A C-reactive protein (CRP) test is a blood test that measures the amount of a protein called C-reactive protein in your blood. C-reactive protein measures general levels of inflammation in your body. High levels of CRP are caused by infections and many long-term diseases. But a CRP test cannot show where the...

Palliative care is a type of care for people who have a serious illness. It can help you manage symptoms, pain, or side effects from treatment. It can also help you cope with your feelings about living with a serious illness. Hospice is for people who are near the end of their life. It provides medical treatment to...

Explains how basal body temperature (BBT) tracking can help pinpoint ovulation. Describes how to make a chart and track BBT.

Barrier methods keep sperm from entering the uterus and reaching the egg. In general, barrier methods are less effective but have fewer side effects than hormonal methods or IUDs. Barrier methods include condoms (male and female), diaphragms, cervical caps, and contraceptive sponges. A male condom is a thin, flexible...

Discusses breast cancer surgery. Covers simple mastectomy, modified mastectomy, and radical mastectomy. Covers what to expect after surgery. Looks at risks. Links to info on breast reconstruction.

What kinds of development occur in your baby's first month? 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. Newborns also...

Fertility awareness is a type of natural family planning based on a woman's physical signs of ovulation, such as changes in cervical mucus consistency and basal (resting) body temperature. Keeping track of these symptoms may be helpful if a couple is trying to become pregnant or trying to avoid pregnancy. If a woman is...

An angiogram of the lung is an X-ray test that uses a special dye and camera ( fluoroscopy) to take pictures of the blood flow in the blood vessels of the lung. During an angiogram, a thin tube called a catheter is placed into a femoral blood vessel in the groin (femoral vein) or just above the elbow (brachial vein)...

When muscles use energy, they release a waste product called creatinine into the blood. The kidneys then filter creatinine from the blood. From the kidneys, creatinine passes out of the body through the urinary tract. If the kidneys are not functioning normally, high amounts of creatinine remain in the blood while low...

How can you prevent tetanus? You can prevent tetanus by getting all of your recommended immunizations (shots). There are three different shots that protect you from tetanus. DTaP (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis). DTaP is given in a series of 5 shots starting at age 2 months and ending at ages 4 to 6 years. Tdap...

Dehydration occurs when the body loses too much water. This can occur if a child stops drinking fluids or loses large amounts of fluid through diarrhea, vomiting, or sweating. Dehydration decreases the amount of blood that circulates to the child's organs. Dehydration in babies and young children can develop rapidly and...

Marine toxins are chemicals and bacteria that can contaminate certain types of seafood. Eating the seafood may result in food poisoning. The seafood may look, smell, and taste normal. There are five common types of marine toxins, and they all cause different symptoms. Food poisoning through marine toxins is rare. Marine...

Briefly discusses when feelings of sadness or anxiety may indicate need for treatment for depression. Explains emergency symptoms, like talk about suicide. Offers interactive tool to help decide when to seek care. Offers tips to help with depression.