still a Mystery Imagine feeling bone-tired for months, no matter how much sleep you get. Picture being able to accomplish only half as much each day as you used to--with noth...

  • Cleft Palates Can Be Repaired, Overcome

    Cleft Palates Can Be Repaired, Overcome Cleft palates and lips are the most common birth defect in the United States, affecting one in 600 births, according to the Cleft Palate Foundation (CPF). The ...

  • Clinical Guidelines for Heart Failure

    Clinical Guidelines for Heart Failure To receive the best care for heart failure, talking frankly with your health care team is a good place to start. It’s also helpful to know about a resource publi...

  • Cold Sores: A Common Complaint

    Cold Sores: A Common Complaint Even if you don’t get cold sores, you probably know someone who does. An estimated 50 to 80 percent of people are infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV1), the ...

  • Concussions: Caution Is a No-Brainer

    Concussions: Caution Is a No-Brainer It's better to miss a game than a whole season. That's the key message of a campaign by the CDC aimed at an underrated health threat: sports-related concussions. ...

  • COPD Remains Widely Undetected

    COPD Remains Widely Undetected According to the American College of Chest Physicians, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause of death in the world. In the U.S., the ...

  • COPD: A Quit-Smoking Plan

    COPD: A Quit-Smoking Plan You’ve probably heard that one of the best ways to manage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is to stop smoking. It’s no secret that it’s a tough habit to break. T...

  • COPD: Boost Your Strength with Exercise

    COPD: Boost Your Strength with Exercise Regular exercise can make it easier for you to breathe. It strengthens the muscles you use to inhale and exhale. It can also help your body use oxygen more eff...

  • COPD: Coping with Stress

    COPD: Coping with Stress Life can be full of stress, especially when you’re managing a health condition such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Just living every day with the symptoms o...

  • COPD: End-of-Life Care

    COPD: End-of-Life Care Most people have never talked with their loved ones about how they’d like to be cared for at the end of their life. It’s an important talk to have, especially for those living ...

  • COPD: Good Nutrition Is Important

    COPD: Good Nutrition Is Important How much do you know about eating well with COPD? Put your knowledge to the test and see whether you know the answers to these questions. Does sodium intake affect C...

  • COPD: Heartburn Is Common

    COPD: Heartburn Is Common Many people have symptoms of heartburn after eating. They may experience nausea, feel as though food is coming back up the throat, or vomit. When these symptoms occur often,...

  • COPD: Home from the Hospital

    COPD: Home from the Hospital If you’ve been in the hospital for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) recently, you may have questions about how to care for yourself now that you’re back at ho...

  • COPD: Managing Sodium and Potassium Intake

    COPD: Managing Sodium and Potassium Intake When you have COPD, healthy eating habits are critical for feeling your best. Two nutrients you should be aware of are sodium and potassium. Below are the w...

  • COPD: Medicines for Maintenance

    COPD: Medicines for Maintenance People with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may need to use several types of medicines to control their symptoms. Maintenance medicines work for an extend...

  • COPD: More of Us Are Out of Breath

    COPD: More of Us Are Out of Breath The average person takes 12 breaths every minute while at rest. It's a reflex--you don't pay attention unless there's a problem. However, a rising number of us lite...

  • COPD: Safe Oxygen Tips

    COPD: Safe Oxygen Tips If you use oxygen to help manage the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), be sure to handle it with care. It’s essential to follow these safety tips: Don’t...

  • COPD: Tips for Easier Dressing

    COPD: Tips for Easier Dressing When you have chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), even getting dressed can sometimes seem like a challenge, especially in the morning when symptoms can be the...

  • COPD: When Symptoms Get Worse

    COPD: When Symptoms Get Worse When the symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) get worse, it’s important not to ignore them. Your goal is to keep your lungs working as well as possib...

  • Coping with Chronic Pain

    Coping with Chronic Pain Chronic pain can be the result of an injury, illness, or medical condition, or its cause may be unknown. Some people with chronic pain can develop emotional problems or physi...

  • Coping with Dry Mouth During Cancer Therapy

    Coping with Dry Mouth During Cancer Therapy Dry mouth is a common complaint during some types of cancer treatments. The medical term for dry mouth is xerostomia . Xerostomia is not a disease; it’s a ...

  • Coping with Hair Loss During Cancer Treatment

    Coping with Hair Loss During Cancer Treatment Hair loss, known medically as alopecia, is one of the most common side effects of chemotherapy, the drugs used to attack the cancer cells in your body. I...

  • Coping with Miscarriage

    Coping with Miscarriage Miscarriage is common, but that knowledge may be cold comfort if you’re coping with a recent loss. In fact, many women are surprised by the intensity of their emotions after a...

  • Coping with PMS

    Coping with PMS Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a group of symptoms related to a woman's monthly menstrual cycle, according to the National Women's Health Information Center (NWHIC). As many as 85 per...

  • Could This Be Perimenopause?

    Could This Be Perimenopause? A generation ago, hot flashes, irregular periods, and mood swings would have been labeled menopause or “the change of life.” Today, your doctor is more likely to call thi...

  • Cut Your Cholesterol, Without Drugs

    Cut Your Cholesterol, Without Drugs Regarding the troublesome fat your body makes called cholesterol: Chances are good that you may not need drugs to keep it in check. True, people with a strong gene...

  • Dental Implants Can Last a Lifetime

    Dental Implants Can Last a Lifetime Dental implants have been around a very long time. Anthropologists working at the pyramids have discovered crude implants in Egyptian mummies thousands of years ol...

  • Depressed Kids Need Help

    Despite Antidepressant Fear, Depressed Kids Need Help A new label on some antidepressants, a so-called black box warning, cautions that they may make kids feel more suicidal. But that warning shouldn...

  • Depression Not a Normal Part of Aging

    Depression Not a Normal Part of Aging Depression is not a natural part of growing old but rather a medical condition that should be treated aggressively. Depression in older adults, or in anyone, sho...

  • Diabetes and Sensitive Topics

    Diabetes and Sensitive Topics Diabetes affects every part of your life, and it can create problems that aren't easy to talk about with your health care provider. It's important, however, to bring the...

  • Diabetes Tops Child Obesity's Health Risks

    Diabetes Tops Child Obesity's Health Risks According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), children who weigh too much face a broad array of health problems, with type 2 diabetes leading the l...

  • Diabetes: Take Care from Head to Toe

    Diabetes: Take Care from Head to Toe Most of us could use a head-to-toe checkup now and then. For people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes, however, it is important to get a head and toe checkup at lea...

  • Diabetic Skin Troubles

    Diabetic Skin Troubles We often take our skin for granted, but if you’ve ever had an itchy rash or a boil, you know how painful even a small skin problem can be. About one-third of people with diabet...

  • Discovering Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy

    Discovering Diabetic Autonomic Neuropathy Nearly 26 million Americans deal with the challenges of diabetes every day, according to the latest statistics from the CDC. A percentage of people with type...

  • Diseases from Your Pets, Both Common and Exotic

    Diseases from Your Pets, Both Common and Exotic Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), monkeypox, and a host of diseases can find their way into people from animals. Truth is, almost any critter c...

  • Does Ageism Exist in Cancer Care?

    Does Ageism Exist in Cancer Care? You have many things to enjoy about getting older. Maybe you’re retired and enjoying travel and hobbies and spending time with grandchildren. But you might also have...

  • Don’t Let Asthma Triggers Dampen Spring Fever

    Don't Let Asthma Triggers Dampen Spring Fever The arrival of springtime and warm weather means that the time is ripe for asthma triggers, such as pollen or air pollution. But don't let these triggers...

  • Don't Ignore Dry Eyes

    Don't Ignore Dry Eyes You might feel a sand-like grittiness in your eyes that can range from mild to severe. People describe the feeling as a lack of lubrication -- and that's exactly what it is. You...

  • Don't Rule Out Adult-Onset Asthma

    Don't Rule Out Adult-Onset Asthma Approximately 25 million people in the U.S. have been diagnosed with asthma as of 2009, according to the CDC. It is often thought of as a childhood condition, but as...

  • Don't Rush into Cataract Surgery

    Don't Rush into Cataract Surgery People shouldn't panic and rush into surgery when cataracts are first diagnosed. In most cases, cataracts are something people can live with for a long time after dia...

  • Don't Sell a Short Kid Short

    Don't Sell a Short Kid Short Your child seems short next to other children of the same age. Should you worry? The short answer is, maybe. Some children grow more slowly than others. Height in the low...

  • Ease the Pain of Muscle Cramps

    Ease the Pain of Muscle Cramps You're on the final leg of your daily run when a cramp strikes your lower leg. Your stride shortens and you begin to limp, hands reaching toward your calf. What causes ...

  • Eating Disorders in Men

    Eating Disorders in Men Most people think it is women who believe their bodies must look a certain way because of the body types portrayed on TV, runway models, movie stars, magazines, coaches, paren...

  • Eczema in Kids: Annoying, but Treatable

    Eczema in Kids: Annoying, but Treatable A scaly, red, itchy, dry rash can show up in the first weeks of life. It signals a vexing but treatable skin problem called atopic dermatitis (AD), often known...

  • Emergency Symptoms for People Who Use Insulin

    Emergency Symptoms for People with Diabetes Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs when the pancreas either produces no insulin (type 1 diabetes) or too little or ineffective insulin (type 2 diabe...

  • Emphysema and AAT Deficiency

    Emphysema and AAT Deficiency Emphysema is a lung disease that affects the walls of the alveoli, the small sacs in the lungs that exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide. Emphysema causes the alveolar wall...

  • End-of-Life Concerns for Cancer Patients

    End-of-Life Concerns for Cancer Patients In the course of cancer treatment, some cancer patients and their families will face difficult, end-of-life decisions. Many thoughts may race though your mind...

  • Endometrial Cancer

    Endometrial Cancer Click Image to Enlarge What is endometrial cancer? The lining of the uterus is called the endometrium. Cancer of the endometrium, the most common cancer of the female reproductive ...

  • Essential Eye Care for Diabetes

    Essential Eye Care for Diabetes People with diabetes are at a higher risk for conditions that cause vision loss or blindness than other people, according to the American Diabetes Association (ADA). I...

  • Essential Foot Care

    Essential Foot Care Years of wear and tear can be hard on your feet, as can shoes that don’t fit properly. Injuries and disorders of the feet can affect your mobility. Here are ideas from the America...

  • Essential Self-Care for Arthritis

    Essential Self-Care for Arthritis If you have arthritis, taking your medication and following your doctor's recommendations are essential. But self-care can be just as important in your daily and lon...

  • Evaluating Complementary Cancer Cures

    Evaluating Complementary Cancer Cures No one wants a cure for cancer more than someone with the disease. Because of this, many people are willing to try treatments outside the mainstream of tradition...

  • Exercise Can Ease Fatigue of Chemotherapy

    Exercise Can Ease Fatigue of Chemotherapy If you're diagnosed with cancer, it's normal to have questions, fears, and a feeling of being out of control of your life. Fortunately, there's something you...

  • Facing Up to Alcohol in the Workplace

    Facing Up to Alcohol in the Workplace Alcoholism is often called a family disease because it affects the family as well as the individual with alcoholism. However, alcoholism is also a workplace dise...

  • Facts About Skin Cancer

    Facts About Skin Cancer Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States, with more than two million new cases diagnosed each year. Up to 50 percent of Americans who reach age 65 wi...

  • For a Smile That Dazzles Think Veneers

    For a Smile That Dazzles Think Veneers Professional models do it. Actors and actresses do it. Even politicians do it. They're changing their smiles—and they have influenced a growing number of people...

  • For More Babies, Birth Comes Too Soon

    For More Babies, Birth Comes Too Soon Full-term babies are born between 37 and 42 completed weeks of pregnancy. Babies born prior to 37 weeks gestation are considered premature. More than half a mill...

  • For Obese Teens, Surgery Is the Last Resort

    For Obese Teens, Surgery Is the Last Resort Extreme obesity plagues more than 5 million teens and young adults, experts estimate. These youths tend to be at least 100 pounds or 100 percent above thei...

  • For Seniors: Is It More Than the Blues?

    For Seniors: Is It More Than the Blues? Everyone has feelings of sadness or unhappiness now and then. When feelings of sadness or despair don't go away and interfere with daily life, depression may b...

  • For Young Women, What's Your Stroke Risk?

    For Young Women, What's Your Stroke Risk? Although most strokes occur in people older than 50, about one in 5,000 women ages 15 to 49 suffers a stroke each year, according to the National Institute o...

  • Free Your Home of Asthma Triggers

    Free Your Home of Asthma Triggers Many of the things that trigger asthma symptoms can be found in your home. So the first step to controlling asthma is finding and removing these triggers. This will ...

  • Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Health Issues

    Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender Health Issues People of any sexual orientation can face health problems. But people who are gay, lesbian, or transgender may be at greater risk for health problems becau...

  • Genetics and Illness: What's Your Fate?

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  • What You Need to Know About Bird Flu

    What You Need to Know About Avian (Bird) Flu Q: Are there differences between influenza (the flu) and avian influenza (bird flu)? A: Yes. Influenza, or the flu, is a contagious illness caused by infl...

  • What You Need to Know About Hearing Aids

    What You Need to Know About Hearing Aids Hearing loss is common, especially as people get older. According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, one-third of adults...

  • What You Need to Know About Hives

    What You Need to Know About Hives Hives occur when something prompts cells to release histamine, a chemical found in the skin. The histamine causes nearby blood vessels to dilate. Fluid leaks out of ...

  • What You Need to Know About Mental Illness

    What You Need to Know About Mental Illness Every year, one in four Americans suffers from a diagnosable mental disorder that interferes with their ability to function at work or school or in their da...

  • What You Need to Know About STDs

    What You Need to Know About STDs When it comes to sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), you may not have any warning signs. If you are sexually active, find out the facts about STDs, and learn how to...

  • What You Need to Know About Strep Throat

    What You Need to Know About Strep Throat Strep throat is a contagious infection caused by bacteria called Group A Streptococcus . These bacteria can cause infections ranging from mild skin infections...

  • What You Need to Know About Vomiting

    What You Need to Know About Vomiting Although nausea and vomiting can make you feel miserable, it's important to remember that these are not diseases, but rather symptoms of many illnesses. Nausea is...

  • What's Up With Sinusitis?

    What's Up With Sinusitis? Millions of Americans are affected by sinusitis every year. Even so, it's often misdiagnosed and misunderstood by people with the condition. Sinusitis affects the sinuses, w...

  • When a Child’s Tonsils Need to Come Out

    When a Child’s Tonsils Need to Come Out It doesn't take long—about 20 to 30 minutes—for an ear, nose and throat specialist like me to remove your child's tonsils. Still, I recommend a tonsillectomy o...

  • When a Family Member Is in Recovery

    When a Family Member Is in Recovery Families with a loved one who’s abusing drugs or alcohol long for the time when the person will get help and begin recovery. After the person attains sobriety, fam...

  • When Rest Doesn't Relieve Fatigue

    When Rest Doesn't Relieve Fatigue Fatigue is often described as being "bone tired" – a feeling of overwhelming weariness and lack of motivation or energy. Everyone feels this way now and then, but th...

  • When Sadness Is Seasonal

    When Sadness Is Seasonal If you feel depressed during fall and winter months, you may have a form of depression called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Symptoms of SAD may develop slowly or begin s...

  • When the Immune System Chooses the Wrong Target

    When the Immune System Chooses the Wrong Target Your symptoms are vague: a feeling of fatigue; some tingling in arms or legs that comes and goes; aching muscles; perhaps a headache. Are you sick? Or ...

  • When to Call the Doctor for Childhood Illnesses

    When to Call the Doctor for Childhood Illnesses Many childhood illnesses, including colds and stomachaches, are mild enough to be treated at home. But what about when the symptoms are more severe? Wh...

  • When to Get a Colorectal Cancer Check

    When to Get a Colorectal Cancer Check Excluding skin cancer, colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer in both men and women in the U.S. It strikes more than 140,000 Americans and kil...

  • When to Seek Help for Your Mental Health

    When to Seek Help for Your Mental Health If you are in good emotional health, you are aware of your thoughts and feelings, generally can control your behaviors, and feel good about yourself. That doe...

  • When You Have an Eye Allergy

    When You Have an Eye Allergy Eye allergies affect more than seven in 10 people with allergies. Although not contagious, this type of eye problem can cause discomfort and aggravation to sufferers. An ...

  • When You’re Taking Heart Medications

    When You’re Taking Heart Medications Millions of Americans take some kind of heart medication. For some people, this means downing a single daily pill to help lower blood pressure. For others, it may...

  • When Your Child Has a Fever

    When Your Child Has a Fever A fever is defined as a temperature above the normal body temperature of 98.6 degrees. Most health care professionals agree that a fever by itself is not an illness, but a...

  • When Your Child Has Type 1 Diabetes

    When Your Child Has Type 1 Diabetes Learning that your child has type 1 diabetes can be a shock. Suddenly, your world may seem to revolve around managing the condition. You may feel overwhelmed and u...

  • Where's the Wisdom in Wisdom Teeth?

    Where's the Wisdom in Wisdom Teeth? For many people, wisdom teeth may seem to be misnamed. Often these teeth are troublemakers that decide to turn crooked, refuse to grow in completely, or become mis...

  • Why a Colonoscopy Is Important

    Why a Colonoscopy Is Important This important examination can find problems and head off deadly cancer. Many people worry about having their large bowel examined with a colonoscope. While anxiety is ...

  • Why Childhood Immunizations Are Important

    Why Childhood Immunizations Are Important Childhood vaccines or immunizations can seem overwhelming when you are a new parent. Vaccine schedules recommended by agencies and organizations such as the ...

  • Why Doctors Remove Cataracts

    Why Doctors Remove Cataracts Perhaps the first thing you'll notice is a glare from oncoming headlights at night. Usually, a haze surrounds the lights. Then, you're likely to find reading more challen...

  • Why Leg Pain Can Break Your Heart

    Why Leg Pain May be a Warning Sign Every day, you start out walking that one-mile loop. But every day when you walk, your legs start to ache. So you sit down on a bench, and the pain goes away. After...

  • Why Measles Remains a Threat

    Why Measles Remains a Threat Once an almost inevitable childhood illness for an American child, measles (rubeola) has reached an all-time low in this country. Since the late 1990s, the Centers for Di...

  • Why the Doctor Gives You an EKG or ECG

    Why the Doctor Gives You an EKG or ECG An electrocardiogram--abbreviated as either ECG or EKG--is a test that records the heart's electrical activity and turns it into a graph that can be read and an...

  • Why the Doctor Treats Snoring Seriously

    Why the Doctor Treats Snoring Seriously The movies and television often depict snoring as funny, even hilarious. But snoring is no joke: It's a medical problem that can have serious health and social...

  • Why Your Doctor Tests Your Blood Sugar

    Why Your Doctor Tests Your Blood Sugar If you don’t have diabetes, and your doctor orders a blood sugar test, what is he or she checking? In adults, a screening blood sugar test is generally used to ...

  • With Diabetes and Insulin, Carbohydrates Count

    With Diabetes and Insulin, Carbohydrates Count It's easy to settle into a dietary rut when you have diabetes and take insulin. Once you've figured out a few menus that keep your blood glucose in a go...

  • Women and Substance Abuse

    Women and Substance Abuse All kinds of American women abuse drugs and alcohol. They may be rich or poor, young or old, urban or rural, professional or homemaker. Addiction-related diseases kill four ...

  • Women with Asthma Can Have Healthy Babies

    Women with Asthma Can Have Healthy Babies Pregnant women with asthma are just as likely to have healthy, normal babies as women without asthma, as long as their disease is kept under control. That me...

  • Work and Cancer: How to Cope

    Work and Cancer: How to Cope If you are a cancer survivor, you know how important a job can be to your psychological and financial well-being. Following are some tips from the American Cancer Society...

  • Working with Your Cancer Care Team

    Working with Your Cancer Care Team It's natural to feel out of control after being diagnosed with cancer. After all, this is a serious condition, and it can bring a lot of fear and uncertainty. Along...

  • Working with Your Diabetes Health Care Team

    Working with Your Diabetes Health Care Team If you have diabetes, you have plenty of company. The number of adults diagnosed with diabetes is increasing daily. You should also be keeping company with...

  • Wound Care Critical for Diabetes

    Wound Care Critical for Diabetes People with diabetes suffer from a variety of symptoms and complications. Skin infections are one of them. Because of poor blood circulation, wounds of all kinds—incl...

  • Your Arthritis Health Care Team

    Your Arthritis Health Care Team Arthritis is a complicated disease that affects many areas of your body. Understanding how to work with different health care specialists can improve your care and qua...

  • Your Asthma Health Care Team

    Your Asthma Health Care Team You don't have to go it alone with asthma. An entire team of health care experts is on hand to help people with asthma manage their symptoms and continue to live normal, ...

  • Your Child's Diabetes Care Team

    Your Child's Diabetes Care Team Having a child with diabetes can be overwhelming. Fortunately, a team of experts can guide you now and in the years to come. Diabetes care team Your child may see the ...

  • Your Skin's Worst Enemies

    Your Skin's Worst Enemies As children, many of us were brought up with the notion that looking good meant lying out in the sun to achieve a tan. Little did we know the dangers of excessive sun exposu...