Pacifiers for breastfeeding newborns should be selected and used carefully. The first month is crucial for a baby to become comfortable with breastfeeding. A pacifier introduced too soon can confuse a baby and jeopardize the continued flow of milk...
Two out of three people in the United States are overweight or obese, the MedlinePlus online medical encyclopedia reports. The website adds that attaining a healthy weight can lower your risk for heart disease, arthritis, diabetes and cancer, or...
Ordering medical records online has become an efficient and easy way to obtain your records. In the past, you would have to mail the request and payment and wait for your medical provider to send your records to you. However, there are now...
Chemicals in the body called hormones, play vital roles in causing a pregnancy to occur, supporting the developing fetus during the pregnancy as well as helping the birth to occur and breast milk to be formed. As explained by the University of...
Many diseases cause bone deficiencies. According to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Manuals website, some bone disorders cause pain, whereas others are asymptomatic. The Lerner Research Institute at the Cleveland Clinic---one of the top four...
When you're suffering from a physical illness or injury, you might be unsure of whom to contact for help. Distress from the ailment or a lack of medical knowledge can also make it difficult to communicate the problem clearly. A licensed medical...
Polycystic ovary syndrome, often called PCOS, is a complex disorder that affects between 5 percent to 10 percent of women. Women with PCOS produce excess androgens, or male hormone. While PCOS is often thought of simply as the disease most...
Elevated cholesterol levels may cause numerous negative health effects. According to Dr. Dicken Weatherby, a naturopathic physician and author of the book "Blood Chemistry and CBC Analysis," elevated cholesterol levels may occur in people who...
Towards the end of the first trimester, it becomes possible to use a fetal doppler to hear the heartbeat of an unborn baby. For many women, hearing this miraculous sound only during prenatal checkups is not enough. Purchasing a fetal doppler...
In 2006, 213,000 new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed, according to The Merck Manuals, an online medical library. This website also reports that breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women. Doctors use information from...
Many diseases affect the jawbone, or mandible. According to MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, a person's jaw is composed of an upper, unmovable part called the maxilla and a...
Neuropathic pain has numerous causes. According to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library website, neuropathic pain is caused by damage to or dysfunction of the central or peripheral nervous system. The central nervous system is composed of the...
Numerous conditions can cause right-sided upper abdominal pain. According to The Merck Manuals Online Medical Library, the most common cause of abdominal pain is intra-abdominal disorders. Organ problems can cause localized or diffuse pain...
Suboxone, a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, is a medication that treats opioid (morphine, heroin, methadone) dependence. Your doctor can prescribe it after detoxification as a maintenance drug to reduce cravings and anxiety. The doctor...
Uric acid is a chemical made within the body during the breakdown of purines. Purines are most commonly found in foods and can cause the body to hold onto high amounts of uric acid. Uric acid is dissolved in the blood and eventually passed out...
Tylenol is a popular brand name for a medication known by the generic name acetaminophen. It is an over-the-counter medication used to relieve mild pain and to reduce fever. One of the most common risks associated with Tylenol is liver damage.
It's true, stress really can cause pesky gray hairs to sprout along your roots, and, chances are, if your mom went gray early on, you will likely follow suit. While genetics play a role when it comes to contributing causes for gray hair, so do...
The internet is ideal for communication and information, but using it for fitness may seem strange at first. Your computer can't physically help you plan for a marathon or weigh you to see your daily progress while attempting to lose weight. But...
Practicing good hygiene means looking, feeling and smelling good. A child may appear unclean for a variety of reasons, ranging from illness to parental neglect. If you are a caregiver, you know that a child with poor hygiene can feel bad about...
Neurological issues can be minor or life threatening and sometimes it is difficult to tell the difference. If you experience a loss of consciousness, numbness in an arm or leg, a loss of vision, dizziness, difficulty swallowing, speaking or...
Mood stabilizers are medications intended to regulate both manic and depressive mood states that occur in individuals with bipolar disorder. Development of these medications began 40 years ago and they include drugs from many classes including...
Malignant melanoma, or skin cancer, forms in the cells of the skin that create pigment in the hair, skin and eyes. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, melanoma strikes all age groups, but heredity plays a role in terms of the risk of...
Tennis elbow is a generic description for several forms of tendinitis associated with sports in general and racquet sports specifically. Like other forms of tendinitis, it's the result of long-term repetitive motions, which eventually wear at the...
If you are new to the Houston area, finding a doctor may seem like an overwhelming task. The country's fourth-largest city is a sprawling metropolis without formal zoning regulations, giving it a haphazard feel. However, the city is home to some...
The latest teen shows, Internet social media outlets and texting are all valid reasons why American teens are able to stay in and still be in the know of what's going on. It should be no surprise then when America finds its youth unhealthy and in...
Excedrin PM is an over-the-counter (OTC) medication indicated for the relief of symptoms caused by pain with sleeplessness in patients older than age 12. This medication contains two active ingredients: acetaminophen (analgesic) and...
Cholesterol is an essential, abundant form of fat in the human body. The liver manufactures the majority of the cholesterol in the body; the remainder comes from animal fats in the diet. Although cholesterol serves many vital functions, excess...
Depression is an illness in which feelings of sadness, grief and despair overwhelm your emotional well being. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, major depressive disorder affects 14.8 million adults in the U.S. When symptoms of...
The "Got Milk" campaign is one of the best-known advertising campaigns in the United States. Images of famous people bearing milk-staches and bumper stickers that borrow the now famous phrase were instantly recognizable. The campaign helped to...
