Health Article description.Information on type 2 diabetes. Describes how insulin is made and used by the body. Describes symptoms and how type 2 is treated. Provides info on blood sugar (glucose) levels. Discusses obesity's role in type 2 diabetes. Discusses exercise and diet.

Health Article description.What is hepatitis B? Hepatitis B is a virus that infects the liver. Most people who get it have it for a short time and then get better. This is called acute hepatitis B. Sometimes the virus causes a long-term infection, called chronic hepatitis B. Over time, it can damage your liver. Babies and young children infected...

Health Article description.LASIK (laser in-situ keratomileusis) is a surgery that flattens the cornea. It's the most common laser surgery for correcting nearsightedness (myopia) and astigmatism. LASIK makes a small flap in the cornea and removes some of the tissue exposed by the flap. The laser removes tissue from the cornea very accurately. It...

Health Article description.Answers questions about organ transplants. Covers becoming an organ donor and getting on a waiting list. Covers tests used to see if you'd be a good candidate. Looks at medicines that you might take after a transplant. Offers tips for staying healthy.

Health Article description.Guides you through decision to have allergy-shot immunotherapy to treat allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and allergic asthma. Explains how allergy shots work. Covers who should not have them. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Health Article description.What are mitochondrial diseases? Mitochondrial (say "my-tuh-KAWN-dree-uhl") diseases are a group of rare diseases that can sometimes be passed down from mothers to their children. The diseases happen when mitochondria don't work the way they should. Mitochondria are tiny parts of the cells in your body. They are often...

Health Article description.Amazing changes are happening in your newborn's development. Babies' brains develop quickly, as they begin to think, learn, and remember. Newborns listen to and learn the sounds of language. They can communicate with sounds and facial expressions.

Health Article description.Covers the causes and symptoms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis, also called juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. Looks at treatment with NSAIDs, physical therapy, and possibly shots of steroid medicine. Includes tips for helping your child cope with JIA.

Health Article description.Briefly discusses types of poisonings and related symptoms. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers first aid steps as well as calling Poison Control.

Health Article description.Briefly discusses how fishhook injuries happen. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Health Article description.Discusses causes of dementia, which include strokes, tumors, and Alzheimer's disease. Covers symptoms like memory loss and forgetfulness. Covers how dementia is diagnosed. Looks at treatment options. Covers issues for caregivers.

Health Article description.Looks at surgery for children who have childhood glaucoma. Covers risks and how well it works.

Health Article description.Includes info on hearing loss. Discusses causes and symptoms like tinnitus, muffled hearing, and vertigo. Covers exams and tests used to diagnose hearing loss. Discusses treatment with medicine, hearing aids, or cochlear implant.

Health Article description.Discusses aromatherapy (essential oils therapy) to treat disease. Includes oils that are put on the skin or in bath water, sprayed, inhaled, or massaged. Looks at uses to relax, relieve stress, and treat illness. Covers safety.

Health Article description.Cushing's syndrome is a rare problem that happens when you have too much of the hormone cortisol in your body. Cortisol is especially important in controlling blood pressure and metabolism. But it affects almost every area of your body. Normally,

Health Article description.Light therapy is the main treatment for seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It's used for other conditions too. It is exposure to light that is brighter than indoor light but not as bright as direct sunlight. The most common light therapy uses a special type of fluorescent light, called a light box. Light therapy is...

Health Article description.Covers screening tests, diagnostic tests, and medical exams used to find a disease or determine risk for certain health problems. Covers well-child visits. Includes links to info on routine tests for men, for women, and at various stages of life.

Health Article description.Briefly discusses fevers in children age 11 and younger. Includes info on temperatures considered normal, mild fever, and high fever. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Also offers home treatment tips.

Health Article description.Not all hospital stays begin in the emergency room. Sometimes you have time to prepare for a scheduled hospital stay. But even when you don't have an emergency medical problem, getting ready to go to the hospital may leave you feeling overwhelmed...

Health Article description.Guides you through decision to take bisphosphonate medicines for osteoporosis. Lists medicine names like alendronate (Fosamax) and risedronate (Actonel). Lists risks and benefits. Includes interactive tool to help you make your decision.

Health Article description.A spinal tap (also called a lumbar puncture) is a procedure to collect and look at the fluid ( cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF) that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. During a spinal tap, a needle is carefully inserted into the spinal canal low in the back (lumbar area). Samples of CSF are collected. The samples are...

Health Article description.Many people worry about getting a disease like hepatitis or HIV from an accidental needle stick. But it doesn't happen often. Most of the time, the person on whom the needle was used doesn't have hepatitis, HIV, or another infection that can be...

Health Article description.Make sure you know about each of the medicines you take. This includes why you take it, how to take it, what you can expect while you're taking it, and any warnings about the medicine. The information provided here is general. So be sure to read...

Health Article description.Blood and body fluid precautions are used to prevent transmission of diseases transmitted in the blood (blood-borne pathogens), such as HIV or hepatitis. These precautions are used by health care workers and people who provide first aid when they...

Health Article description.Discusses serious condition in which scarring damages the liver. Looks at causes, including heavy alcohol use, autoimmune chronic hepatitis, and chronic viral hepatitis. Covers symptoms like fluid buildup in the belly called ascites. Discusses transplant.