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.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...

Health Article description.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...

Health Article description.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...

Health Article description.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...

Health Article description.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.

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.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)...

Health Article description.When you're dealing with everyday problems, stress, or health issues, it's important to have people in your life who can give you support. You may need a shoulder to cry on or someone to talk to. It's also important to have social support when...

Health Article description.Corticosteroid medicines—also called steroid medicines—are similar to natural hormones produced in the body that help control many necessary functions, including blood sugar and salt (electrolyte) levels, the body's water balance, and immune system function. These medicines may help provide relief for diseases that...

Health Article description.Briefly discusses common sexually transmitted infections. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care.

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.Discusses possible causes and symptoms of migraine headaches. Covers common warning signs like auras, nausea, and light sensitivity. Discusses tests used to diagnose migraines. Offers home treatment advice and discusses treatment with medicine.

Health Article description.Discusses acne, a skin problem. Lists symptoms, including pimples. Covers causes such as puberty, medicines, and conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome. Covers acne treatment for mild, moderate, and severe forms. Offers prevention tips.

Health Article description.Covers type 1 diabetes, also called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. Describes how pancreas regulates blood sugar (glucose) levels. Includes info on hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. Discusses treatments, including insulin.

Health Article description.Describes heart failure (congestive heart failure). Discusses common causes like hypertension and coronary artery disease. Has info on symptoms. Covers diagnostic tests and treatments. Discusses heart failure classification system and stages of CHF.

Health Article description.It's important to know as much as possible about the medicines you're taking. Here are some examples of questions you might ask your doctor or pharmacist. What can you tell me about this medicine? What is the name of the medicine? What will the medicine do (for example, lower blood pressure)? How will I know that this...

Health Article description.Osteoporosis is a disease that makes your bones thin, brittle, and easy to break. It's related to the loss of bone mass that happens as a natural part of aging. It's most common in women who have gone through menopause, but it can also occur in men. As osteoporosis gets worse, it can lead to broken bones in the hip...

Health Article description.X-rays are a form of radiation, like light or radio waves, that can be focused into a beam, much like a flashlight beam. Unlike a beam of light, though, X-rays can pass through most objects, including the human body. When X-rays strike a piece of photographic film, they can produce a picture. Dense tissues in the body...