Intradiscal electrothermal therapy (IDET) is a treatment for chronic low back pain. Your doctor may suggest IDET if they think the pain in your back is coming from the disc itself. Your doctor may also suggest IDET if other treatments have not...

Discusses rash (also called contact dermatitis) caused by touching poison ivy, poison oak, and poison sumac. Covers risks. Offers home treatment and prevention tips. Covers medicines to relieve symptoms.

Covers risk of heart disease in women. Lists things that increase risk. Lists prevention steps, such as diet, exercise, not smoking, managing cholesterol and blood pressure, and making decisions on birth control and hormone therapy.

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common herpes-type virus that can cause fever, chills, sore throat, swollen glands, body aches, and fatigue. Symptoms are similar to those of an Epstein-Barr viral infection, which is the primary cause of mononucleosis (mono). CMV can be spread through saliva, infected blood products, and...

Guides you through decision to treat low-risk basal cell skin cancer with surgery or nonsurgical treatments. Explains types of surgery and types of nonsurgical treatments. Covers benefits and risks of both. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Be honest about the loss. Not telling children about a major loss may cause them to develop unrealistic fears and concerns. Children may also feel insecure because they know the adults are not being honest. Not telling a child that a loved one has...

Fluid in the space behind the eardrum (middle ear) is called otitis media with effusion. It occurs when a eustachian tube (which connects the throat and middle ear) is blocked. This keeps fluid from draining normally out of the middle ear space and prevents air from entering the middle ear. Fluid in the middle ear may...

Looks at possible problems with wisdom teeth. Covers symptoms and how problems are diagnosed. Covers treatment options, including surgery. Offers home care tips.

One of the hardest things about parenting a child with ADHD is getting your child to do what you ask. ADHD symptoms—trouble paying attention, being impulsive, and being hyperactive—can get in the way of understanding and following instructions. But if your child learns how to overcome or adapt to their symptoms, they...

Discusses strep throat, an infection in the throat and tonsils caused by bacteria. Covers symptoms like sore throat and fever. Includes info on rapid strep test and throat culture. Covers treatment with medicines and surgery (tonsillectomy). Includes info on possible complications.

Discusses prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test to measure amount of PSA in the blood. Explains that test is often used for cancer screening or follow-up. Covers how test is done and how to prepare for it. Discusses what results mean.

Phantom limb pain is pain that feels like it is coming from an arm or leg that has been amputated. Although the limb is gone, the nerve endings at the site of the amputation continue to send pain signals to the brain that make the brain think the...

Hearing aids make sounds louder. There are many different styles of hearing aids. And you can add special features to your hearing aids. But almost all hearing aids have these parts: A microphone, to pick up sound. An amplifier, to make the sound louder. A speaker, to deliver the sound into the ear. How to get hearing...

Estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER/PR) tests identify whether these hormones affect the way that breast cancer grows. The results of these tests help doctors decide whether to use hormone therapy to help stop the cancer from growing or to lower the risk of the cancer coming back (recurrence). The hormones estrogen...

Guides you through the decision to use hormone therapy (HT) for menopause symptoms. Explains what menopause is and what to expect. Lists risks and benefits of HT and other treatments to try. Includes interactive tool to help you decide.

What is an E. coli infection? E. coli (Escherichia coli) is the name of a germ, or bacterium, that lives in the digestive tracts of humans and animals. There are many types of E. coli, and most of them are harmless. But some can cause bloody diarrhea. Some strains of E. coli may also cause severe anemia or kidney...

Covers symptoms of polymyalgia rheumatica, which include muscle pain and stiffness in the neck and shoulders. Covers how this condition is treated.

Everyone who goes through cancer has a time of adjustment afterward. This is part of your recovery, and it may take longer than you expect. These tips may help. Give yourself time to make sense of it all. Surviving cancer is something to celebrate.

Discharge planning helps to make sure that you leave the hospital safely and smoothly and get the right care after that. You, the person who is caring for you, and your discharge planner work together to address your concerns in a discharge plan.

Draining mucus from the lungs and coughing it up can help to clear the lungs. Doing this every day can help your child maintain lung function and avoid problems from mucus. Here are three ways to help clear your child's lungs. You may hear these called airway clearance techniques, or ACT. Postural drainage uses certain...

Briefly discusses possible problems that may occur after surgery. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

What are pressure injuries from scuba diving? Scuba diving can expose you to high waves and dangerous sea life. But the more likely dangers are those you can't see. You can be injured if your body isn't able to adjust to the increasing and decreasing pressure of the water as you breathe compressed air. Pressure changes...

People who have long-term (chronic) diseases such as arthritis, asthma, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, hepatitis C, or stroke often also have depression. Depression also often occurs with chronic pain. Depression may occur with these problems...

The loss of someone special translates into many separate losses in a person's life. Multiple losses occur when a person loses: A partner. Loss of a partner usually also means the loss of a constant companion. Loss of a partner can also cause...

Sadness and yearning for a loved one, an object, or a way of life you have lost are the most common and expected feelings that occur after any loss. To help you cope with your feelings of sadness and yearning, you might try the following tips. Look...