Once you have a plan in place, one way to practice a family fire escape plan is to do a fire drill. Although it may not be as hectic as a real fire, pretending like there is a fire is as close to the real thing as you want to get. The practice...
Natural family planning is a method that women can use to identify when they can and can't get pregnant. By observing and recording various naturally occurring symptoms, you can identify when you ovulate and, therefore, when you are fertile. You...
Phoenix, Arizona, is home to some of the finest medical facilities and physicians in the nation. Choosing a doctor in Phoenix means not only finding the highest quality medical care, but finding a partner for your healthy lifestyle. People from...
Dysphagia is a medical condition in which it is difficult or painful to swallow. One difficult aspect of treating patients who are suffering from dysphagia is ensuring that they are able to receive adequate nutrition. There are multiple levels of...
The female menstrual cycle is the orchestrated process, occurring over the period of 28 days on average. This process prepares the body for pregnancy and coordinates the shedding of the uterine lining, also known as menses, if fertilization of an...
You may remember your family's general practitioner from years past. But in the United States, the medical field that was once known as general practice is now called family medicine and a doctor who practices it is a family physician. General...
Heart attacks and strokes are caused by blood clots in blood vessels supplying the heart and brain, respectively. Clot-busting medicines, also called thrombolytic agents, are drugs that are injected within the first few hours of a heart attack or...
Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, with roughly 450,000 new cases each year. In the United States alone, there are roughly 100,000 new cases of colon cancer every year, according to the book "Clinical Oncology." Colon cancer...
Lyme disease is caused by a spirochete (Borrelia burgdorferi) that is transmitted to humans via the bite of a deer tick. According to the Mayo Clinic, the disease causes symptoms such as a rash, fever, chills, body aches, joint swelling, weakness...
The use of dietary supplements to build muscle mass and to gain competitive edge in physical strength is a very popular practice among athletic and non-athletic individuals, according to a study published by the "Journal of Family Practice" in...
The nutrition status of the pregnant mother is not only an important factor in the development of the fetus, it is also a good determinant in the long-term risk of the developing fetus for chronic childhood disease and adult disease later in life...
Protein shakes, manufactured by many companies in a variety of flavors, are often sold as meal replacements as aids to increase weight loss. Some companies advocate using their shakes to replace several meals a day, while others sell their...
You may not be aware of magnesium, but it is working to keep your heart and muscles functioning properly. Low levels of magnesium can cause you to feel nauseated, weak and tired. Continued deficiency can cause heart abnormalities, personality...
In the United States, a significantly rising prevalence of both morbidity and increased health-care costs are due to obesity. According to the Family Practice Journal, 55 percent of the adult population in the country is overweight or obese. In...
Whether a friend or relative believes they might have type 2 diabetes or they have risks that lead you to think this disorder might be present, there are three key strategies to follow. Your primary goal is to encourage the person to schedule...
In order for your cells to work properly, your body has to carefully maintain the balance of acidic and alkaline chemicals. The blood is naturally slightly alkaline, but if too much acid builds up in the blood, it can result in a condition known...
Vaginas each have their own unique scent, and this applies to menstruating vaginas as well. This odor is usually mild and not detectable by those around you. Still, occasionally menstrual odor gets strong enough that it becomes problematic and you...
More than four decades ago, Danish scientists speculated that the extraordinarily low rate of heart disease among Greenland's Inuits was related to their high consumption of fish. Since then more than 7,000 clinical trials from around the world...
Stage IV colon cancer is cancer of the colon, which has spread to other organs in the body. Patients diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer have low survival rate--only 20 to 30 percent. Patients diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer also experience...
Metastatic colorectal cancer is the cancer of the colon or the rectum, which has spread to other organs in the body. Fewer than 20 percent of patients diagnosed with metastatic colorectal cancer survive more than five years following the...
Lexapro, or escitalopram, is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI, that is used to treat symptoms of depression, states Drugs.com. Lexapro alters chemical signals in the brain that may cause depression or anxiety. Although Lexapro may...
Blood glucose levels are regulated by a hormone called insulin, which is made by the pancreas. It tells muscle, fat and liver cells to pull glucose out of the blood. People who do not make enough insulin have a condition known as type 1 diabetes,...
Body mass index, or BMI, is a number calculated from your weight and height to help assess the amount of body fat you have. Your BMI number can help you determine whether your weight is a health risk. According to the Centers for Disease Control,...
Protein is an essential nutrient in your diet because it provides amino acids, which your body can use to make its own proteins. If you are trying to gain muscle mass, you may want to add more protein to your diet because muscle tissue is dense in...
When you're experiencing bouts of sadness or suffering from a depressive disorder, exercise can help you improve your mood and may prevent recurrence of symptoms. You may not feel physically or psychologically prepared for routine physical...
A person may be required to take a urine test that screens for illicit drug use for a number of reasons. Some companies request that employees take drug tests to ensure workplace safety. People who have been convicted of drug related crimes are...
Patients with severe acne benefit from most from oral drugs combined with topical medication, and doctors prescribe these drugs for some moderate cases of acne as well. Oral antibiotics are a standard acne therapy, according to the American...
Diabetic nerve pain or neuropathy is a common complication of diabetes that develops due to the temporary or permanent damage to the nerves as a result of hyperglycemia. According to MedlinePlus, almost 50 percent of diabetes patients develop...
Shortness of breath, also known as dyspnea, is the sensation of difficult or labored breathing. It has many possible causes that can be roughly broken down by organ system. Shortness of breath can results most often from problems in the airway,...
Pleuropulmonary Blastoma is a rare childhood cancer that occurs in the chest in the lining called the pleura that surrounds the lungs. In this video learn more about this rare cancer.
Learn how to make reading exciting for children - free video.
Strep throat, or streptococcal pharyngitis, is a moderately severe form of sore throat. Learn more about strep throat in this health video.
Couples often use therapy to examine issues they have difficulty discussing at home. Learn how to get started with couples therapy from a licensed clinical social worker in this video.