Health Article description.Briefly discusses the symptoms that can occur from insect or spider bites. Covers skin reactions, allergic reactions, and toxic reactions. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Health Article description.Covers causes and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Looks at how treatment can help and steps you can take. Discusses most effective treatments—counseling and antidepressant medicines. Includes stories from others in their own words.

Health Article description.Anesthesia is the use of medicines to control pain and keep a person comfortable. Anesthetics are used to numb a specific area of the body (local and regional anesthesia). Or they can cause a person to be unconscious and not have pain during a procedure such as surgery (general anesthesia). The types of anesthesia...

Health Article description.Having support from people in your life is one thing that helps make healthy eating a lot easier. Support for healthy eating can come in many different forms. It might be: A friend who notices how you're eating better. A family member who doesn't...

Health Article description.Helping someone with personal care involves many daily tasks. If it's been a while since you did day-to-day caregiving—or you've never done it—you might not know all the things you need to do and how to do them. Learn more This information gives an overview of the daily or weekly care a person needs. Bathing...

Health Article description.What is teen substance use? Many teens try substances like alcohol or drugs. Some try them only a few times and stop. Teens who keep using substances may form a strong need for them. This can lead to substance use disorder. Substances teens may try include tobacco, alcohol, marijuana or other drugs, household products...

Health Article description.Covers causes and symptoms of osteoporosis in women. Looks at treatment with medicine. Includes steps to slow bone loss with exercise, eating healthy foods, and quitting smoking. Covers protecting yourself from falling to prevent broken bones.

Health Article description.Briefly discusses diarrhea in those 11 and younger. Covers causes such as infection and inflammatory bowel disease. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Health Article description.Covers how your thoughts can affect your mental and physical health. Offers tips on positive thinking, including having positive expectations.

Health Article description.Briefly discusses respiratory problems that older children and adults can have. Covers viral and bacterial infections, allergies, and asthma. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Health Article description.Lead poisoning occurs when you absorb too much lead by breathing or swallowing a substance with lead in it, such as paint, dust, water, or food. Lead can damage almost every organ system. In children, too much lead in the body can cause lasting...

Health Article description.Briefly discusses symptoms and possible causes of abdominal pain, such as peptic ulcer disease, indigestion, appendicitis, and stomach flu. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Health Article description.Briefly discusses male genital problems and injuries. Looks at testicle, penis, and scrotum symptoms. Covers rashes and infections. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Health Article description.Antibiotics are medicines used to kill bacteria that cause infections. A doctor will choose an antibiotic to treat an illness based on: Whether taking an antibiotic will reduce the length or severity of the illness. Whether the person is allergic to any antibiotics. How likely it is that a certain antibiotic will kill...

Health Article description.Electrolytes are minerals found naturally in the body, such as potassium, calcium, sodium, and magnesium. Electrolytes are needed to keep the body's balance of fluids at the proper level and to maintain normal functions, such as heart rhythm, muscle contraction, and brain function. If the body's electrolytes are not in...

Health Article description.The best way to stay healthy on your trip is to plan ahead. If you are planning to travel to another country, see a doctor several months before you leave so you will have enough time to get the vaccines you need. Also ask your doctor if there are...

Health Article description.Estrogen is a hormone that produces female physical traits and helps regulate a woman's menstrual cycle. In women, estrogen is produced in varying amounts throughout the menstrual cycle, mainly by the ovaries. When a woman's estrogen levels reach a low enough point, she stops having monthly menstrual periods...

Health Article description.Briefly discusses common allergies, including ones to food, medicine, insect stings, latex, and animals. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Health Article description.Briefly discusses diarrhea in older children and adults. Covers causes and symptoms such as abdominal pain and black or bloody stools. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Health Article description.What are colds? Colds are the most common infection of the nose, sinuses, or throat (upper respiratory infection). Colds are caused by viruses. They're spread by coughs, sneezes, and close contact. You can catch a cold at any time of year, but they're more common in late winter and early spring. There's no cure for...

Health Article description.Tips to help prevent falls and injuries for older adults and people who have had a stroke or have multiple sclerosis or osteoporosis. Covers taking care of your health and making changes in your home. Covers preventing falls in the bathroom and outdoors.

Health Article description.Hospitals can be big, confusing places, especially if you've never been a patient in one before. But by taking the time to learn about how hospitals work and what you can expect, you may be able to lower your stress and concentrate on what's important: feeling better.

Health Article description.Discusses allergic rhinitis. Covers common immediate and chronic symptoms. Looks at what increases risk. Covers treatment options. Offers prevention and treatment tips.

Health Article description.When you're ready to make some changes to your eating habits, having a plan for how you'll get started can help you succeed. Healthy eating is about balance, variety, and moderation. It means that you eat enough, but not too much, and that you eat...

Health Article description.Taking medicine as your doctor prescribes may improve your health and may prevent future problems. Not taking medicines properly could put your health or your life at risk. Taking your medicines safely is especially important for those who take a lot of medicines. Taking a lot of pills increases your chances of having...