What is dyslexia? Dyslexia is a learning disability that makes it hard to read, write, and spell. Children who have dyslexia may read slower than what is expected at their age. Or they may have trouble remembering math facts or words. Overall intelligence does not seem to be related to dyslexia. But not being able to...

Playgrounds are fun places, but they may have hazards that can cause injury. Following some basic safety measures can help your child have fun and play safely. Find playgrounds that have safe equipment. Make sure there's a soft surface under play equipment, such as sand, wood chips, or rubber matting. Check the surface...

Briefly discusses symptoms of seizures caused by epilepsy, other health problems, or medicine. Explains why seizures, or convulsions, occur. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Follow your body's hunger and fullness signals. Smart snacking can help you keep your blood sugar levels stable, especially if you are taking medicine for diabetes. Take time to enjoy your food. Try using a smaller plate, bowl, or glass while you slowly eat your snack. Try to make healthy choices. Eat a piece of fresh...

Most adults do best when they get 7 to 8 hours of sleep each day. Sleep gives your brain a little vacation. During sleep, your brain has time to: Grow and repair cells. Form new pathways for learning, remembering, and processing information. Rebuild your energy for the next day. When you don't sleep well night after...

Are you concerned that someone you know may have depression? Depression is a mental health condition that makes a person feel sad, lose interest in things they used to enjoy, and withdraw from others. It's more than normal sadness, grief, or low...

If you are thinking about having a tattoo or body piercing, go to a reputable studio. Look for or ask about the following: Is it clean? The entire studio, including the bathroom, should be clean. Do the tattoo or piercing artists follow these steps to prevent infection? Wash their hands before putting on new, disposable...

Guides you through the decision to have an amniocentesis test. Explains what amniocentesis is and how it is done. Discusses birth defects. Looks at the risks and benefits of amniocentesis. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.

In transurethral microwave therapy (TUMT), an instrument (called an antenna) that sends out microwave energy is inserted through the urethra to a location inside the prostate. Microwave energy is then used to heat the inside of the prostate. Cooling fluid is circulated around the microwave antenna to prevent heat from...

A bacterial infection is an infection caused by bacteria. Bacterial infections can often be treated successfully with antibiotics. An infection may begin as a bacterial infection. Or a bacterial infection may follow a viral infection that does not get better. When a viral infection doesn't get better for 10 days or...

Briefly discusses causes that contribute to confusion, memory loss, and altered alertness, including injuries, infections, health conditions, and medicines. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

It can be hard to know if your child is having a mild, moderate, or severe asthma attack. The following chart may help you. Talk with a doctor if you can't tell how bad your child's symptoms are. In most cases, you can take care of your child's symptoms at home by looking at your child's asthma action plan. The plan...

A radioactive iodine uptake (RAIU) test uses a radioactive tracer and a special probe to measure how much tracer the thyroid gland absorbs from the blood. The test can show how much tracer is absorbed by the thyroid gland. The RAIU test often is done along with a thyroid scan, which shows if the tracer is evenly spread...

What is night eating syndrome? Night eating syndrome is a condition in which people eat large amount of food after the evening meal, often waking up during the night to eat. People with this condition may delay their first meal of the day for many hours. And they may feel upset about their night eating. What causes it...

Meditation is the practice of focusing attention on feeling calm and having a clear awareness about life. It can produce a state of relaxation that reduces heart rate, slows breathing, and lowers blood pressure. Meditation usually involves slow, regular breathing and sitting quietly for 15 to 20 minutes. During...

Covers surgical removal of herniated disc material that presses on a nerve root or the spinal cord. Discusses why it may be done such as for a bulging disc, to relieve pain, or help prevent serious nerve damage. Looks at how well it works and risks.

Herpes simplex is a virus that can cause painful blisters and sores. The virus usually affects the skin and the thin layers of tissue that moisten, lubricate, and protect certain parts of the body (mucous membranes). The two main types of herpes simplex viruses are type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2). Both types of the...

Discusses test to check level of potassium (K) in urine. Includes info on what affects potassium levels in the body such as kidney function, blood pH, and hormones. Explains how and why test is done. Covers what results mean.

A lymphoma is a type of cancer that affects the lymph system, which is part of the body's immune system. The two main types of lymphoma are Hodgkin lymphoma and non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Lymphomas are more common in men than in women. In most cases the cause is not known. Symptoms of lymphoma include swelling in one or more...

A gallium scan is a nuclear medicine test that can check for problem areas in certain tissues in your body. A radioactive tracer (tracer) called gallium citrate is injected into a vein in your arm. It moves through your bloodstream and into certain tissues. These tissues include your bones, liver, and intestine, and...

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued advisories to patients, families, and health professionals to closely watch for warning signs of suicidal behavior in children and adults younger than 25 who take antidepressants. The FDA also...

Ice and cold packs can reduce the pain, swelling, and bleeding of an injury. Cold therapy is usually used immediately after an injury. For an eye injury, use one of the following methods: Ice towel. Wet a towel with cold water and squeeze it until it is just damp. Fold the towel, place it in a plastic bag, and freeze it...

Adults with asthma At times, you may find it hard to manage your asthma and stay with your treatment plan. If you're having trouble, it may help to figure out what's getting in your way. Then you can decide how to work around those barriers. Here are some common barriers people face when following a plan and some ideas...

Medicines may stop a cluster headache after it starts or prevent more headaches from occurring. If you don't get headaches often, you may only need to take medicines after the headaches begin. If you get headaches often, you may need to take medicines daily during a cluster period to prevent a future headache or reduce...

Genetic conditions are diseases that can be passed from parents to children. Some conditions may be inherited if only one parent has the changed gene, while others can be inherited only if both parents have the changed gene. If one or both parents have a gene change (mutation) or have a genetic condition, the risk of...