A brain abscess is a pocket of infection that forms in the brain. Depending on its size and location, a brain abscess may cause headaches, personality changes, one-sided weakness, fever and chills, nausea and vomiting, and seizures. Brain abscesses are not common. They may be caused by: The spread of infection from...

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 tempt you when you're trying to eat less of certain foods. A coworker or...

Guides you through the decision to use the medicine metformin, lifestyle changes, or both to prevent type 2 diabetes. Provides specifics about metformin and goals for lifestyle changes. Lists benefits and risks. Includes interactive tool to help you decide.

Puberty is the time of life when people develop physically and sexually so that they can have children. It is the time when male and female sex characteristics appear and when changes in the sexual organs occur. Puberty is the entire process of changes affecting the body and its hormones that accompany sexual...

Kidney stones are made of salts and minerals in the urine that stick together to form small "pebbles." They may form when the normal balance of water, salts, minerals, and other substances found in urine changes. How this balance changes determines the type of kidney stone you have. Most kidney stones are...

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.

Covers symptoms of PMS such as bloating, muscle aches, and mood swings. Discusses possible causes and what increases your risk. Covers treatment with lifestyle changes, antidepressants, or birth control pills. Covers surgery for severe form (PMDD).

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.

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.

Briefly discusses the urinary system in teens and adults. Covers possible causes of problems, infections, and changes with age. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Includes info on diverticulitis, a condition in which pouches form in the colon and get inflamed or infected. Discusses symptoms and possible complications. Covers treatment with changes to your diet, medicine, or surgery.

Discusses a form of mental decline (also called dementia). Looks at possible causes. Covers symptoms like memory loss and changes in mood or behavior. Covers treatment with medicines to help with memory and thinking problems. Offers tips for caregivers.

Discusses vision problems caused by cataracts, a painless, cloudy area in lens of eye. Covers symptoms like fuzzy vision, glare from lamps or sun, and frequent changes to eyeglass prescription. Discusses treatment with surgery. Also discusses vision aids.

When a stroke occurs on the right side of the brain, a person's ability to judge distance, size, position, rate of movement, form, and the way parts relate to the whole is affected (spatial-perceptual problems). People with these problems may have more trouble learning to care for themselves. Signs of perception...

What is postpartum? The days and weeks after your baby is born are called the postpartum period. After childbirth, your body will start to heal and go through many changes as it recovers. Some of these changes happen over several weeks. So rest whenever you can, ask for help from friends and family, and eat well. What...

Obesity is having an excess amount of body fat for your height. It raises your risk for serious health problems. These include type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, arthritis, sleep apnea, some types of cancer, and stroke. Obesity can be treated. This often involves a long-term plan for lifestyle changes...

Your pulse is the rate at which your heart beats. As your heart pumps blood through your body, you can feel a pulsing in some of the blood vessels close to the skin's surface. The usual resting pulse for an adult is about 60 to 100 beats per minute. Certain illnesses can cause your pulse to change, so it is helpful to...

Breath-holding spells are brief periods—usually lasting no longer than a minute—when a young child stops breathing. These spells usually result from anger, fear, pain, or frustration and are not a deliberate behavior on the child's part. The two main types of breath-holding spells are cyanotic, caused by the change in...

Diethylstilbestrol (DES) is a medicine that was prescribed in the United States until 1971 to prevent miscarriage or premature delivery. It is no longer prescribed because it caused their children to have various medical problems. These problems may include a slightly increased risk of infertility and changes in the...

Hear why some people choose medicine and why others try to change their habits first.

Asherman's syndrome is inflammation of the lining of the uterus caused by scar tissue in the walls of the uterus. This is an uncommon condition that can cause changes in the menstrual cycle and can lead to miscarriage or infertility. The scar tissue that causes Asherman's syndrome may form after surgery on the uterus...

No matter what your health goal is, creating a specific plan can help you succeed. Follow the steps below to create your plan. This will put you on a path toward meeting your goal. Step 1: Know your own reason. Why is this change important to you? Make sure it's something that you really want to do. Step 2: Set a...

Discusses what happens in the body during menopause and perimenopause. Describes physical and emotional symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings. Discusses treatment with lifestyle changes like diet and exercise. Also covers hormone therapy.