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 died may prolong the child's grief. Provide safety and security. To...

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.

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...

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.

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 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.

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...

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 limb is still there. Phantom limb pain can be mild to agonizing and even...

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...

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.

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...

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.

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...

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...

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. But many people find that the time after treatment is different than...

Compression stockings: Help improve blood flow. Help keep blood from pooling in the legs. Help relieve symptoms caused by varicose veins, skin ulcers, and deep vein thrombosis. Help skin ulcers heal and help prevent them from coming back. Will help the most if you wear them every day while you're awake, especially while...

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.

Covers treating postpartum depression with counseling and medicines. Discusses when to seek care. Offers home care tips. Briefly outlines symptoms and the importance of treatment.

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...

Sciatica is pain caused by irritation or pressure against the nerve roots of the sciatic nerve. People with sciatica usually have a shooting pain down the back of the leg. But they also may have leg weakness, tingling, or numbness. The sciatic nerve is formed by the nerve roots coming out of the spinal cord into the...

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 financial hardship, and sometimes a loss of standing or recognition within the...

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...

Cryosurgery uses extreme cold to destroy cancer cells. It may be used to treat early prostate cancer. It's an option for those who can't have radiation therapy or a more invasive type of surgery. Or it may be used to treat prostate cancer that has come back after radiation therapy. During this treatment, very thin...