5 Exercises to Prevent an Aching Neck 5 Exercises to Prevent an Aching Neck One of the things many of us take for granted is a pain-free neck. It's only when we have a stiff or painful neck that we wish we had taken preventive measures. ...
911 Basics: Responding to a Heart Attack 911 Basics: Responding to a Heart Attack Chest pain could be due to simple indigestion or a heart attack. Knowing what the warning signs of a heart attack are and how to respond could save a life. Th...
A Closer Look at Bruises A Closer Look at Bruises Bruises are a part of life. If you use your body, it's going to get bruised at some point. By the time you notice a bruise, though, it's already started to heal. A bruise, al...
A Serious Look at Fainting A Serious Look at Fainting It sounds like melodrama: People hear bad news or see blood, and the next thing you know they've fainted. But it's a reality for many Americans who are prone to fainting (c...
A Strategy for Scars A Strategy for Scars You may think they're unsightly, but scars serve a purpose. They show that your body has repaired a wound. But while you're healing, you can help lessen scarring. Scars form afte...
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...
Anatomy of a First Aid Kit Anatomy of a First Aid Kit A well-stocked first aid kit is a handy thing to have. To be prepared for emergencies, keep a first aid kit in your home and another in your car. Carry a first aid kit with...
Appendicitis: Children and Teens Appendicitis: Children and Teens Appendicitis is an inflammation that can lead to infection of the appendix. It affects 7 percent of Americans and is the most common reason for a child to need emerge...
Avoiding Joint Injuries Avoiding Joint Injuries Most sports-related injuries involve damage to the joints. Common joint injuries include a twisted ankle, sprained wrist, overextended elbow, and damaged knee ligaments. Fortu...
Avoiding Non-Impact Eye Injuries Avoiding Non-Impact Eye Injuries You may think wearing goggles is enough to protect your eyes, but many injuries can happen to your eyes that goggles won't prevent. Protecting them from the sun, dirt...
Bruise Control Bruise Control Changes in your skin can make you prone to bruising as you get older It wasn't there yesterday. In fact, you have no idea where it came from. But today you can't miss it -- a large, ug...
Child Health Emergencies Child Health Emergencies Having a very sick or severely injured child is a parent’s worst nightmare. If it happened to your child, would you know the best way to go about getting treatment? Knowing w...
CPR Training and You CPR Training and You Should you bother to be trained in CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation)? Every year, about 220,000 cardiac arrests occur – when the heart stops beating. About 92 percent of people...
Don't Take Your Eyes for Granted Don't Take Your Eyes for Granted Imagine what life would be like if you couldn't see well. Reading might not be possible. Watching a movie could be tough. Focusing on the face of a loved one could dr...
Emergency Care: When Is It the Right Choice? Emergency Care: When Is It the Right Choice? If you're sick or hurt and want help quickly, it may seem like a good idea to go to the ER for care. You may think of the ER as a source of the most immed...
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...
Essential Eye Protection Essential Eye Protection Nearly one million people in the United States suffer eye injuries each year. Ninety percent of these injuries could have been prevented by wearing the proper protective eyew...
Female Teen Athletes: At Risk for Injury? Female Teen Athletes: At Risk for Injury? Teen girls who are athletes face unique obstacles when it comes to their bodies and how well they perform. Teen girls have their teen growth spurt at an earl...
Fitness Tips for Weekend Warriors Fitness Tips for Weekend Warriors Are you a weekend warrior? Do you sit at your desk during the workweek and then head to the ball field or jogging trail only on Saturdays? Exercise is good for you. ...
For Bee Stings, Remove the Stinger For Bee Stings, Remove the Stinger Being stung by a bee or a wasp can be an overwhelming experience. Stings can cause pain and allergic reactions, but you can minimize the effects if you act fast. Wh...
For Seniors: You Can Beat the Heat For Seniors: You Can Beat the Heat After age 65, your body can't adjust to changes in air temperature—especially heat—as quickly as it did when you were younger. That puts you at risk for heat-relate...
Heart Attacks and Women Heart Attacks and Women According to the American Heart Association, coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in women. Heart attacks and their aftermath tend to be more deadly in women. ...
Home Remedies: What Works? What Doesn’t? Home Remedies: What Works? What Doesn't? You might like the idea of treating common health problems with home remedies. In some cases, such as putting cool cucumber over your eyes as a beauty treatme...
How Safe Are Cosmetics and Personal Care Products? How Safe Are Cosmetics and Personal Care Products? You may be choosy about your moisturizer, hair color product, and makeup brand—but how much time do you spend checking out the safety of those produ...
How to Avoid Common First Aid Mistakes How to Avoid Common First Aid Mistakes When you're scrambling to make a burn feel better or find an antidote for someone who has mistakenly swallowed a toxic chemical, you might fall back on some of ...
How to Avoid Common Running Injuries How to Avoid Common Running Injuries Running is a great way to get in shape, but it can also lead to injuries. Knowing about common injuries and how to prevent them can keep you on track toward achie...
How to Avoid Sports Injuries How to Avoid Sports Injuries Sports injuries happen when you exercise or play sports. Although not every sports injury can be prevented, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Sk...
How to Prevent Back Pain at Work How to Prevent Back Pain at Work People who work in certain occupations, such as nursing, are likely to have back pain. But so can folks who work in an office every day if they don’t take proactive s...
How to Recover From a Back Injury How to Recover From a Back Injury Back pain is something you don't want to repeat. Recovering properly from a back injury and taking preventive measures can help you reduce your risk of going through...
How to Respond to a Medical Emergency How to Respond to a Medical Emergency Knowing what to do if someone you're with is bleeding profusely or appears to be having a heart attack could save the person's life. Taking a standard first-aid ...
How to Respond to an Eye Injury How to Respond to an Eye Injury If you suffer a serious eye injury, what you don't do immediately afterward may help more than what you do. The main error of first aid to the eye is poking around whe...
How to Stay Out of the ER How to Stay Out of the Emergency Department Emergency Departments (ED) are becoming more crowded and, as a result, patients are being required to wait longer for care. We can all help reduce the comp...
In Case of Emergency...Be Ready for Anything In Case of Emergency...Be Ready for Anything You may not want to think about it, but wherever you live you could someday face the wrath of nature—or man. You shouldn't duck this subject until you're ...
Injuries Plague Athletic Baby Boomers Injuries Plague Athletic Baby Boomers From master runners to members of over-50 basketball leagues, baby boomers are proving that age is no reason to drop a favorite sport. Clarence Shields, M.D., a ...
Just Do It—But Don't Overdo It Just Do It— But Don't Overdo It Exercise is good for you. You're probably sick of hearing that message. But did you know too much exercise can make you sick? In a study at the Los Angeles marathon, r...
Keep an Eye on These Symptoms Keep an Eye on These Symptoms If you're constantly worried that every headache or spot on your skin means you've been stricken with a dreaded disease, get your facts straight so you can stop panickin...
Knees Are Casualties of Women's Sports Knees Are Casualties of Women's Sports Active women are at least twice as likely to suffer serious knee injuries as men, but it's not just athletes who are at risk. Although female athletes at the hi...
Know When a Bandage Will Suffice Know When a Bandage Will Suffice Bandages are a matter-of-fact part of everyday life, an easy treatment for minor wounds. The first pre-packaged bandage was available in the 1920s from Johnson and Jo...
Little League Goes to Bat for Safety Little League Goes to Bat for Safety Baseball is known for timeless traditions, but some modern retooling may help keep young players safer. That's why Little League Baseball has amended the rules fo...
Living Wills Offer Peace of Mind Living Wills Offer Peace of Mind A living will tells others how you want to be treated when it comes to life-sustaining measures. It is used when a person becomes terminally ill or unable to communic...
Massage Therapy for Back Pain Massage Therapy for Back Pain Many American adults seek medical treatment for back pain at some point in their lives. In fact, it's estimated that eight out of 10 people will experience back pain and ...
New Parents...Sore Backs Baby and Your Back: Safe Lifting Babies can be hazardous to your health—your back health. When it comes to parenting, back injury is an occupational hazard. New mothers, whose backs have just endured...
Offsite Health Care Options Offsite Health Care Options If you have a nasty cut on your finger, need surgery, or have the flu and want immediate treatment, where do you go for care? Traditionally, you'd head for the hospital or...
Olympian Advice on Preventing Sports Injuries Olympian Advice on Preventing Sports Injuries Neither Olympians nor weekend warriors are immune to tendonitis, ankle sprains, low back problems, and knee pain. Although common, these injuries often c...
Planning Ahead for Travel Emergencies Planning Ahead for Travel Emergencies Whether you're headed for the beach, the outback, or the big city for your summer vacation, you should add a few more items to your to-do list so that you are fu...
Protecting Your Child from Sports Injuries Protecting Your Child from Sports Injuries Most children depend on recreational and school sports for exercise and fun. But too many young athletes suffer needless injuries. Each year, more than 3.5 ...
Put a Stop to Nerve Injuries Called Stingers Put a Stop to Nerve Injuries Called Stingers Body-jarring moves are part of the game for football players, wrestlers, and others who play contact sports. They're also the most common cause of stinger...
Save That Tooth! Act Quickly: Save That Tooth! Your 7-year-old daughter is riding her bicycle and wearing her helmet. She's the picture of safety, right? Seconds later, she comes through the door crying. You see a ga...
Save Your Child From Injuries Save Your Child From Injuries Every day, injuries send 25,000 children to emergency rooms. Simple precautions could head off most of those trips. "The biggest thing is prevention," says Rick Blum, M....
Self-Treat? Or See a Doctor? Self-Treat? Or See a Doctor? When you’re sick, knowing whether you should treat yourself at home or see your doctor can save you time and hundreds, possibly thousands, of dollars a year. For example,...
Softball's Most Dangerous Move: The Slide Softball's Most Dangerous Move: The Slide Sliding in to base is one of the most dangerous moves in softball. The best way to eliminate sliding injuries is to use bases designed to pop loose when they...
Soothing that Sunburn Soothing that Sunburn You know that too much sun is bad and can lead to a variety of skin problems—even skin cancer. But no matter how careful you try to be, there may be occasions when your unexpect...
Spinal Cord Injury Spinal Cord Injury What is an acute spinal cord injury? Click Image to Enlarge The spinal cord is a bundle of nerves that carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body. Acute spinal cor...
Sports Injuries: When to Call the Doctor Sports Injuries: When to Call the Doctor Sports injuries can be either acute traumatic, which require immediate medical care, or chronic overuse injuries. When should you treat a sports injury yourse...
Sports-Related Knee Injuries Sports-Related Knee Injuries Skiers, football players, aerobic dancers, step-class participants, and athletes who play basketball, tennis and racquetball all have one thing in common—a propensity for...
Sprained Ankles Need Attention Sprained Ankles Need Attention Sprained ankles are one of the most common injuries seen in doctor's offices and emergency departments every day. When you sprain an ankle, one or more ligaments of you...
Sprains, Strains, Breaks: What’s the Difference? Sprains, Strains, Breaks: What’s the Difference? If you've sprained your ankle, you know what severe pain is. But maybe that "sprain" was a "strain" or possibly even a "break." The amount of pain in ...
Taking Care of Cuts and Scrapes Taking Care of Cuts and Scrapes Cuts and scrapes are everyday occurrences, and most can be safely treated at home. Knowing how to clean and care for a cut yourself and when to seek a doctor’s care ca...
Taking Care of Head Injuries Taking Care of Head Injuries Head trauma can cause swelling inside the brain. This can lead to a potentially deadly increase in pressure inside the skull. Head injury also can seriously damage brain ...
The Best Ways to Treat, Prevent Tendonitis The Best Ways to Treat, Prevent Tendonitis Tennis elbow, quarterback shoulder, and jumper's knee are forms of tendonitis, a painful but preventable injury. Tendonitis is your body's way of telling yo...
The New Face of Aging The New Face of Aging The first baby boomers have turned 60, an age once linked with rocking chairs, reading glasses and rheumatism. This new wave of seniors is more likely to join in fitness classes...
Treating Minor Childhood Injuries Treating Minor Childhood Injuries Sports and other physical activities can help kids stay healthy and physically fit, but they can also occasionally result in injuries. Scrapes and sprains are a fact...
Watch that Backpack Load Watch that Backpack Load When your child acts as if she’s carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders, maybe you should check her backpack. Overloaded or poor-fitting backpacks can hurt girls a...
Weighing the Risks, Benefits of Back Surgery Weighing the Risks, Benefits of Back Surgery Millions of people experience back problems that cause pain or disability. Of these, a small number will seek relief through surgery. "Spine surgery is le...
What to Do About a Pain in the Neck What to Do About a Pain in the Neck The neck is the most flexible part of the spine, but because it isn’t well-protected by muscles, it’s also easy to injure. Neck pain can result from many different...
What to Do if Someone Collapses Know What to Do If Someone Collapses Would you know what to do if a friend or acquaintance collapsed while you were there? Knowing how to respond in such a situation is crucial to the person's recove...
What to Do if You Get Something in Your Eye What to Do if You Get Something in Your Eye When you get something in your eye, you may feel an impulse to rub furiously until the dust or dirt is gone. Don't. Rubbing the eyelid can drag foreign bod...
What to Expect in the Emergency Room What to Expect in the Emergency Room A trip to an emergency room (ER) is something you or a loved one may never have to face. Because ERs in the United States treated 136 million patients in 2009, up...
What You Can Do About Dog Bites What You Can Do About Dog Bites Dogs are more than pets; they are family. But, even well-behaved dogs can bite. In fact, half of the dog bites that occur every year are by the family pet, according t...
What You Must Know About Suicide What You Must Know About Suicide In 2007, over 34,000 Americans committed suicide, making it the tenth leading cause of death. At one person every 16 minutes, it’s a national tragedy, but one each of...
What You Need to Know About Burn Prevention What You Need to Know About Burn Prevention Hot water Scalding burns are the most common ones in younger children, the Burn Institute says. These burns often occur when a toddler knocks over a coffee...
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...
Winter's Cool Advice: Watch Out for Hypothermia Winter Advice: Beware Hypothermia Winter can be fun. Think of skiing, sledding, and snowboarding. Winter can be annoying. Think of dead car batteries and shoveling the walk. And winter can be dangero...