Diseases and Conditions Encyclopedia
Tap into this interactive encyclopedia for instant access to information on more than 835 diseases and conditions.
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Which is more important to you -- being able to wear the jeans you wore five years ago, or being able to move better, have more energy and improve your health?
Although people generally gain weight when they stop smoking, you can reduce your chances of adding extra pounds by taking steps to prevent it.
A PHR can help reduce or eliminate duplicate tests and allow you to receive faster, safer treatment and care in an emergency. It also can help you play a more active role in your health care.
If a grandchild is special to you, put your heart into showing it by creating a scrapbook.
A sauce can be many things. A sauce can be hot or cold -- think gravy or salad dressing -- chunky or creamy, sweet or savory.
Although many people enjoy water aerobics classes, you don't have to be in a group to work out.
Like adults, children should be physically active most, if not all, days of the week.
What makes some people sticklers for following through with their medications, and others haphazard at best?
The earlier you teach children such sound habits, the more likely they are to maintain a healthy weight.
Rice contributes protein, some essential B vitamins, and, depending on the type of rice, fiber, vitamin E and important nutrients such as folate.
The bed should meet federal requirements to keep your kids safe. It's also important to set guidelines for your kids on how to use the bunk bed.
For optimum health, you need to understand your health problem and your treatment plan, including how to take prescription medications.
Children should avoid specializing in a sport until they reach adolescence, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends. Reason: for every prodigy who becomes a successful athlete, thousands of youths suffer physically or psychologically from being pushed to compete at a young age.
One of the most important things you can do to ensure great oral health care is to develop a good relationship with your dentist.
It's no picnic being a patient. But as long as you have to be one, it pays to make the most of it.
Your heart is a vital organ that keeps your body functioning. Unfortunately, many people don't treat it that way. They may not realize that their daily habits and lifestyle can overwork and damage their heart. So, take care of your heart and yourself. Start by making the following lifestyle changes.
First decide how you can make exercise a priority. One idea: Put your workout on the calendar just like any other appointment.
Here are several specific areas where a parent can use limits to show respect for a child's feelings and at the same time enhance the child's health.
If seemingly contradictory health news has you confused, it's time to learn how to read between the lines.
If you’ve ever tried to read a medical chart but couldn’t understand the doctor’s shorthand, these definitions can help.
One of the easiest tools to help you watch your weight is the nutrition label on packaged foods.
Parents can do a lot to ease test anxiety, both in their children and themselves. Start by focusing on the learning and not the scoring.
The time you spend with your children each day doesn't have to be scripted or scheduled. In fact, if you set aside only specific times as "family time," it puts a lot of pressure on both you and your kids.
People decide to eat a vegetarian diet for a variety of reasons. But how they make the change requires they take one of two routes -- the overnight approach or the gradual one.
The amount of planning help a student wants differs by education level. An elementary-schooler needs plenty of help, a middle-schooler expects more freedom. But parents should find ways to stay involved.
The millions of Americans diagnosed with heart and cardiovascular diseases can benefit from making healthy choices in their day-to-day lives.
Male menopause is a condition caused when testosterone levels decrease in aging men.
This low-dose X-ray produces an image of the inner structures of the breast. It can detect tiny calcium deposits or microcalcifications that are too small to feel.
Part of the treatment for chronic conditions involves adopting the same healthy lifestyle habits that are important for everyone.
Exercise has important health benefits for everyone -- regardless of age and physical condition. But for people with arthritis, working out regularly, and within their limits, is critical.
Although there’s nothing wrong with wanting a particular food, giving in to cravings can make it difficult to maintain a healthy weight.
A study in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that following the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet reduced blood pressure. This diet is low in saturated fat, cholesterol and total fat and emphasizes fruits, vegetables and low-fat dairy products.
Between the late 30s and late 40s, it's not uncommon for both men and women to gain 10 pounds.
Even if your blood pressure is normal or high-normal, you're still at increased risk for hypertension (high blood pressure), the condition in which your heart works too hard and the resulting forceful blood flow harms arteries.
The treatment goals include reducing joint swelling, relieving stiffness, preventing joint damage and maintaining joint function.
It’s not the job that creates stress, it’s the way a person responds to the urgencies and demands of each workplace environment that makes them stressed or energized.
Stocking your medicine cabinet isn't difficult and doesn't take much time. You'll first want the essentials for first aid and symptom relief, rounded out with a few items that meet the special needs of you and your family.
No matter what you like to do, now is a great time to sign up for a class so that you can explore your interests. Many colleges and other educational organizations offer special discounts to older adults. Here are some ideas about how to get started.
Young children often suck on their thumbs. It's perfectly normal, even though some parents fret about it.
More than half of American adults seek medical treatment for back pain at some point in their lives.
To keep yourself entertained and enthused, wear headphones and listen to high-energy music while you work out.
Portion sizes are bigger today, and that increase has contributed to the growing numbers of overweight or obese Americans.
Some symptoms may indicate the possibility of a serious condition and should be evaluated immediately by a health care provider.
No one can say for sure that a medication is safe to use while you're pregnant. But, avoiding medicines may not be a good idea, either. It may be wiser to treat an illness than ignore it.
Use this guide of common terms used on over-the-counter labels to help you choose and use medicines correctly.
Many people believe that Alzheimer’s disease can't be treated. The truth is that medications are available that may help slow the progression of symptoms.
Children who have ADHD are often given medication as part of their treatment plan. The type of medication most often chosen is a psychostimulant.
Did you know that high-tech gadgets and networks can connect you with medical resources? Depending on your health needs, technology may be just what the doctor ordered.
Most experts agree that there is no solid proof that memory-enhancing supplements work. These products may not even contain much of their "active herbal ingredients."
Mental illness can cause different symptoms in men than in women, so some disorders in men may be harder to recognize. Men who are depressed, for example, may appear angry and irritable rather than sad and withdrawn.
The best weapon against prostate cancer is catching it early.
Knowing the definitions of terms relating to mental health can help you recognize a disorder and seek help for yourself or someone you love.
When your life seems to be spinning out of control, it's OK to seek professional mental health help.
To stay at the same weight you were when you were younger, you just need to keep doing what you've always done—and maybe a bit more.
Middle ear infections are the most common cause of earaches in children. Most youngsters have had at least one such infection by the time they are 3 years old.
For some people, taking medication every day can help prevent migraines and make them less painful when they occur.
Medicine has advanced more rapidly in the past two centuries than in all its prior history.
A ministroke, or transient ischemic attack (TIA), is a brief episode of stroke symptoms caused by temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain. Most people suffer TIAs without realizing it.
Make recipes more nutritious and lower in fat by reducing high-fat ingredients or substituting healthier ingredients.
People with asthma, allergies, or other breathing conditions may be more sensitive to mold.
Side effects of medications are more common as people age, so it's important to understand how to identify and prevent them.
It's not the dust mite itself that causes trouble for people, but its shed skin and fecal matter. These substances bring misery to millions of allergy sufferers.
As a new mom, your body is going through lots of changes—not just physically, but emotionally, too. If you can’t seem to shake the “baby blues,” there may be a bigger issue at hand than lack of sleep. Discover the warning signs that signal help is needed.
It’s hard to think positive when you’re feeling sick and nauseous. But those common pregnancy symptoms can benefit your baby. Find out how, and what it takes to ease your symptoms.
The benefits of dancing go well beyond heart health and physical fitness. Dancing, especially group dance activities, provides opportunities for people of all ages to be socially and mentally engaged, as well.
Movie watching rates two thumbs up as an occasional activity that is easy, affordable and fun for every generation.
When you lapse from your goals, remind yourself of all you've learned and how much you've accomplished.
Bacteria resistant to antibiotics are causing a growing number of infections, both in hospitals and in schools and other community settings.
If you are having triplets or more multiple births, your doctor will perform a scheduled cesarean delivery. If you are having twins, your doctor will discuss with you options for delivery.
Here are some misconceptions about the cold, and some suggestions for staying toasty this winter.
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