During an eye exam, an eye healthcare provider looks at your health history and gives you a series of eye tests. The tests are done to check the health of your eyes.
Read on for detailed information on dental sealants, and why they are so effective.
Healthcare providers look inside your nose as part of a routine physical exam. But they will also look inside your nose when they think you may have other problems, such as an infection or allergy.
Keep these guidelines in mind when looking for allergy relief.
Several kinds of medicine are commonly prescribed for high blood pressure. Here are some of the main types.
Here are some helpful tips for understanding the air in your house and the air-quality appliances that can alter it.
Sometimes a pill gets stuck. That tends to happen at the ring of muscles at the top of the esophagus.
The key to cardiovascular fitness is getting a good but safe aerobic workout. Heart rate monitors, which monitor your heart rate while you exercise, can help you do that with ease.
When your healthcare provider presses on your belly, they are feeling to see if any major internal organs are enlarged or tender, making them painful to touch, which could mean disease.
Here are some common medicinal herbs. Most herbs have not been completely tested to see how well they work or to see if they interact with other herbs, supplements, medicines, or foods.
Prescription medicines have joined the ranks of new cars and breakfast cereals. Many of them are being marketed directly to the public through ads on television and in magazines. Some medicines get so much free publicity they don't need to be advertised.
Most older people are independent. But later in life, you or someone you love may need help with everyday activities, such as shopping, cooking and bathing.
When cataracts affect your ability to function, it's time to think about surgery. Here's what you need to know.
Over-the-counter medicines can help ease a child's aches and pains, but you should know a few things before you pop open a bottle.
Where can you as a parent turn to for the facts about vaccine safety? The first place to go is your child's healthcare provider.
You may think we wear sunglasses for comfort and fashion. But here's the most important reason to wear sunglasses: to protect the health of your eyes.
The benefits of being an active medical consumer include better health, more effective health care, and lower health costs.
Many children of aging parents wait until there's a crisis, and then they're left scrambling for mediocre options. Here are some tips to start planning ahead.
When your life seems to be spinning out of control, it's OK to seek professional mental health help.
Laser vision surgery is a popular treatment of vision problems that eliminates the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Technology has given us the automated external defibrillator (AED), which is turning up far from hospitals. Some schools and public buildings already have AEDs.
While you may not be able to avoid a hospital stay, there are ways to trim the expenses.
If seemingly contradictory health news has you confused, it's time to learn how to read between the lines.
Your relationship with your healthcare provider is one of the most important in your life. Here is some advice on how to find a provider who is right for you.
Most pediatric dentists will agree that regular dental care should begin when a child gets their first tooth or no later than the child's first birthday. Here's what you need to know.
Having a child with diabetes can be overwhelming. Fortunately, a team of experts can guide you now and in the years to come.
For some people, taking medicine every day can help prevent migraines and make them less painful when they occur.
People who are actively involved in their medical care stay healthier, recover more quickly when they're ill, and live longer, healthier lives.
Learn all about antidepressants, including how they work, tips for taking them, and possible side effects.
If your provider suggests non-emergency surgery or a major medical test, it can be worthwhile to get a second opinion. Here are some tips on how to do this.
A personal health record can help reduce or eliminate duplicate tests and allow you to get faster, safer treatment and care in an emergency. It also can help you play a more active role in your health care. Read on to learn more about creating one.
A living will tells others how you want to be treated when it comes to life-sustaining measures.
Read on for helpful tips, information, and safety steps on giving OTC medicines to babies and children.
There are 7 main types of cholesterol-lowering medicines.
Being involved in a clinical trial has risks and benefits. Being informed and asking lots of questions can help you make a decision.
Here are strategies from the Food and Drug Administration to help you cut your prescription costs by 50 percent or more.
A medicated nasal decongestant spray may offer fast relief when your nose is congested and running. But using them for too long can cause problems. Learn about some other options, as well as how to treat young children.
Many forms of emergency treatment take place outside the emergency room, and even many surgeries are performed in locations other than a hospital operating room.
You don't have time to choose a hospital if you have a health emergency. But if you're facing surgery or treatment for a particular health condition, taking time to find a hospital that meets your needs is well worth the effort.
Well-informed people who play a significant role in deciding how they're going to treat their health conditions are likely to feel better about the decision process. Here are tips to get you started.
When older adults need others to help them with medical, physical, or emotional needs over an extended period of time, they need long-term care.
Insulin pumps are used most often by people with type 1 diabetes. But some people with type 2 diabetes use them, too. Here's what you need to know about these devices.
It's important to ask your provider questions during your visit to make sure you understand your condition and what your treatment involves.
Whether you take prescription medicines, over-the-counter medicines, or both, there are important guidelines to follow to get the most from them.
Spinal stenosis is a condition in which the spinal canal narrows and pinches the nerves. This results in back and leg pain.
Here are common problems you may run into as a healthcare consumer, with tips for wise responses.
Over-the-counter (OTC) cough and pain relievers, laxatives, and headache remedies may treat different conditions, but they all have one thing in common: They're serious medicines that need to be taken with care.
Children who have ADHD are often given medicine as part of their treatment plan. The type of medicine most often chosen is a psychostimulant. Read on to learn more.
Although most medicines are safe when you take them the right way, some of them can cause dizziness, loss of consciousness, bleeding, irregular heartbeats, and other side effects in some cases.
Detailed information on dental implants, including types and possible risks.
Always read the label. All OTC medicine labels have detailed usage and warning information to help you choose and use the products. Here's a helpful guide to reading these labels.
Detailed information on the use of antibiotics and children
These medicines are life-giving and powerful. It's important to take them just as your healthcare provider has prescribed.
Mental health care can be expensive even for people with health insurance. Here are ideas on ways to save.
Being active and involved in care decisions and taking extra precautions to prevent infection when in a hospital can help keep you and your family safe.
Patient advocates fulfill many roles. They can can provide answers, education, support, and care to patients. Read on to learn more.
Rheumatoid arthritis can be a frustrating condition to deal with because it doesn’t have an easily identifiable cause. It’s an autoimmune disorder, which means your immune system literally attacks your body—in this case, your joints.
For parents of a newborn, first-time parents, or any anxious mom or dad, it may be hard to tell a true health threat that needs a healthcare provider's attention from a frightening, yet simple, illness that doesn't need medical treatment. Most sniffles, sneezes, and stomachaches don't need medical attention. But how do you know when it's time to call the healthcare provider?
Experts advise that all herbal supplements be stopped two to three weeks before surgery. That's because these herbs can have side effects that could make surgery more dangerous for you.
Palliative care focuses on improving a patient's quality of life by improving the symptoms of his or her illness, such as pain, shortness of breath, and difficulty sleeping. It's used with a variety of ailments, including cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, kidney failure, or congestive heart failure.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medicines are a popular choice for pain relief. But even though you can buy them without a prescription, that doesn’t mean they aren’t without risks. Here’s what you need to know to use them properly.
Many different plans of Medicare available, with many factors to consider.
Medicare is the federal program that helps people 65 and older pay for their healthcare. Here is a step-by-step process to help you get started.
Although filling out all the enrollment forms for Medicare can be overwhelming, there are a number of resources available to help you.
Wouldn't it be convenient to peek into your medical history and personal health information anytime, anywhere? That's the idea behind the patient portal.
Handwritten medical charts are a thing of the past. Today's healthcare providers enter your medical information into a computer, creating an electronic medical record (EMR).