A person who is getting care at home may need help with eating. When helping them eat, be patient and give the person plenty of time. Let the person do as much on their own as possible. This can help them feel more independent when having meals. You can help by encouraging the person to eat whenever they are hungry. If...

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...

Blood thinners are medicines that help prevent blood clots. Because they prevent clots, they also help prevent heart attacks, strokes, and other problems caused by blood clots. But blood thinners can also raise the risk of serious bleeding. So it's important to know how to take them safely.

These are the tests you may need and how often you should have them. The tests may vary depending on whether you have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. A1c blood test. This test shows the average level of blood sugar over the past 2 to 3 months. It helps your doctor see whether blood sugar levels have been staying within your...

Discusses how to live with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), a device that helps control heart rhythm. Gives safety guidelines and tips for travel, exercise, and making an ICD shock plan.

Covers surgery to replace the ends of bones in a damaged joint. Includes slideshow on knee replacement. Looks at why surgery is done, risks, and how well it works. Discusses what to expect after surgery and living with a knee replacement.

Growth modification (early treatment) is part of the first phase of two-stage orthodontic treatment of children with malocclusion (poor bite). Growth modification is only possible when bones are still growing. It is most effective during children's growth spurts. Orthodontists use growth modification devices...

Germs and infection can spread easily in the home. This may happen when items around the house become soiled or when you come into contact with body fluids, such as blood or urine. A person's cough or sneeze can spread germs too. Washing your hands often can help you keep germs and infection from spreading. Keeping the...

If emergency care is not needed, the following steps will protect the wound and protect you from exposure to another person's blood. Wash your hands well with soap and water, if available. Put on medical gloves before applying pressure to the wound. If gloves are not available, to apply pressure you can: Use many layers...

Chemical exposure Protect yourself as much as you can from harmful chemicals. Avoid pesticides, household cleaners, and paint. Fumes from these substances can be harmful, especially in the first trimester of pregnancy. Use chemical-free cleaning alternatives while you're pregnant. If you must use chemical cleaners, wear...

A carbon dioxide laser uses carbon dioxide gas as the active substance in a highly focused beam of light to cut or destroy tissue during surgery. Laser light cleans (sterilizes) and seals as it cuts tissue, which reduces bleeding and pain and shortens the healing time. Lasers are used for many different types of...

Orthognathic surgery treats malocclusion ("poor bite"). It restructures the jaw through cutting the bone and repositioning the bone segments. Adults who have jaw-related malocclusion are sometimes offered a choice. They can have simple orthodontic treatment . Or they can have orthodontic treatment combined with...

What is parotitis? Parotitis is a swelling of your parotid glands. These are salivary glands located between the ear and jaw. Causes can include viral and bacterial infections. It can also be caused by certain health conditions, a tumor, or salivary gland stones. Parotitis can be acute (happen suddenly) or chronic...

An autopsy is a thorough medical exam of a body after death. It may be done to learn about a disease or injury. Or it may be done to find out how or why a person has died. An autopsy is done by a doctor called a pathologist. This type of doctor is an expert in examining body tissues and fluids. Family members may ask...

It is important to have realistic expectations of joint replacement surgery. Replacement joints are not "miracle" joints. They will not restore a joint to the function it had before the arthritis began. Pain relief is the most dependable outcome of joint replacement. When the pain is relieved, you also may get some...

Understand the basics about LGBTQ health.

Covers shoulder surgery to replace the ends of bones in a damaged joint. Includes what to expect after surgery, continued recovery, and living with a shoulder replacement. Looks at why it is done, how well it works, and the risks of surgery.

A magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) is a type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan that uses a magnetic field and pulses of radio wave energy to provide pictures of blood vessels inside the body. In many cases MRA can provide information that...

Many parents of a thumb-sucking infant question whether they should substitute a pacifier for the thumb. So far, research does not show that one is preferable over the other. Also, although parents can encourage a child to suck a pacifier rather than a thumb, they can't control which the child will prefer. The...