Heart Disease in Women
Heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death of American women. Stroke is No. 3. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) affects a woman’s heart and blood vessels. One out of every 10 women between the ages of 45 and 64 has some form of CVD. Once a woman reaches 65, this increases to 1 out of every 4. Every year about 500,000 women have a heart attack and about 370,000 of them die. And, almost 100,000 women die each year of stroke.
Controlling Pain Before and After Surgery
1. Ask the doctor or nurse what to expect.
What is High Blood Pressure
Your blood pressure is the force that moving blood puts on your artery walls. When your blood pressure is taken, two numbers are used to show it, like 120/80 (read 120 over 80).
Enlarged Prostate Treatments : Benefits and Risks
Each treatment may improve your symptoms. But each treatment has different chances of success. All treatments, even watchful waiting, have some risks.
Treatment For An Enlarged Prostate
Currently, the five ways of treating BPH are:
Environmental Allergies
This information is about environmental allergies. It covers what they are, what can cause them, and how to deal with them.
Why Don’t Diets Work?
When you first start a diet, you may lose weight. But soon you start to gain weight.
Car Seats for Children
This information is about car seats for children. It tells you why you need them, how to buy and use them, and how to help your child adjust to them.
Upper Respiratory Flu
This information is about upper respiratory flu — or “influenza.” You’ll learn what flu is, how to recognize it, how to treat it, and how to help prevent it.
10 Things Every Teen Should Know About Marijuana
1. Marijuana is illegal. Using, holding, buying, or selling marijuana can get you suspended or expelled from school. This will hurt your chances of getting a job in the future.
How to quit smoking!
Smoking is the single most preventable cause of disease in the United States today. Smoking is related to the development and complication of many major diseases, including lung cancer, emphysema, heart disease and strokes. Stopping smoking now will greatly improve your health – regardless of how much you currently smoke or how long you have been smoking!
Allergies in Children
This information is about childhood allergies. It covers what they are, what forms they take, what causes them, and how to deal with them.
Risk Factors For Heart Disease In Women
Risk factors are habits or traits that make a person more likely to develop a disease. Many of those for heart disease can be controlled. These include:
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of death in men, second only to heart disease. Prostate cancer has become the most diagnosed cancer in the U.S. In 2008, more than 186,000 men were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and more than 28,000 men died from the disease. One new case occurs every 2.5 minutes and a man dies from prostate cancer every 19 minutes. As the population ages, these numbers will increase every year.
Cesarean Birth
A major operation, each cesarean actually involves a series of separate incisions in the mother. The skin, underlying muscles and abdomen are opened first and then the uterus is opened allowing birth of the newborn.
Sharing Childcare
If in-home care is appealing but the costs are too high, consider shared care. It may provide you with just the services you are looking for. Many parents prefer to have their children cared for in a home environment. However, for some the cost of private, in-home care is too burdensome. The perfect alternative for these parents may be shared care.
Information About Cesarean Birth
In the United States and Canada almost one in four babies is born by an operation called cesarean section. Consumer and medical groups alike have expressed concern over the rising numbers of cesarean sections. Yet many families seem to believe that a cesarean is just another way to have a baby. Are there definite disadvantages to a surgical birth? It’s time to look at some important facts about cesareans.
Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Birth – VBAC
You’ve had one or more cesareans and you’re looking ahead to your next birth. “Once a cesarean, always a cesarean” is no longer the rule, and for reasons that are uniquely yours, you want to have a vaginal birth this time. Good for you! You are about to join the growing number of women who have planned for a vaginal birth after a cesarean (VBAC).
Great Reasons to Breastfeed Your Baby
There is no doubt that breastfeeding is the best way to feed your baby. Studies show that breastmilk is much better for your baby than all other forms of infant feeding.
Epidural Anesthesia
Epidural anesthesia is one way of taking away the pain of labor and birth. Like most medical treatments it has risks and benefits. It is important that you learn about those risks and benefits before deciding if an epidural is right for you.
Pregnancy and Medicine
Some medicines are ok to take during pregnancy. But there are medicines that have unwanted effects on your baby. If you were taking prescription medicines before you were pregnant, ask your obstetrician if it is OK to continue those medicines. Before you take any new medicine, even over-the-counter medicines, ask your doctor first.
Choosing Childcare
There are several child-care options available to you, depending on your preferences, your budget, and your schedule. Here are some ideas and some guidelines to follow when pursuing your child-care needs.
Breastfeeding at Work
Here are some simple tips to help you manage your work efficiently while making sure your baby is taken care of.
Is it Baby Blues or Post Partum Depression?
For many women, the days after birth are filled with a lot of mood changes. Some women find they feel weepy without any definite reason. Some women notice a change in their appetites. A few women notice they cannot sleep even when very tired; others may feel like sleeping much more than before. In the first weeks after birth, lots of women speak of feeling overwhelmed with the work of caring for a baby. Some women say they felt their lives would never return to a normal routine.
Physical Comfort During Pregnancy
Physical and hormonal changes are largely responsible for the common discomforts of pregnancy.
What are Kegel Exercises?
Doing Kegel (KAY-gul or KEY-gul) exercises will strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, which support the uterus, bladder and bowel and help you prepare for childbirth. By doing Kegel exercises regularly and keeping the pelvic floor muscles toned, you may reduce your risk of leaking urine and similar problems as you get older. Learning the right way to do Kegel exercises can be tricky.
Emotional Changes During Pregnancy
Emotions During Early Pregnancy
Your hormones are raging and they can effect how you feel emotionally. These are some of the feelings you may go through as your pregnancy progresses.
What is a Mammogram?
A mammogram is a safe, low-dose x-ray picture of the breast.
BRCA- The Breast Cancer Susceptibility Genes
What are Genes?
What is Breast Cancer
Breast cancer, a common cancer in women, is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells are found in the tissues of the breast. Each breast has 15 – 20 sections called lobes, which have many smaller sections called lobules. The lobes and lobules are connected by thin tubes called ducts. The most common type of breast cancer is ductal cancer. It is found in the cells of the ducts. Cancer that begins in the lobes or lobules is called lobular carcinoma. Lobular carcinoma is more often found in both breasts than other types of breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is an uncommon type of breast cancer. In this disease, the breast is warm, red, and swollen.
Facts About Breast Cancer
Getting the facts about breast cancer and mammograms is an important step in taking care of your health. This page will help you get the information that you need. It provides information on a woman’s risk for breast cancer, the National Cancer Institute’s recommenda-tions about mammograms, and the benefits and limitations of the procedure.
Heart Failure and Pain Medicines
Some medicines can make heart failure worse by making your body retain water. Most of these medicines are for pain and are similar to aspirin or in a class of medicines called nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDS. Some medicines to be cautious of are listed below.
Open Heart Surgery – A final note – when to call your doctor
After you get home you may feel a little nervous and worried about being on your own. Well, don’t sit and worry if you think something is not right about your health or healing. If you have any of the following signs of a heart attack or infection call your doctor, cardiologist or surgeon. Keep their numbers handy. If the signs tell you it’s an emergency and you are not able to reach your doctors, call 911 immediately.
Open Heart Surgery – On the road to recovery
Each patient’s recovery rate is different. How quickly you recover will depend in part on your physical health before surgery and how complex and extensive your heart surgery was. The first step in recovery is when you can breathe deeply and cough to clear your lungs. When you can do this, your breathing tube will be removed and replaced with an oxygen mask. This could happen as soon as the day after your surgery. Your doctor will then have you moved from the ICU to another area of the hospital. Your care will continue as follows:
Open Heart Surgery – Being admitted to the hospital for open heart surgery
You will usually be admitted to the hospital the day before your surgery. Simply check in at the hospital admissions desk. The hospital should have a record of your pre-admission tests and forms that you completed. Read more
Open Heart Surgery – Getting Ready for open heart surgery
Usually, heart surgery can be scheduled days or weeks in advance. It will depend upon how serious your heart condition is, your schedule and the surgeon’s schedule. If you have a week or two before surgery, use this time wisely. Check with your surgeon about:
Open Heart Surgery – Types of open-heart surgery
Consider yourself lucky to need heart surgery now and not more than 20 years ago. It wasn’t until the mid-1970s that the heart-lung bypass machine, which takes the place of your heart and lungs and keeps you alive during the operation, could be used safely. This machine plus improved surgical techniques and medicines, more sophisticated monitoring machines and more experienced surgeons have made open-heart surgeries widely accepted and much safer today.
Open Heart Surgery – Your visit with the heart surgeon
Your heart surgeon will explain the results of your tests and why surgery is being recommended. He will also explain the surgical procedure and the results you can expect. He will tell you about the risks of having or not having the surgery, the benefits of having the surgery and any options you have in place of surgery. You must consider the balance of the risks you will be taking and the benefits you will receive. Don’t be afraid of offending the surgeon or embarrassing yourself by asking questions about anything you don’t understand. Remember, the more you know, the more you will become confident about your decision. The following is a list of questions to help you get started.
Open Heart Surgery
A Patient and Family Guide
The thought of having heart surgery can be pretty scary. You may be most afraid of what you don’t know about it. Like -
Guidelines for Managing Heart Failure
Guidelines for Managing Heart Failure
Help and Information Resources After a Stroke
Additional Resources For People Who Have Had A Stroke, Their Families, and Caregivers
Where to Get Help After a Stroke
Many kinds of help are available for people who have had strokes and their families and caregivers. Some of the most important are:
Planning to go Home from Rehab After a Stroke
Discharge planning begins early during rehabilitation. It involves the patient, family, and rehabilitation staff. The purpose of discharge planning is to help maintain the benefits of rehabilitation after the patient has been discharged from the program. Patients are usually discharged from rehabilitation soon after their goals have been reached.
Making the Most of Stroke Rehab
What the Patient Can Do
If you are a stroke survivor in rehabilitation, keep in mind that you are the most important person in your treatment. You should have a major say in decisions about your care. This is hard for many stroke patients. You may sometimes feel tempted to sit back and let the program staff take charge. If you need extra time to think or have trouble talking, you may find that others are going ahead and making decisions without waiting. Try not to let this happen.
What Happens During Stroke Rehab
In hospital or nursing facility rehabilitation programs, the patient may spend several hours a day in activities such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, recreational therapy, group activities, and patient and family education.
Choosing a Rehab Program
The doctor and other hospital staff will provide information and advice about rehabilitation programs, but the patient and family make the final choice. Hospital staff know the patient’s disabilities and medical condition.
Deciding on a Stroke Rehab Center
Some people do not need rehabilitation after a stroke because the stroke was mild or they have fully recovered. Others may be too disabled to participate. However, many patients can be helped by rehabilitation. Hospital staff will help the patient and family decide about rehabilitation and choose the right services or program.
Preventing a Second Stroke
People who have had a stroke have an increased risk of another stroke, especially during the first year after the original stroke. The risk of another stroke goes up with older age, high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, having had a transient ischemic attack (TIA), heart disease, cigarette smoking, heavy alcohol use, and drug abuse. While some risk factors for stroke (such as age) cannot be changed, the risk factors for the others can be reduced through use of medicines or changes in lifestyle.
Acute Care for Stroke Survivor
The main purposes of acute care are to:
How a Stroke Can Affect You
Each stroke is different depending on the part of the brain injured, how bad the injury is, and the person’s general health. Some of the effects of stroke are:
Rehab After a Stroke (Brain Attack)
This information is about stroke rehabilitation. Its goal is to help the person who has had a stroke achieve the best possible recovery. Its purpose is to help people who have had strokes and their families get the most out of rehabilitation.
Can Cataracts Come Back After Surgery
A cataract cannot return because all or part of the lens has been removed. However, in about half of all people who have extracapsular surgery or phacoemulsification, the lens capsule becomes cloudy. This cloudiness of the lens capsule, if it occurs, usually develops a year or more after surgery. It causes the same vision problems as a cataract does.
Benefits and Risks of Cataract Surgery
Improvements in Activities/Benefits
Deciding on Cataract Surgery
Most people have plenty of time to decide about cataract surgery. Your doctor cannot make your decision for you, but talking with your doctor can help you decide.
How Cataracts are Treated
A change in your glasses, stronger bifocals, or the use of magnifying lenses may help improve your vision and be treatment enough. The way to surgically treat a cataract is to remove all or part of the lens and replace it with an artificial lens.
Cataracts in Adults
Cataracts
Nicotine Gum
This information is about using Nicorette gum as part of an overall effort to stop smoking.
Nicotine Replacement Patches
This information is using about transdermal nicotine therapy, often called nicotine patches, as part of an overall effort to stop smoking. Nicotine patches are available over-the-counter, and can be purchased from your local pharmacy.
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Many people trying to quit smoking are interested in nicotine replacement therapy to help reduce their withdrawal symptoms. Nicotine replacement is currently available both as nicotine chewing gum and transdermal (through the skin) nicotine patches.
Why should you stop smoking?
Almost forty million Americans have stopped smoking. Most succeed by going “cold turkey”. Others taper off by changing to low tar and nicotine brands, smoking each cigarette only halfway down or using nicotine replacement therapy. Research shows that it isn’t the method you use that determines your success; it is your determination to gain control over your own behavior that gives you the power to quit. Exercise, relaxation, and stress management often ease the way to new nonsmoking habits.
Why do you smoke?
Perhaps you smoke because you enjoy handling a cigarette. You enjoy the ritual of lighting up. You like to gesture with a cigarette in hand when you talk, taking a drag when you pause. You may fiddle with the cigarette or the ashtray, or watch the smoke as you exhale. If so, you enjoy handling a cigarette.
More Health Risk Factors
While there are some risk factors that we can’t change — like who our parents are or how old we are — there are many risk factors we can change.
Health Risk Factors
A health risk factor is anything that increases your chances of getting a disease. A health risk factor can be your age, sex, lifestyle, personal health history, or family health history.
Low Back Pain – Causes and Treatments
The human spine (or backbone) is made up of small bones called vertebrae. The vertebrae are stacked on top of each other to form a column. Between each vertebra is a cushion known as a disc. The vertebrae are held together by ligaments, and muscles are attached to the vertebrae by bands of tissue called tendons.
Enlarged Prostate (BPH)
This information can help you understand benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and how it can be treated. BPH is an enlarged but otherwise normal prostate. It is common in older men and may cause no problems at all. If you want or need to choose a treatment, however, this information describes both benefits and risks of all treatments. Read more
BPH Outcome
| Direct Treatment Outcomes | Baloon Dilation | TUIP | Open Surgery | TURP | Watchful Waiting | Alpha Blockers | Finasteride |
| 1. Chance for improvement of symptoms (90% confidence interval) | 37-76% | 78-83% | 94-99.8% | 75-96% | 31-55% | 59-86% | 54-78% |
| 2. Degree of symptom improvement (percent reduction in symptom score) | 51% | 73% | 79% | 85% | Unknown | 51% | 31% |
| 3. Morbidity/complications associated witd class=”bodyText”surgical or medical treatment (90% confidence interval), about 20% of all complications assumed to be significant | 1.78-9.86% | 2.2-33.3% | 6.98-42.7% | 5.2-30.7% | 1-5% complications from BPH progression | 2.9-43.3% | 13.6-18.8% |
| 4. Chance of dying within | 0.72-9.78% | 0.2-1.5% | 0.99-4.56% | 0.53-3.31% | 0.8% chance of death |
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How to Treat an Asthma Attack
Once your child is having a full-fledged asthma attack, her preventive medicines will no longer work. It is necessary to use what is termed “rescue medication.” These medicines work immediately to relax the muscles that are constricting the lungs to let your child breathe more easily.
Rules of the Road for Bicycles, Skateboards, and Skates
Riding a bike, skateboard, in-line skates or any kind of wheels can be one of the best parts of growing up. But it can also be dangerous.
In-line Skate Safety
In-line Skate Safety
Buy a Bike That Fits
Don’t buy a bike that you can grow into!
Rules of the Road for Bicycles
Ask your mom or dad to ride with you until you can ride on your own and know all of the rules-of -the-road.
Buying a Bicycle Safety Helmet
Buy a helmet that is approved by ANSI (American National Standards Institute), Snell or ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) because other helmets may not be safe. Buy a helmet that fits! Adjust the chin strap to fit snugly. The front and back straps should meet in a “v” shape below your ear. Adjust the straps so that the helmet sits flat on your head.
Asthma Information Resources
There are many support groups available for persons who have asthma or care for those who have asthma. Below is a listing of groups and phone numbers you can call for more information.
Glossary of Asthma Words
This glossary will tell you the meanings of the most common asthma words used by your doctor, nurse or health care team.
Getting the Most Out of Your Child’s Visit with the Doctor
Your doctor is a very important part of your child’s treatment. In fact, your doctor will plan with you the treatment that your child will need daily, during asthma attacks, and if an attack is severe. Your role in this planning is to give your doctor as much information as possible so that he can decide what the best treatment plan is for your child’s case.
Can I predict an Asthma Attack?
Your peak flow meter is your best tool in predicting when your child might have an attack. Another way to watch for an attacks is to learn to recognize the early warning signs. These include:
Asthma Prevention Medicines
There are a few medicines available that might keep your child from having asthma attacks. Because these medicines work by reducing the inflammation in her lungs, they are called anti-inflammatories. These type of medications must also be taken on a regular basis, not when your child is having an attack. During an actual asthma attack, these medicines will not work well because they take too long to take effect. Your child will need “rescue medicines” to treat attacks directly. The following medicines work to prevent attacks:
What is peak flow meter?
ometimes your child may think she is doing well when an attack could be just around the corner. “Well, how can I know?” you ask yourself. There is now a device that allows you and your child to know how well he is breathing. A peak flow meter looks like an oversized inhaler, but your child breathes into it, not from it.
Preventing Asthma Attacks
Many times, it is not possible to keep an attack from happening. But there are many things you as a parent can do to keep attacks away.
Osteoporosis in Women
Osteoporosis is a thinning of the bone. The inside of your bones normally looks like a honeycomb. Osteoporosis is when the spaces in the honeycomb get larger and the surface of the bone gets thinner. The bones become weaker and are easier to break.
Colonoscopy
This brochure has information is about colonoscopy.
Methods for Controlling Pain
Tablet or liquid
Medicines given by mouth (for example: aspirin, ibuprofen, or opioid medications such as codeine).
Tips for eating less sodium and finding salt in your diet
Your body only needs about 2000 mg of sodium a day. Most people eat as much as 3000 – 6000 mg a day. Here are some ways you can cut down on the amount of salt you eat everyday:
Resources for Information on Low Back Pain
This information was based on the Clinical Practice Guideline, Acute Low Back Problems in Adults. The Guideline was developed by a non-Federal panel of experts sponsored by the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Other guidelines on common health problems are available, and more are being developed.
Cardiac Rehabilitation: Let’s Exercise
Before you exercise your body needs time to get blood to the parts of your body that you are going to exercise. If you start exercising before your body is ready, you may hurt yourself. So, before you begin to exercise:
Make Healthy Food Choices
• Eat breakfast every morning. Try oatmeal with banana slices, walnuts, and low-fat or fat-free milk.
• Don’t eat too much. Remember what serving sizes are.
For example: A serving of meat for adults is the size of a deck of playing cards.
• Choose healthy foods for you and your loved ones. Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables when you can get them. For example: Bananas, carrots, apples, almonds, green beans, and milk are all good for you.
• Fruits and vegetables that are frozen or canned are also a good choice when you can’t get fresh.
• Cut back on processed foods. For example: Corn chips, potato chips, pepperoni, bologna, and hot dogs are not as healthy.
• Eat a variety of foods.
Why Eat 5 Fruits and Vegetables A Day?
Fruits and vegetables are natural fast foods. Research has shown that eating “5-A-Day” reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses. Cancer, heart disease, and stroke are the three leading causes of death in this country. All 3 diseases are related to diets high in fat and not enough fruits and vegetables.
Resources For An Enlarged Prostate
Several national groups can provide more information on BPH and its treatment. They include:
Seeing A Doctor For An Enlarged Prostate
If you have symptoms that bother you, see a doctor. He or she can find out if BPH — or another disease — is the cause. If you do have BPH, your doctor can also see if it has caused other problems. How is BPH Diagnosed?
Talking With Kids About Sex
This information is about talking with kids about sex. It covers typical questions small children ask and how to deal with them. Read more
Temper Tantrums
This information is about temper tantrums in toddlers and preschoolers. You’ll find out why tantrums occur and what’s the best way to handle them. Read more
Bicycle Safety
Every day in the US, one child under the age of 14 is killed in a bike crash (usually with a car), and 1,000 children are seriously injured.
Read more
Ringworm
This information is about ringworm. It covers what ringworm is, where it comes from, how to recognize it, and how to deal with it. Read more
Poisons in Your Home
This information is about poisons in your home. It covers some common poisons and how to keep your children safe from them. Read more
Mononucleosis
Infectious mononucleosis is often called “Mono,” for short. It’s a virus infection that affects lymph glands in various parts of the body. It is most common among adolescents and young adults. Read more
Finding Good Childcare
This information is on finding good childcare. You’ll learn where to find childcare and how to evaluate your choices for childcare. Read more
Fever in Children
This information is about taking a child’s temperature and fever in children. It covers what a fever in kids is and what to do about fever in children.
Diarrhea and Vomiting in Children
This information is about diarrhea and vomiting in children. It covers diarrhea and vomiting problems, how to deal with diarrhea and vomiting, and when you should call your pediatrician. Read more
Why Should You Eat 5 Fruits and Vegetables A Day?
Fruits and vegetables are natural fast foods. Research has shown that eating “5-A-Day” reduces the risk of cancer, heart disease, and other illnesses. Cancer, heart disease, and stroke are the three leading causes of death in the U.S.. All 3 diseases are related to diets high in fat and not enough fruits and vegetables.
Tips for Healthy Eating Out
On average, families eat one 1 of every 4 meals away from home. This is having a big impact on the number of calories we eat each day and the size of the our waistline. If you eat out more than 2 times a week, use these tips: