Discusses chronic pain caused by problems other than cancer. Covers symptoms and how chronic pain is diagnosed. Covers conditions that can be treated, like neck pain, low back pain, and arthritis. Info on treatment with medicine and lifestyle changes.

Discusses decisions related to care near the end of life. Discusses choosing where to get care and what kind you want. Covers who will make decisions if you can't. Info on advance directives and need for durable power of attorney.

Includes tips to comfort a child before a medical test. Offers tips based on age, from newborns through the teen years.

What kinds of development occur in your baby's first month? Amazing changes are happening in your newborn's development. Babies' brains develop quickly, as they begin to think, learn, and remember. Newborns listen to and learn the sounds of language. They can communicate with sounds and facial expressions. Newborns also...

Cold and heat therapies are treatments that use cold or heat to help with pain, soreness, muscle spasms, swelling, and inflammation. There are different ways you can do cold and heat therapies. For example, you might use an ice pack for cold therapy or an electric heating pad for heat therapy. Most people like to use...

Health problems sometimes run in the family. That's why it's important to know as much as you can about the health problems of your birth family. This information can help your doctor provide better care. Start with what you know. Then ask your parents or other relatives for more information. It's a good idea to update...

Antibodies are proteins made by the body's natural defense system (immune system) to fight foreign substances, such as bacteria. Antibodies attach themselves to the foreign substance, allowing other immune system cells to attack and destroy the substance. The surfaces of viruses, fungi, and bacteria contain markers...

Depression is an illness that makes you feel sad, lose interest in things you used to enjoy, withdraw from others, and have little energy. It's more than normal sadness, grief, or low energy. Most people get better with medicine, counseling, or a combination of the two. After you have had an episode of depression, you...

An allergic reaction is an overreaction of the immune system to a substance called an allergen. Allergens include chemicals, foods, medicines, mold, plants, and pollen. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can range from mild and annoying to severe and life-threatening. Allergens can affect different tissues in the body...

Covers causes and symptoms of high blood pressure. Explains systolic and diastolic pressure numbers. Looks at treatment and prevention steps. Includes risks of untreated high blood pressure such as heart attack, stroke, and kidney failure.

Ultrasound is a test that uses reflected sound waves to produce an image of organs and other structures in the body. It does not use X-rays or other types of possibly harmful radiation. For ultrasound testing, gel or oil is applied to the skin to help transmit the sound waves. A small, handheld instrument called a...

Discusses causes and symptoms of asthma in children. Looks at treatment with medicine such as inhaled corticosteroid and albuterol. Discusses avoiding triggers and treating attacks. Covers using nebulizers, metered-dose with spacer and dry powder inhalers.

Diabetes is a condition in which sugar (glucose) remains in the blood rather than entering the body's cells to be used for energy. This results in high blood sugar. Over time, high blood sugar can damage many body systems. Symptoms of diabetes include increased thirst and frequent urination (especially at night)...