Briefly discusses causes of burns, including chemicals, UV light, hot steam, and flash fires. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Provides tips for preventing and watching for skin cancer. Includes protecting the skin, knowing early signs of skin cancer, and having skin exams.

Guides through decision to have knee replacement surgery for osteoarthritis. Describes other surgeries and treatment options used to decrease osteoarthritis pain. Covers benefits and risks. Includes an interactive tool to help you make your decision.

When should you start toilet training your child? Your child must be both physically and emotionally ready for toilet training. Most children are ready to start when they are between 22 and 30 months of age, but every child is different. Toilet training usually becomes a long and frustrating process if you try to start...

Patty's Story: Using Positive Thinking to Help Back Pain Sometimes Patty doesn't know whether to laugh or cry when one of her three kids runs at her for a flying hug. She loves the affection, but picking up her kids all the time is one reason the 33-year-old third-grade teacher has back pain. She tries to smile and...

In adults Gradual hearing loss can affect people of all ages. You may not be aware of it, but your friends and family may notice. If you have concerns about your hearing, talk to your doctor during routine visits. If you have sudden hearing loss, call your doctor right away. In children Experts recommend that all...

Discusses how cancer pain can almost always be relieved if you work with your doctor to find treatments that are right for you. Covers using a pain diary and getting the most benefit from your medicine. Briefly discusses self-care and complementary medicine options.

What is bed-wetting? Bed-wetting is accidental urination during sleep. Children learn bladder control at different ages. Children younger than 4 often wet their beds or clothes because they can't yet control their bladders. But by age 5 or 6, most children can stay dry through the night. In some cases, the child has...

What are mini-pills for birth control? Mini-pills are used to prevent pregnancy. They release a regular dose of a hormone called progestin. They are different from regular combination birth control pills. Those contain progestin and another hormone called estrogen. Progestin prevents pregnancy in a few ways. It thickens...

Covers symptoms and causes of gum disease (also called gingivitis, periodontitis, or periodontal disease). Covers what increases your risk. Discusses home treatment. Covers treatment with medicines, root planing and scaling, and surgery.

Chiropractic is an approach to health care that tries to relieve pain through spinal manipulation. It is most often used for back or neck pain, and sometimes it is used for headaches or for pain in the arms or legs. Spinal manipulation involves working on the head, shoulders, neck, back, or hips to help relieve pain. It...

Feeding a baby is an important concern for parents. Experts recommend feeding your baby only breast milk for about 6 months. They also support breastfeeding for 2 years or longer. But your baby benefits from any amount of time that you breastfeed. Try to breastfeed for as long as it works for you and your baby. If you...

Guides through decision to use medicine to quit smoking. Lists benefits and risks. Discusses varenicline, bupropion SR, and nicotine replacement products. Includes interactive tool to help you decide.

Discusses polycystic ovary syndrome, a problem in which female hormones are out of balance. Discusses PCOS early symptoms like heavy bleeding or facial hair. Also covers more serious symptoms like miscarriages or infertility. Includes info on treatment.

Like other complementary medicine therapies, healing touch starts with the idea that people are naturally healthy. The way people live and think may disturb their natural energy, and they may become ill. The aim of healing touch is to focus (or channel) healing energy to restore natural health. Practitioners of healing...

Covers helping a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder succeed in school. Discusses working with teachers and other school personnel. Also covers helping your child control symptoms.

What is urinary incontinence? Urinary incontinence is the accidental release of urine. It can happen when you cough, laugh, sneeze, or jog. Or you may have a sudden need to go to the toilet but can't get there in time. These problems are very common, especially among older adults. They usually don't cause major health...

Guides you through decision to have inguinal hernia surgery. Looks at the two types of surgery for treatment. Covers benefits and risks. Includes an interactive tool to help you make your decision.

What is the birth control ring? The vaginal ring is used to prevent pregnancy. It's a soft plastic ring that you put into your vagina. The ring releases a regular dose of the hormones estrogen and progestin. These hormones prevent pregnancy in three ways. They thicken the mucus in the cervix. This makes it hard for...

Offers tips for reducing unhealthy fats (saturated fats and trans fats) and choosing healthier options. Briefly covers why cutting unhealthy fats matters.

Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) is an assisted reproductive technology (ART) used to treat certain infertility problems, such as sperm-related infertility. ICSI is used to enhance the fertilization phase of in vitro fertilization (IVF) by injecting a single sperm into a mature egg. The fertilized egg is then...

Briefly discusses symptoms of hyperventilation, plus causes for both acute (sudden) and chronic hyperventilation. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Medicines and medical treatments can cause hair loss. Medicines Many medicines that can cause hair loss include: Medicines used to treat cancer ( chemotherapy). Birth control pills. Women who lose hair while taking birth control pills usually have an inherited tendency toward hair thinning. If hair thinning occurs, a...

A ketone test checks for ketones in your blood or urine. Ketones are substances that are made when the body breaks down fat for energy. Normally, your body gets the energy it needs from carbohydrate in your diet. But stored fat is broken down and ketones are made if your diet does not contain enough carbohydrates to...

Covers a surgical procedure that joins, or fuses, two or more vertebrae to treat low back pain. Looks at why it is done and what to expect after surgery. Includes how well it works and possible risks.