All medicines can cause side effects. Many people don't have side effects. And minor side effects sometimes go away after a while. But sometimes side effects can be a problem or can be serious. If you're having problems with side effects, talk to your doctor. Your doctor may be able to lower your dose or change to a...

Covers the causes and symptoms of osteoarthritis. Covers possible treatments with over-the-counter pain medicines and prescription medicines. Includes info on home treatment for joint pain, including using heat or ice, staying at a healthy weight, and exercise.

Explains labor and delivery, including planning, signs of labor, pain management, types of delivery, labor stages, labor positions, medical procedures, and what happens right after birth.

Inner strength is the ability to cope with the stressful situations in life. This is often called "resilience." Building inner strength begins with simple actions or thoughts that your child practices, such as planning for what to do next and learning to accept change. Inner strength can help a child face problems...

The immune system is the body's natural defense system that helps fight infections. An impaired immune system does not work properly and can't effectively protect a person against infection. Some conditions and medicines weaken or impair the immune system. These may include: Substance use disorders or problems caused by...

Anemia is a condition in which a person doesn't have enough red blood cells. With fewer red blood cells, your blood isn't able to carry enough oxygen to the cells in your body. This can cause symptoms such as weakness, skin that is more pale than usual, and general tiredness (fatigue). Different types of anemia are...

Briefly discusses physical and emotional symptoms of anxiety. Covers anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and phobias. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Offers tips to help with anxiety.

Briefly discusses how cuts may occur and types of cuts. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Briefly discusses causes of back problems or injuries, including common activities, sudden injuries, overuse, and health conditions that may cause problems. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

What is food poisoning? Food poisoning is an illness caused by eating foods that have harmful germs in them. These germs are mostly found in raw meat, chicken, fish, and eggs, but they can spread to any type of food. They can also grow on food that's left out on counters or outdoors or is stored too long before you eat...

Aerobic fitness means increasing how well the body uses oxygen, which depends on the condition of the heart, lungs, and muscles. Experts tend to describe aerobic activity in three ways: light, moderate, and vigorous. When people do moderate-intensity activities, they notice a faster heartbeat. To get the benefits of...

Discusses ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke, and TIA (transient ischemic attack). Describes stroke symptoms and importance of acting fast if symptoms develop. Covers stroke treatment and prevention.

Each Decision Point is designed to guide you through a key health decision. Decision Points combine medical information with your personal values to help you make a wise health decision. See a list of: Decision Points about medical tests. Decision Points about medicines. Decision Points about surgeries. Decision Points...

Briefly discusses common types of headaches and their causes. Covers when a headache is an emergency. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Covers causes of heart attack (myocardial infarction, or MI) and unstable angina. Discusses symptoms like chest pain or pressure. Explains MI and angina differences. Offers prevention tips. Covers diagnostic tests and treatment with medicines and surgery.

Provides info on basic dental care like brushing and flossing regularly, seeing your dentist or dental hygienist for regular checkups and cleanings, and eating mouth-healthy foods. Offers info on dental care for children.

Looks at forming a partnership with your doctor to manage your care. Suggests taking an active role by asking questions about treatment choices and costs, learning on your own, and prepping for office visits. Offers questions to ask when choosing a doctor.

Briefly discusses when feelings of sadness or anxiety may indicate need for treatment for depression. Explains emergency symptoms, like talk about suicide. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Offers tips to help with depression.

Many people have more than one long-term (chronic) health problem. You may be one of them. For example, you may have high blood pressure and diabetes, or you may have high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart failure. When you have more than one problem, doctors call the health problems comorbidities. One health problem...

Briefly discusses common skin rashes that affect those 11 and younger. Covers chickenpox, diaper rash, prickly heat, and contact dermatitis. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Briefly discusses eye problems, including watery eyes, drainage, eyelid problems and problems related to health conditions. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Covers the basics of obesity. Discusses health risks such as hypertension related to having excess body fat. Focuses on lifestyle changes you can make, like healthy eating and exercise. Includes information on weight-loss medicines and surgery and on creating a long-term plan with your doctor.

Discusses cancer pain management. Discusses causes such as tumor pressing on bones or nerves. Covers types of cancer pain. Discusses treatment with medicine, surgery, radiation, and other treatments.

Looks at infertility. Includes info on various tests used to find out why someone can't get pregnant. Covers treatments, including medicine to help stimulate ovulation and procedures to increase sperm count.

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...