Health Article description.Constipation and hemorrhoids are common problems during pregnancy. Constipation Constipation causes less frequent and more strained bowel movements. The bowels commonly move more slowly when you're pregnant. And iron in prenatal vitamins also can cause constipation during pregnancy. Hemorrhoids Hemorrhoids are swollen...

Health Article description.Discusses casts, which are used when a bone is broken. Covers how to care for casts and deal with swelling. Discusses complications that may require emergency care.

Health Article description.Venous skin ulcers develop when the lower leg veins are weakened and cannot efficiently move the blood back toward the heart. Pooled blood and fluid in the lower legs then leads to tissue breakdown. You can prevent or heal a venous skin ulcer by helping your blood circulate back toward your heart. Elevate your legs...

Health Article description.Discover some cooking methods as well as tips for how to use each method.

Health Article description.External beam radiation therapy uses doses of radiation to kill cancer cells. A beam of radiation is aimed at the tumor from outside the body. This treatment is given to most people with early-stage breast cancer who choose breast-conserving...

Health Article description.Learn tips for how to support a friend who is going through a tough time.

Health Article description.Planning ahead may help you keep breastfeeding after you return to work. Here are some things to think about. Employer support. Before your child is born, talk to your employer about your breastfeeding plans. Work out the details of where you can breastfeed or pump, and decide how you will store your breast milk. Also...

Health Article description.Briefly covers boils, bumps under the skin often caused by infected hair follicles. Explains that bacteria form an abscess (pocket of pus). Covers home treatment. Includes info on how to prevent boils.

Health Article description.The peripheral nervous system includes the nerves leading from the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body. It is made up of 31 pairs of nerves coming out of the spinal column openings (spinal nerves) and 12 pairs of nerves coming out of the opening in the skull (cranial nerves). A peripheral nerve may be made up...

Health Article description.Discusses lumpectomy and partial mastectomy, two types of breast-conserving surgery. Covers what is done and what to expect after surgery, including having radiation therapy. Also looks at risks.

Health Article description.It is common to feel sad about changes caused by the stroke. Sometimes the injury to the brain from the stroke can cause depression. If you think you might be depressed, tell your doctor right away. The sooner you know if you are depressed, the...

Health Article description.Cognitive development is the process by which the brain forms the abilities to learn and remember. This development follows a typical pattern in the first 12 months of life. Between 1 and 2 months of age, infants become interested in new objects.

Health Article description.Describes kidney cancer. Covers symptoms and how kidney cancer is diagnosed. Covers treatment with surgery and medicines.

Health Article description.Covers surgery to replace the ball, but not the socket, of the hip joint. Looks at why it is done and how well it works. Discusses what to expect after surgery and living with a hip replacement.

Health Article description.Vitamin B12 deficiency anemia is a blood problem that occurs when there is not enough of this vitamin in the body. Vitamin B12 helps your body make red blood cells, which carry oxygen. Without enough vitamin B12, the body does not have enough red blood cells (anemia). Anemia may make you feel weak and tired. Vitamin B12...

Health Article description.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...

Health Article description.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...

Health Article description.Discusses heart murmur, an extra sound the blood makes as it flows through the heart. Covers harmless (innocent) murmurs and abnormal murmurs. Includes info on heart valve damage. Discusses tests by a cardiologist including electrocardiogram (ECG).

Health Article description.Cheryl is a self-employed single mom. She juggles work, four kids, and depression. "Some days, depression really pulls me down, and I'm totally exhausted mentally, physically, and emotionally," Cheryl says. "Other days, I feel great." Cheryl thinks her first bouts of depression came when she was in middle school, but it...

Health Article description.Covers symptoms of giant cell arteritis, which include vision problems and pain in the jaw. Covers how this condition is treated.

Health Article description.A gastrin test measures the level of the hormone gastrin in the blood. Gastrin is produced by cells, called G cells, in the stomach lining. When food enters the stomach, G cells trigger the release of gastrin in the blood. As blood levels of gastrin rise, the stomach releases acid (gastric acid) that helps break down...

Health Article description.Explains surgery to take out tonsils because of strep throat infections or tonsillitis. Gives info on what to expect after surgery, such as sore throat. Explains how child may feel and act after surgery. Also includes info on risks.

Health Article description.An intravenous pyelogram (IVP) is an X-ray test that provides pictures of the kidneys, the bladder, the ureters, and the urethra ( urinary tract). An IVP can show the size, shape, and position of the urinary tract, and it can evaluate the collecting system inside the kidneys. During IVP, a dye called contrast material...

Health Article description.Discusses cysts that form in the Bartholin gland, which is in a woman's genital area. Covers symptoms that include a lump under the skin in the vulva. Covers treatment with sitz bath, nonprescription pain medicine, or surgery.

Health Article description.The sciatic nerve is the largest nerve in the body. It is formed by nerve roots coming out of the spinal cord in the lower back. The nerve goes down through the buttock, and then its branches extend down the back of the leg to the ankle and foot. A herniated disc may irritate or press on one or more of the nerve roots...