Your kidneys play an important role in your body’s overall health. They help to remove waste and extra fluid from your body. They also remove acid to maintain a healthy balance of water, salts and minerals. Without a healthy balance, your nerves, muscles and other...
Although it’s impossible to shield little ones from every danger in life, child safety regulations such as car seat recommendations, state and local child passenger laws and automobile requirements go a long way toward keeping children safe on the road. If you...
Whooping cough, also known as pertussis, is a respiratory disease that is highly contagious and commonly seen in children and babies. Fortunately, most cases of whooping cough can be prevented by the DTaP or Tdap vaccine, but children who are too young to get the...
A common misconception that people have about cleaning their ears is that they are supposed to use cotton swabs to remove earwax. But most cotton swab packages even state that the product is not for earwax removal. Doctors recommend never putting anything smaller than...
Are you confident in filling out medical forms by yourself? Do you know how much your deductible is? Can you correctly identify where your kidneys are? Do you understand how to read prescription labels? Did you answer yes to all these questions? If you didn’t, you’re...
Your rotator cuff is an assembly of muscles and tendons in your shoulder that provides a wide range of motion. It also secures the shoulder joint into the socket. Because of how often you use your rotator cuff, it is not uncommon for the nerves or tendons to tear....
As children develop language skills, they often exhibit what’s called a speech dysfluency, which is an interruption in the flow of speech. For example, Most kids from 18 months to 5 years old stumble over words, repeat certain syllables, stutter or make no sound for...
General anesthesia is a combination of medications that induce unconsciousness (a deep, sleep-like state) for an extended period of time. This type of anesthesia is often used before most surgeries and other medical procedures because it prevents you from feeling any...
Although many injuries can be treated at home using basic first aid, some wounds need medical attention. Whether your child scraped a knee at the playground or you accidentally sliced your finger while chopping veggies, here’s how to tell if you need stitches. Signs a...
If you’ve ever experienced painful periods, you’re not alone. The medical term for painful menstruation is “dysmenorrhea,” and many women suffer from dysmenorrhea on a monthly basis, making it one of the most common menstrual disorders. The initial onset...
Young children often can’t explain their pains, so it can be difficult to tell if your child needs to be seen for an injury or if it will resolve on its own. Although many injuries are minor, it’s important for parents to know when they can treat an injury at home or...
Symptoms & Treatment Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age, causing abnormal periods or increased male hormone levels. Typically, symptoms begin shortly after puberty, but PCOS often goes undiagnosed because...
When a shoulder becomes dislocated, the upper arm bone pops out of the socket. This can cause severe and sudden pain, numbness and loss of shoulder function. It can also cause your shoulder to look deformed at the part where it meets your shoulder blade. Risk Factors...
Prescription opioids help relieve moderate-to-severe pain. Following surgery, opioids can be an effective pain treatment option, but there are many risks associated with opioids. Even when a doctor prescribes an opioid, it can have side effects that are dangerous....
Carpal tunnel syndrome is a medical condition that causes pain and discomfort in the wrist and hand. It is caused by a compression of the median nerve as it travels through the wrist at the carpal tunnel. Overusing hand and wrist muscles, which can often happen in a...