Your Health ToGo!: Recent Episodes
Demystifying Your Health
Health information is confusing. The reason is the use of medical terminology. Every industry has words that are technical and specific to it. Unless you are part of that field, you wouldn’t necessarily understand what is being discussed. Healthcare is no different. The issue with healthcare is that we are all affected by it.This is where Your Health ToGo can help. In each episode, we take a health topic that’s important to you and break it down into easier to understand information. We also discuss the most common treatments and preventive techniques.You want to be healthy and informed and we're here to help make that a reality!
Most of us probably prefer not talking about STDs, but it is something that everyone needs the correct information about in order to be protected. While some STDs are more serious than others, no one wants to have one. This is why protection is key to prevention. What do you need to know about STDs to be safe? How do you know if you have one? How do you treat one?
You’ve probably heard the word anemia before and might know that it has something to do with your blood, but what does it actually mean? What causes it? Is it something serious that needs immediate treatment or a chronic condition?
One day, you start having this pain on one of your sides, just below your rib cage, starting in your back and wrapping around to the front. It’s very painful, but you don’t notice anything wrong in the area, so you put up with the pain and go about your day. It’s still painful a few days later, but now you notice a red-colored rash in the area. What is it? Do you need to go to the doctor?
You’re out working in your yard and decide that you need to trim some branches off one of the trees. You grab your ladder, climb up to the right spot, and get to work. The next you know, you wake up in the hospital to find that it’s several days later, and the doctor tells you that you have a spinal cord injury from falling off the ladder. What does this mean for you at the moment? What does it mean for your future?
You’ve noticed that your toes and ankles have had this weird prickling sensation for the past few days. This morning, you realized that your legs felt weak, and it continues to worsen throughout the day. You go to the doctor, and he suspects you might have Guillain-Barré syndrome. What is this? Should you be concerned? How is it treated?
When most people hear the word meningitis, they immediately think of a person having a life-threatening illness. Is this always the case? It really depends on which type of meningitis the person has. How many types are there? Which one should you be most concerned about? How do you prevent getting any kind?
You’ve had a minor cold for the past few days, so you don’t feel your best. When you woke up this morning, your neck was stiff and painful. Also, you can’t turn your head to the right. Concerned that something serious might be going on, you go to the doctor. After examining you, she says that you have torticollis. What does this mean? Will it go away? How can you prevent it from coming back?
For the past several mornings, you have been waking up with pain in your hip. No matter what you try, it won’t go away. You go to your doctor, and after several tests, he tells you that you have Paget’s disease of the bone. What is this? What are the impacts going to be on your life? Is there a way to get rid of it?
You get home from work and take off your shoes. As you relish the moment of your feet being free, you notice that the second toe on your right foot is curled up. After a few moments, it straightens. Over the next several days, this keeps happening. What’s going on? Why does your toe keep doing it? How can you get it to stop?
You take your infant daughter to the doctor for a wellness check. During the visit, the doctor does a physical exam. Afterward, she tells you that she thinks your daughter has hip dysplasia and recommends that she be treated. What exactly is hip dysplasia? How is it treated? Could it have been prevented?
Most people know that sickle cell has something to do with blood not functioning properly. However, many people don’t know exactly what happens during a sickle cell crisis or who’s at risk for developing one. So, why does sickle cell occur? Who’s more likely to be impacted? What can be done to lessen the discomfort?
You’re visiting your grandfather after not seeing him for a while and notice that his left leg is swollen, and the skin looks different from his right leg. You ask him what’s going on, and he brushes you off. You insist on taking him to the doctor, who tells you that he has lymphedema. What is that? How can it be fixed? Is there any way to prevent it?
In a few weeks, you’ll be going on vacation, and you can’t wait to get to the sunny island to enjoy some time on the beach. You’re at the store trying on some new clothes to take with you and notice that there are many small veins on your legs that are more visible than before. What are they? Is it a sign of something wrong? Will they go away?
You no sooner get to work in the morning, and your boss is yelling that you need to turn in the monthly report in an hour because he must talk about it on a conference call. You completely forgot that it was due today, and your stress level immediately skyrockets, and your heart starts to race. In fact, your heart feels like it’s going to beat out of your chest. Is this dangerous? Does it require treatment? What can you do to make it stop?
One day you’re going about your normal activities when you notice that your lips seem to have a tingling, itching sensation. It’s not really bothersome, so you don’t think much about it. A few days later, you notice that some blisters appear in the same area. What caused them to occur? How can you get rid of them? Can you prevent them from coming back?
You just got home from your evening walk and are taking off your shoes and socks. On your left foot, you notice that there’s a hard, raised bump on your heel. You press on the area, but it doesn’t hurt. You ask your doctor about it at your routine visit the following week. After looking at it, she says, you have a callus. What caused it to occur? Can it be removed? What do you need to do to prevent more calluses from forming?
For the past several days, you’ve had a sore throat and nasal congestion. When you woke up this morning, you noticed that your right eye had crusted over, so you couldn’t open it. After gently removing the crust, you realize that your eye is very red compared to the other one. Oh no, do you have pink eye? If so, what can you do to get rid of it? How do you prevent it from spreading to your other eye?
You go to the dentist for your regular 6-month checkup. After the X-rays are taken, he comes and tells you that you might want to consider having your wisdom teeth removed because they’re partially impacted. What does this mean? Why do wisdom teeth need to be removed more frequently than other teeth?
What do you think of when you hear the word “bunion?” If you’re like most people, you probably think of your grandparents or other elderly individuals complaining about their bunions hurting. Is it something that only affects older people? What exactly is it? How is it treated? Is it preventable?
It’s something that we’re all familiar with and, in most cases, embarrassed by. You’re probably wondering what I’m talking about…gas. While it might be common, the majority of people don’t want to have it. What can you do to reduce it? Can it be prevented?
All your friends are excited about the season change and the upcoming holidays every Fall. You dread this time of year because you feel depressed, lose interest in activities, and have low energy. This lasts until sometime in the Spring. When you explain this to your doctor, she says you might have seasonal affective disorder. What is this? How is it treated? Are there ways to prevent it?
If you’ve ever had a headache, you know how painful it can be. Sometimes, it can be downright debilitating. Migraines are extreme forms of headache that can severely impact a person’s life. How are they different from regular headaches? What can be done to treat them? Are they preventable?
You’ve always heard that you shouldn’t run your car with the garage door closed because it’s unsafe. However, you’ve never really understood why it was so important. Well, it has to do with carbon monoxide and how bad it is for your health. What exactly does it do? How do you know if you have carbon monoxide poisoning? What do you need to do to treat it?
The human papillomavirus has been in the news a lot in recent years. Partly because of the high incidence of cervical cancer associated with it, but also because of the development of a vaccine to prevent it. What are the concerns surrounding both of these? What else should you know about the condition?
You go to take your shower and notice that there seem to be tiny bugs in your genital area. The spot is also incredibly itchy. The doctor tells you that you have pubic lice. How do you get rid of them? What do you need to do to prevent them from coming back in the future?
One day, you’re going to the bathroom and notice small red bumps in your genital area. At first, you don’t think much about it until the next day when you start having pain and itching in the same place. You go to the doctor and find out that you have genital herpes. How did it happen? What can you do to treat it? Can you prevent it from coming back?
You’ve probably heard of syphilis before. Most people assume that it’s a disease that isn’t around anymore. However, this isn’t true. The treatment for it has improved significantly, which is why there are fewer infections. What is this treatment? Why is it so important to get treated if you have an infection? How can you prevent it in the first place?
One morning you wake up and go to the bathroom, you notice that it burns when you urinate. You also notice that you have itching and redness to your genital area. So, you go to the doctor to see what’s the matter. After running a few tests, your doctor tells you that you have trichomoniasis. What do you need to do to feel better? Are there steps you can take to prevent it in the future?
You’ve just had your first baby and were super excited to welcome him home. Now, several days later, you’ve started feeling sad, overwhelmed, and anxious. You’ve also been crying a lot. What’s going on? Aren’t you supposed to be happy? Is it something serious?
Over the past several months, you’ve noticed that your lower abdomen has a heaviness sensation that seems to be getting worse. In the past few weeks, you started leaking urine when you cough or sneeze. You go to the doctor to get check out, and she tells you that you have a uterine prolapse. What is this? How can it be fixed? Are there ways to prevent it?
You just found out that you’re pregnant with your first child. You’re super excited, but the next you know, you start feeling sick to your stomach all of the time. Why does this happen? When should you be concerned? How can you treat it?
Every month when you have your menstrual cycle, you experience severe pain and heavy bleeding. It’s only been a few months, but you decide to see your doctor. She tells you that you might have endometriosis and suggests testing to confirm. What causes this to occur? How is it treated?
One day you notice that the nails on your right foot seem to be thicker and discolored than they usually are. You go to the doctor, and he tells you that you might have a fungal infection. How did this happen? What do you need to do to get rid of it? Is there a way to prevent it from appearing on your other nails?
Just hearing the word “scabies” can make some people itchy. Most of us view it as a condition that affects people with poor hygiene. However, that’s not always the case. How do you get scabies? What can you do to treat an infection? How do you prevent spreading it?
When you hear the word toxoplasmosis, what’s the first thing you think of? For some people, it’s pregnant women. For others, it might be cats. Neither group is wrong. What exactly does either of these have to do with the condition? How serious is a toxoplasmosis infection? What can be done to treat it? Is there a way to prevent it?
One foodborne illness that can be very serious, especially for pregnant women, elderly individuals, or those with compromised immune systems, is listeria. Where does it come from? How can you prevent it in the first place? What’s the treatment for a listeria infection?
You spent a nice, relaxing weekend out on the lake swimming, kayaking, and fishing. A few days later, you notice that your stomach is cramping, and you have diarrhea that smells really bad. You go to the doctor, and she thinks that you might have a giardia infection. What caused it? How is it treated? Can you prevent it in the future?
One afternoon, you’re at work when your stomach starts cramping, and you make a run for the bathroom. You make it just in time! This happens several more times before you finally decide to go home. You don’t really become concerned until you notice there’s blood in your stool. You go to the doctor, and he suspects you might be infected with shigella. What is this? How serious is it? What do you need to do to get rid of it?
You’re in the kitchen cooking and crack open an egg for the omelet you’re making. After you throw away the shell, you wash your hands because you know that touching raw eggs puts you at risk for salmonella. However, it’s not the only way that you can encounter it. Where else do the bacteria live? What else can you do to prevent an infection?
You’re sleeping peacefully one night when suddenly, you’re woken up by burning pain in your stomach and chest and feel slightly nauseous. You roll over, trying to ignore the pain, but in the morning, it’s still there. After eating a small breakfast, you notice that the pain eases up some. This pattern repeats for the next several days, so you go to the doctor and find out you have an ulcer. What caused it? How can you get rid of it? Are there ways to prevent it from coming back?
You’re eating dinner with your parents and notice that your dad seems to be having trouble swallowing. When you ask him about it, he says it hurts to swallow, and it feels like the food is getting stuck in his throat. You take him to the doctor the next day, and he says that your dad has dysphagia. What is this? How did it happen? Is it fixable?
You’re visiting your grandmother in her suburban house, and she notices that you’re sneezing, have red eyes, and a runny nose. She says that you have hay fever. You tell her that’s not possible because you haven’t been around any hay. What is hay fever? How is it treated? Can you prevent it?
We’ve all been there…you’re talking to someone and get a whiff of their breath and feel like you’re going to pass out because it smells so bad. This is why most people are self-conscious about how their breath smells, and there are so many products available to combat bad breath. What causes it in the first place? How can you prevent it from happening?
One day, you’re putting your socks on before heading out the door. You notice that there seems to be a spot on one of your toes that has a growth on it. It doesn’t hurt, so you don’t think much about it. A few days later, you’re at the doctor for your annual exam and show her your foot. She tells you that you have a plantar wart. How did this happen? Can you get rid of it? Is there a way to prevent it from coming back?
You’re cooking dinner, and the water you’ve got on the stove starts to boil over, so you reach out to turn it down. In doing so, some of the water splashes on your arm. Immediately, you notice that it hurts. Quickly, you run some cool water over the area. It feels a little better but is still red. You’ve been burned, but how bad is it? Do you need to go to the doctor? What should you do to treat it?
All day long, you’ve been sitting at your desk and notice that your elbow looks red and swollen. When you move your arm, it hurts. This continues for the next few days, so you go to the doctor. He confirms that you have bursitis. What caused it to occur? How can you get rid of it? Is there a way to prevent it?
The doctor decides to send you for some tests once she finds out that you’ve been having lower back and leg pain for the past few months. The results show you have a ruptured disc in your back. What does this mean? Is it fixable? Can you prevent it from happening again?
After getting out of bed, your neck is hurting, and your right arm feels tingling and slightly weak. You figure you slept wrong and go about your routine. Your symptoms don’t get any better. In fact, they start to get worse. The doctor diagnoses you with spinal stenosis. What is that? How is it treated?
Over the past few weeks, you notice that your back has become increasingly painful, especially if you’ve been sitting for a while. After you start experiencing numbness in your legs, you go to the doctor and find out you have degenerative disc disease. What does this mean for your future? Is it treatable? Can you prevent it?
One day when you get up from a chair, you notice that your legs are shaking slightly. You slowly start walking, and the tremor goes away. This continues to happen over the next several days. What’s wrong with your body? Is there more than one type of tremor? Can they be treated?
You might know that there was an outbreak of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in the 1990s because people ate contaminated beef. The disease progresses rapidly and is fatal, so many people were very concerned about it. It hasn’t been prevalent since then, so is it gone? Are there still ways to contract it? Have treatments been developed?
One morning as you’re brushing your teeth before work, you experience a sudden, sharp, stabbing pain. It goes away quickly, so you figure it was some sort of fluke. A week later, you’re washing your face before going to bed, and the same thing happens again. What’s wrong with your face? Is there a treatment for it? Can you prevent the pain from coming back?
You’re sitting on the couch, watching TV, and get up to go to the bathroom. Upon standing, you notice that you feel dizzy and lightheaded. After a moment, it passes. You don’t think much of it until it happens again the next day when you stand up after working at your desk for a while. Why is this happening? Is there a treatment for it? Can you prevent it from occurring?
When you hear the word encephalitis, you probably think of mosquitoes or babies. However, it can impact anyone of any age, and the causes can vary widely. So, what exactly is it? How is treated? Can it be prevented?
Unless you have a family history of or know someone with Huntington’s disease, you’ve probably never heard of it. Since it’s a rare genetic condition, this isn’t surprising. What type of problems does it cause? How likely is it to occur? Can it be treated?
After feeding your newborn daughter, she starts vomiting. She also seems not to want to eat. You take her to the doctor. They run some blood work and inform you that she has galactosemia. What does this mean for your daughter? Will she be okay? How is the condition treated?
Your son was just born, and the doctor says that his head looks larger than normal. You ask what that means. He says it could be a sign of Fragile X Syndrome. What is this condition? How could it affect your son? Is it treatable?
You’re at a prenatal visit for your first child, and the doctor mentions that she’s concerned about the baby having cystic fibrosis. The doctor asks if you or your husband have any family history of the disease. You tell her not that you’re aware of. She mentions doing further testing. What is cystic fibrosis? How is it treated? Can it be prevented?
One day after bathing your son, you’re getting ready to feed him and notice that there are white patches on his tongue. You call his doctor, who tells you to bring your son in to be seen. After examining him, the doctor says that your son has thrush. What is this? Why did it occur? How is it treated?
One day, you’re visiting a friend and notice that her newborn baby is having trouble staying awake and seems to be easily irritated. You ask your friend if everything is okay. She says that it is, and the baby has been only acting this way since yesterday after her boyfriend babysat. You’re concerned that something is wrong with the baby and encourage your friend to have him checked out. What could be wrong? Will the baby get better?
Your school-aged daughter is “reading” her book to you out loud, but she seems to be struggling. You go to her teacher to see how she is progressing in class and find out that your daughter isn’t reading on grade level. You take her to be evaluated by her doctor and find out that she has dyslexia. What does this mean? How can you help her?
The nurse hands you your newborn daughter after cleaning her up. As you look at her precious face, you realize there is a split in her lip that goes almost to her nose. You ask the doctor what happened, and he says that she has a cleft lip. Why did this occur? What impacts will it have on your daughter? Can it be fixed?
One day, you go to check on your infant son in his crib and notice that the soft on his head seems to be bulging. When you pick him up, he’s very sleepy and easily irritated. You take him to the doctor, and she is concerned that your son has hydrocephalus. What is this? Is it serious? How is it treated?
Heart valves play an essential role in your heart’s ability to function. When one or more of them don’t work, it can cause significant problems. Several things can place you at risk for developing heart valve issues. Do you have any of them? Can heart valve problems be fixed?
You’re at the doctor’s because lately you’ve been feeling increasingly tired, and it frequently feels like your heart is pounding in your chest. The doctor is concerned that you might have cardiomyopathy and sends you for a bunch of tests. What is this? Should you be worried? Can it be corrected?
Lately, when you’ve been out for your daily run, you notice that you have been becoming short of breath. This hasn’t happened before, so you go to the doctor. When he listens to your chest, he tells you that you have a murmur. Based on your symptoms, the doctor suspects you have mitral valve regurgitation. What does this mean? How will it impact your life? Can it be corrected?
Your baby was just born and she’s perfect! The pediatrician examines your baby and tells you that it sounds like she has a heart murmur, so he wants to order some tests to see what’s going on. The results come back that your daughter has Fallot’s Tetralogy. What is this? How serious is it? Can it be fixed?
You’re working at your computer when you start seeing double and it feels like one of your eyelids is drooping. Figuring your eyes are strained, you take a break, close your eyes, and everything is fine a few minutes later. Over the next few days, you notice that this keeps happening. Why? Is there anything you can do to fix it? How can you prevent it?
Over the past several weeks, you notice that your eyes have been feeling gritty and burning. In addition, your mouth is dry to the point that it’s hard to swallow because you don’t have enough saliva. You decide to go to the doctor to see if they can help you. After running some tests, you find out that you have Sjögren’s syndrome. What is this? Is it treatable?
One morning, you’re getting dressed as you adjust your shirt, you notice that your neck seems swollen. It’s not hurting and your throat isn’t sore, so you decide to continue with your day. Over the next several weeks, you notice that your neck isn’t getting better, so you go to the doctor. Why is this happening? Can it be fixed?
For a couple of weeks, you notice that you have a slight tremor to your hands and have been feeling more anxious than usual. One morning after waking up, you realize that your neck seems to have a large lump in it, so you go to the doctor. After running tests, she tells you that you have Graves’ Disease. What is this? How is it treated?
You’re enjoying a walk outside, but after a little while, your fingers start to tingle and feel slightly numb. You don’t have anything to cover your hands with, so by the time you get back inside, your hands are very red with some whiteish color near the tips. You figure that you have some level of frostbite. How do you safely rewarm your hands? Should you be concerned about permanent damage?
One morning, you’re sitting at your desk and feel like you could fall asleep right there. You figure that you didn’t get enough sleep the previous night. However, the next day, you feel the same way despite getting a good night’s sleep. This continues for several weeks. What’s causing you to feel so tired? How can you feel more rested?
You've been on your feet all day at work and when you get home, you notice that your lower legs are swollen. While sitting on the couch to watch your favorite TV show, you prop your feet up on a couple of pillows. This seems to help. However, it happens again the next day. Why? Is there something wrong with your legs? Is there anything you can do to prevent it from happening?
Your skin is supposed to be the barrier that protects your insides from the outside world. Sometimes, it can fall prey to the very things it’s supposed to protect you against. One type of infection is especially concerning because it can result in serious complications if not caught early enough. What is this disease? How is it treated? Can you protect yourself from it?
While performing your monthly testicular exam, you notice a small lump on one of your testicles. You go to the doctor and he confirms what you suspect…you have testicular cancer. How serious is this? Is it treatable? What are the next steps?
You and your partner are trying to get pregnant, but have been struggling, so you get tested by your doctor. They inform you that you have an extra X chromosome and this probably is the cause of your infertility. How does this happen? Can anything be done to correct it? If you do have children, can you pass the defect on to them?
You’re in the locker room after gym class and look in the mirror while getting dressed. You realize that your breast area looks like it is swollen and when you touch it, it’s tender. Some of the other guys notice too and start making fun of you. What’s going on? Should you see a doctor?
One evening when drying yourself after getting out of the shower, you notice that one side of your scrotum is swollen. It doesn’t hurt, so you decide to go to bed and check it in the morning. When you wake up, everything seems to be back to normal, but the area is swollen again by the end of the day. What’s causing this to happen? How can you fix it?
You notice that you’re feeling the urge to urinate more frequently. Yet, when you’re in the bathroom, you have trouble getting starting and your urine tends to stop and start in the middle of going. What’s causing this to happen? What steps do you need to take to fix?
One afternoon, you realize that your lower stomach is hurting slightly. When you go to the bathroom, you notice that you have discharge with a strong odor and it hurts to urinate. You go to the doctor and find out you have pelvic inflammatory disease. What caused it? How serious is it? Can it be treated?
You’ve finished going to the bathroom and are wiping yourself when you notice a small lump on one side of your vagina. It doesn’t hurt, so you decide to see if it’ll get better in the next few days. Unfortunately, the area starts to hurt and causes discomfort when you’re walking. You go to the doctor and she tells you that you have a Bartholin’s cyst. What caused this to occur? Is it serious? How is it treated?
You’ve been taking antibiotics for a urinary tract infection for the past several days. Now, you have a strong itching sensation in your vagina and you notice a white discharge. What is going on? How can you get rid of these annoying symptoms? Is there anything you can do to prevent it from happening in the future?
While getting dressed for the day, you notice that one of your breasts is tender, swollen, and warmer than the other. The affected side has redness too. It didn’t appear this way yesterday. So, what caused this to happen? How can it be fixed? Can you prevent it from occurring in the future?
Your typing away on your keyboard and happen to look down. On your wrist, you notice a small bump. You gently press on it causing it to move, but it doesn’t hurt. Where did it come from? Should you be concerned? Is there anything you can do to get rid of it?
Unfortunately, you’ve probably experienced neck pain at some point in your life, which means that you know how much it can hurt. If you’re aching, your primary concern is to get it to stop. How can you do this? What causes the soreness in the first place? Are there things you can do to prevent the discomfort?
Over the past few nights, you notice that when you’re trying to sleep, it feels like your legs just want to move. If you do reposition them, they feel better for a little bit, but a short time later, you have the same feeling. Why is this happening? Is there anything you can do about it? Can you prevent it from occurring?
When HIV/AIDS came on the scene, it caused a worldwide panic. At the time, it was considered a death sentence. As a result of years of research and hard work, advances have been made in treating and preventing it. People who have the virus are able to live long lives with less health concerns. What are these improvements? Are there still things that can be done?
If you’re like most people, you might’ve heard about rickets from your grandparents or great-grandparents. This might lead you to believe that it’s something that you don’t have to worry about. While this is probably true, what should you be looking for? What causes it? How is it treated?
If you’re familiar with the history of long-ago sailors, you probably know that many of them died from scurvy. What caused this to happen? Thankfully, it’s not as much of a problem nowadays. Why is it not something that we should be overly concerned about?
You’re planning a trip to South America. You go to your doctor to find out if they recommend any vaccinations before traveling. She tells you that one of the things you should consider getting is a vaccine for yellow fever. What is this? Why should you want to prevent it?
You’ve recently got back from an awesome vacation. Several days after you get home, you start having a headache with weakness and stomach pain. Next, you develop a fever that seems to gradually be getting worse. Why are you having these symptoms? What can you do to feel better?
You’ve probably heard of smallpox, but don’t know of anyone who’s ever had it. It was once a very common disease. Thankfully, it no longer is because it has been eradicated. What does this mean? Should you be worried about it coming back? If it did reappear, how is it treated?
You wore a new pair of shoes to work today. Gradually, throughout the day your left heel has been bothering you and by the time you get home, it’s really hurting. You take off your shoes and notice that you have a blister in the area where the pain is. What can you do to make it better? Are there ways to prevent it from happening again?
One day you’re getting ready to go hang out with your friends and notice a small, raised bump in your armpit as you put on your deodorant. You touch it and it moves around slightly but doesn’t hurt. What is it and why did it appear? Should you be worried? Can it be removed?
You’re getting ready to go out on a date and put on your favorite dark-colored outfit before brushing your hair. When you’re finished, you notice that you shoulder has lots of little white flakes on it. What is causing them? How can you stop it from happening?
We’ve all been there, you wake up in the morning before an important event and there it is on your face…a giant, red pimple. What are you going to do? There might not be much you can do that moment, but there are things that you can do to reduce future acne. What are these things?
Chickenpox used to be a common childhood illness. With the invention of the vaccine for it, the frequency of cases has diminished significantly. However, it’s still out there and poses a risk to some individuals. Do you fall into that category? Why is it important to prevent chickenpox? What can happen if you don’t?
Your son wakes up complaining of a sore throat and you notice that he has a bright red rash on his face and neck. His temperature is high, so you take him to the doctor. You find out that he has scarlet fever. What caused it to appear? How do you treat it? Is it contagious?
One morning when your daughter wakes up, you notice a rash on her face and she has a stuffy nose with a slight fever. She doesn’t seem overly sick, but by the next day, the rash has spread to more parts of her body. What is causing the rash? Is there anything you can do to treat it?
You’re eating your lunch and notice that the left side of your face has pain near your ear. When you gently touch the area, you notice that it’s swollen. Later, in the bathroom, you look in the mirror and that side of your face looks puffy. What’s causing this to happen? How can you make it go away?
In the United States, you don’t hear of people contracting measles that often. This is the result of vaccinations. However, the number of cases has started to climb. This is concerning since measles are highly contagious and can be life-threatening. Why is there an increase? How do you know if you or your loved one has the measles? What can be done treat them?
You’ve noticed that in the past few weeks you’ve been increasingly drowsy during the day. It doesn’t matter what you’re doing, you feel like you could fall asleep in the middle of it. One day, you’re working at your desk when the tiredness overwhelms you and the next you know, you wake up 30 minutes later. What’s going on? Why’s this happening? How do you stop it?
Lately, you’ve been having headaches with blurred vision and occasionally vomiting. You figure that you’ve been stressed and aren’t taking care of yourself the way that you should. However, when you wake up in the back of an ambulance and the paramedic tells you that you had a seizure, you realize that something is wrong. Why are you having these symptoms? What can be done to treat them? Is there a way to prevent them from coming back?
One morning while eating breakfast, you notice that half of your face feels different from the other side. By lunch time, you notice that the affected side is drooping and you’re having trouble closing your eyelid on that side. Are you having a stroke? Or is it something else? How do you get rid of it?
You’re pregnant and in your second trimester, so you’re going for an ultrasound to make sure that your baby is developing appropriately. After the ultrasound, your doctor informs you that it looks like your baby has spina bifida. What is this? How serious is it? Can it be fixed? What does that mean for your baby’s future?
One day, after feeding your baby, you’re holding her and watching her sleep. You notice that there are some white, crusty areas on her head. You gently touch the areas, but she doesn’t seem to be bothered by them. What are these? What is causing them to occur? How do you remove them? Can you prevent them from coming back?
Some people are born with a hole in their heart. While in some cases, this is as serious as it sounds, in others, it isn’t. Some individuals don’t even know that they have an issue until they’re an adult. How do you know if you have one? Why did it happen? How is it treated?
If you’re a new parent, you’ve probably have heard stories about infants who have died suddenly and for no apparent reason. Obviously, this is very concerning and may have you wondering what you can do to prevent this from happening to your child. What things should you do to decrease the chances of happening? What causes it to occur? Are there treatments for it?
You wake up one morning and find that your infant daughter is congested. At first, you don’t think too much about it because your 3-year-old son has had a cold the past few days. A day goes by and you notice that it seems like your daughter is having trouble breathing, so you go to the emergency room. They inform you that she has RSV and needs to be admitted. What is this? Why is it so serious? How is it treated?
You’ve survived a tragic event and, initially, it has a significant impact on how you function every day, but, gradually, it gets easier. However, one day, out of the blue, you feel like you’re experiencing the situation all over again. After a few moments, you realize that you’re just imagining being in the situation. Why did this happen? What is causing it? How is it treated?
You’ve probably heard someone referring to another individual as have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) if that individual is particular about certain things, like being neat or clean. For the majority of people, even though they like things a certain way, they don’t have OCD. What are the actual symptoms? How is it treated? Can you prevent it?
We’ll all have our favorite foods that we enjoy. While it’s alright to partake in the occasional overindulgence, if you’re doing this on a regular basis, it can signify a problem. If you’re consuming large quantities of food and feel like you can’t stop eating, you might have binge eating disorder. What causes it? What can you do to stop eating so much? Are there ways to prevent it?
Despite your intense fear about being alone, you often get angry and have outbursts that cause others to leave. This results in you having many unstable relationships. If this sounds like your life, you might have borderline personality disorder. What is this? Can it be treated?
At some point in your life, you’ve probably been nervous about something, like giving a speech or asking someone out on a date. This is a normal part of life. What happens though when your anxiety and fear over something lead you to avoid the situation completely and this results in major disruption to your life? How big of an impact can this have? Can you overcome it?
Your blood vessels play a vital role in your body functioning correctly. So, when something happens to them and they don’t perform as well as they should, it can result in significant issues for your organs. Depending on the location of the issue, these complications can be mild or severe. What causes your blood vessels to not function appropriately? What can be done to treat the issue? Is there a way to prevent it in the first place?
An infection can occur anywhere in your body. Most infections are minor and your body’s immune system is able to fight it off without a problem. Some infections can be very serious because of the part of the body they impact. One of these areas is your heart. What happens to your heart when it’s target of an infection? How do the germs get to your heart? Can the infection be treated?
You’re sitting in your favorite chair one lazy afternoon when all of sudden it feels like your heart is beating funny. You also feel slightly lightheaded and short of breath. When you check your pulse, you notice that it’s very fast. What’s causing this? Is it an emergency? How is it treated?
You might never have heard of the word bradycardia before, but based upon the ‘cardia’ part of the name, you might guess that it has something to do with your heart. You’re correct, but what exactly does it mean? Is it a serious issue? Is it something that requires treatment? Should you be worried about trying to prevent it?
A few years ago, SARS was in the news every where. There was a significant amount of concern regarding people traveling and spreading the deadly disease. Where did it come from? Why did it spread so quickly? Is it still an issue?
It seems like that every time you turn on the TV there is a commercial advertising for a class action lawsuit for those who are suffering from mesothelioma or their families. Many people don’t know what mesothelioma is, let alone why there would be lawsuits surrounding it. What causes mesothelioma?
For the past several years, you’ve noticed that you get short of breath when you do certain activities. No big deal, you just stopped doing them. Now, it seems like you’re short of breath all the time. What’s happening?
ARDS stands for Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome and is a serious illness. Who is most at risk for developing it? Can it be treated?
Thanks to TV, you’ve likely heard the word psoriasis before. However, like many people, you might not know what it is. It’s a condition that affects your skin and comes in many different forms. What does it look like? What causes it to happen? How is it treated?
When you were a child, you remember having itchy areas on your skin, but didn’t really know what it was from. As an adult, you wake up one morning and find that on one of your arms, near your elbow, you have a spot of skin that is red with small bumps and is incredibly itchy. What is this? What is causing it? How is it treated?
The weather has turned colder, which means that it’s time to bundle up before you head outside. For most people, this is enough to keep them warm. For some, despite doing this, it’s not enough to keep their fingers and toes warm, which can result in them feeling numb and turning blue until they’re warm again. Why does this happen? Can it be prevented?
The day has finally arrived…your son was just born! He looks perfect and seems to be healthy, so it probably comes as a shock when the doctor is finished examining him and tells you that your son has an undescended testicle. What does this mean? Will your son be alright? What needs to be done to treat it?
It’s not uncommon for most people to not always be in the mood when their partner is and this can contribute to erectile dysfunction. While this is completely normal, if you’re experiencing this frequently, it can be a sign that there’s something wrong. What causes erectile dysfunction to occur? When should you see a doctor? What can be done to treat it?
Most women have some form of cramping, back pain and bleeding with their menstrual cycle. What does it mean if you have heavy bleeding, your period lasts longer than a week, pelvic pain that doesn’t go away? Is it something serious? How can it be treated? Is there a way to prevent it?
You think you might be pregnant, but how do you know for sure? Once you find out that you are, what should you expect during each trimester? What diet, exercise and sleep recommendations should you follow? What’s not a normal part of pregnancy?
You probably are aware that your body can get infections, but did you know that they can occur at specific areas with in your body? One of these areas is your bones. You might not think this can happen, but it can. What causes it? How is it treated? Can it be prevented?
You might’ve heard your elderly relatives talking at some point about bone spurs, but probably didn’t know what they were. Is it something you should be concerned about? How common are they? What type of treatment do they require? Is there anything you can do to prevent them?
You wake up one morning and notice that you have sharp pain in the bottom of your foot. As you make your way to the bathroom to get ready for work, you notice that the pain starts to ease up and eventually goes away. You assume it was a cramp and don’t think about it until the following morning when it happens again. What’s causing your foot to do this? How can you stop it? Are there ways to prevent it?
You wake up one morning because your stomach is hurting and all of sudden you have an urgent need to go to the bathroom. Once you’re in the bathroom, despite feeling like you need to go, you’re unable to. While you’re in there, you realize that for the past several weeks you’ve been having a significant amount of stomach pain, diarrhea and weight loss. What’s going on? Why is this happening? What can you do about it?
You’ve probably heard of a gluten free diet. For some people, it’s something to try because it’s the latest health craze. For others, it’s not just a diet, it’s a necessity. Individuals who have celiac disease must follow a gluten free diet in order to be healthy. What is celiac disease? How do you know if you have it? Why does a gluten free diet help?
Since it’s summer, you’re probably taking advantage of the weather and spending some time outside. While doing this, it’s vital to prevent yourself from becoming dehydrated. Why is this so important? What happens to your body when you’re dehydrated? What signs should you be looking for? How can you prevent it?
It’s the time of year when you want to be outside enjoying your favorite summertime activities. For most of us, this means doing things that require us to be physically active. While this is great for your health, it can put you at an increased risk for an injury, particularly a head injury. How do you know if you have a concussion after hitting your head? How dangerous are concussions? What should you do to treat one? How do you prevent yourself from getting one?
You just got back from enjoying a camping trip and notice that you feel tired, your head is throbbing and you feel feverish. You decide to go to bed early hoping that you’ll feel better in the morning. However, when you wake up, you realize that you have a rash on your ankles and wrists. What’s going on? Is it something serious? Should you see a doctor?
Summer is right around the corner and with it comes our least favorite pests…mosquitoes! While they can carry a variety of diseases, some can be more serious than others. Which category does the West Nile virus fall under? How can you tell if you have it? What is the treatment for it? Can you prevent it from occurring?
One morning, your son wakes up and tells you that he has a sore throat and it hurts to swallow. You look in his mouth and notice that the back of his throat looks really red and swollen. So, you take him to the doctor and they tell you that your son has tonsillitis. What can be done to treat it? Is it going to involve surgery? Is there anything you can do to prevent it in the future?
One evening before you go to bed, you’re brushing your teeth and notice that your gums start bleeding. You rinse your mouth and it stops. The next morning, the same thing happens. What’s causing this? Are you brushing too hard or is it something else? What can you do to fix it?
When most people hear the word mononucleosis, they probably think of teenagers and kissing. While this might be accurate most of the time, adults and young children can get it too. Also, kissing isn’t the only way it can be spread. How is it transmitted? How serious of an infection is it? How is it treated?
If you have young children, you probably have heard of hand-foot-mouth disease since it’s common for them to catch it. However, it can happen in adults. Just last summer, a professional baseball player contracted it. So, what is it and what causes it? How is it treated? What can you do to prevent it?
Sure, babies cry…a lot! That’s their way of communicating their needs. Usually once they are fed or had a diaper change, they calm down. What happens if they don’t stop crying? No matter what you do, it doesn’t seem to make a difference. Your baby might have colic. What causes this? How do you manage it? Is there a way to prevent it?
We all have moments when we are happy and moments when we are sad. Most of the time, we are able to function every day without either of these effecting us too much. What if you go back and forth between these two extremes frequently? While you’re experiencing either one of these, does it making completing daily activities difficult? If it does, you might have bipolar disorder. What does this mean? How is it treated? Can it be prevented?
For most of us, we can tell when we are overweight and could lose a few pounds. We also know when we’re at a healthier weight. For people with anorexia nervosa, their perceptive of weight doesn’t match their physical size. These individuals are often thin, but feel like they are fat. This can result in problems with eating food. What causes anorexia nervosa? How is it treated? Can it be prevented?
An arrhythmia isn’t something that you usually have to worry about. Some of them can occur without you even knowing you have one. Others are life-threatening and need immediate medical treatment. What exactly is an arrhythmia? How do you know whether the type you have is serious? What can be done to correct it?
When you hear the word hypertension, you probably know that it means high blood pressure. Usually, blood pressure is related to your heart and cardiovascular system. Pulmonary hypertension is not different in this regard, but it also involves your lungs. It can be a very serious condition. So, how do you know if you have it? What can you do to treat it?
When you hear the term sleep apnea, you probably think of someone who snores loudly at night. Sure, this is annoying, especially for family members, but it can be a serious medical problem. How do you know if you have sleep apnea? What can you do to treat or prevent it?
Recently, there have been several commercials on TV advertising for adults to get the pertussis (whooping cough) vaccine. In the commercial, they show grandparents interacting with their grandkids and talk about the dangers whooping cough can present to children. What is it? Why is it important for adults to get the vaccine? Do children need the vaccine?
You’re sitting at home watching your favorite TV show while having a snack when the next thing you know, you feel a warm trickle coming out of your nose running down your face. You go to brush it away with your hand and notice that it is blood. You get a tissue, pinch your nose and after a few minutes, it stops. Why did this happen? Is it serious? What can you do to prevent it from happening again?
When most people hear the word addiction, their first thought is that a person has problems with drugs. This is especially true now more than ever thanks to the opioid epidemic. However, addiction doesn’t just apply to drugs, but can be a number of substances or behaviors. So, what exactly is addiction? What makes it so hard to stop doing something? Is there a cure?
Most people partake in drinking alcohol at some point in their lives. While an occasional drink isn’t a problem, it can become one if your drinking gets out of hand. How do you know if you have a problem related to alcohol use? What can you do to correct it?
You wake up in the morning and notice that your throat seems dry and scratchy. The next thing you know you start coughing. After about a minute, your throat clears, the coughing stops and you feel better. What causes this to happen? What’s the difference between a benign cough and one that indicates something more serious is going on?
Due to the numerous commercials advertising medications to help men with prostate issues, most people know that it can cause problems, such as the urge to urinate frequently or making it difficulty to urinate. However, the condition that would be most concerning is hardly mentioned. What condition is this? How is it treated? Is there a way to prevent it?
One day while you are drying off from your shower, you notice that there is swollen, red area on your ankle. It is slightly tender when you touch it, but otherwise isn’t too bad. You go about your day and notice there is a nagging aching in your ankle, but you don’t think much about it. By the time you get your sock off when you get home, you notice the swollen area has doubled in size and it has become even more painful. What is going on? Is it serious? Do you need to get treatment right away?
For some women, the absence of a monthly cycle when they first start menopause is a relief, but for others, it presents a whole new set of issues for them to deal with. While every woman’s experience is different, all can usually agree that it isn’t an overly pleasant one. What is going on in your body? Can you do anything to manage the symptoms?
If you are looking for medical information, there is no shortage in supply to finding it. When you are watching TV, there is always a new commercial for a recently released medication. If you are feeling sick, you go to your computer and try to find out what is wrong based on your symptoms, which will turn up a whole bunch of possible answers. How do you determine the information you hear or find is reliable and accurate?
You are having a problem with your foot, so you go to your doctor and they recommend that you go to a specialist. Should you see a podiatrist, an orthopedist or an orthopedic surgeon? This variety in specialization occurs throughout all areas of medicine. Understanding the differences between types of doctors can be extremely helpful in answering the question: Which one is the BEST one to help you?
While you are picking your son up from school, he says that his head has been really itchy all day. When you get home, you take a look at his head and notice small, white dots scattered throughout his hair. You take him to the doctor and find out he has lice. How did this happen? How do you get rid of them?
You’ve had some burning when you urinate and been prescribed antibiotics by your doctor for a urinary tract infection. A few days go by and you’re still not feeling better. In fact, your back is starting to hurt worse. You go back to your doctor and find out that you have a kidney infection. What is the difference between a urinary tract infection and a kidney infection? Are the treatments the same?
Most of the time, as long as it’s doing what it is supposed to, you don’t think about how your body functions. You probably know that your kidneys make urine, but how does it do this? Where does the items that make up your urine come from? Why is this process important?
When you hear the word lupus, what do you think of? Some people might think of dogs or wolves since their scientific name is Canis lupus. Others might think of a beloved children’s series that had a character by a similar sounding name and the capability to turn into a werewolf. No, having lupus doesn’t mean you are able to turn into a werewolf. So, what is it? How is it treated? Is there a cure?
If you hear the term ALS, what is the first thing that you think of? For some, it might be Lou Gehrig. Others might think of Stephen Hawking. Still others, might think of the ice bucket challenge. Unless you personally know someone with ALS, most us don’t really know what it is and the significant impact it has on the lives of the people it effects. So, what is it? How is it treated?
While most of us like spending some time outside, but it is usually on our own terms. When you plan on participating in activities outside, typically, you try to bring everything that you might need. What happens if you find yourself stranded in a situation that you were unprepared for? What happens if you have to be outside overnight or for a few days until you are able to reach safety? Do you have the knowledge and skills to survive?
With summer just around the corner, it is time to get ready to be outside enjoying the sunny weather. Most of us have specific things we want to do during the summer and being bitten by a spider is definitely not on that list. Unfortunately, it can happen. What can you do to prevent yourself from getting a spider bite? How do you treat one?
You’ve probably see in television commercials how elderly people are at increased risk for broken bones if they happen to fall. Typically, this is caused by osteoporosis. What is this? Why does it happen? Can you prevent it?
One day you’re in the bathroom getting ready to go to work and notice that your hair is starting to thin in some spots. For some people, the loss of hair can be quite upsetting. What does this mean? Is it permanent or temporary? Can anything be done to stop or fix it?
With the new Gerber baby being a cute little boy who has Down Syndrome, it has probably caused many more people to think about what is it? What challenges does it present? Are those affected by it able to live a good quality life?
Almost all children are inattentive, hyperactive or impulsive at some point. When this behavior is constant to the degree that it interferes with their ability to do well at school, affects their capability to maintain friendships or they exhibit the behaviors while at home, it can have a significant impact. What is the difference between typical childhood distraction and activity level and that of a child with ADHD? What is the treatment?
Everyone forgets things once in a while, such as where you placed your keys, why you were going in a room to do something, and so forth. As you age, this is no different. The difference for the people with Alzheimer’s is that this happens with increasing frequency and is not a normal part of aging. How do you tell the difference between just being forgetful and the start of Alzheimer’s? Is there anything you can do to fix it? To prevent it?
You’re sick and it doesn’t seem too bad at first, but all of sudden, it seems that your body isn’t fighting the infection as well as it normally does. What is going on? Why isn’t your body doing its job of fighting off the illness? Should you go to the doctor?
You’ve been sitting in the car on a long journey, when you get out of the car to go to the bathroom at the rest stop, you notice that your right calf is hurting. You don’t pay much attention to it, figuring it is stiff from being in the car. You go to the bathroom, get your snack and get back on the road. Later, once you’ve stopped driving for the day and get to your hotel for the night, now not only is your calf hurting, but it is swollen and red. What is going on? What is wrong with your leg?
You might have heard the word thyroid before, especially in relation to having hypothyroidism. There are commercials on television advertising medication to help combat this. So, what is your thyroid and why is it important? What happens when it isn’t functioning correctly?
If you have pets, you love them and are concerned about their welfare. What do you need to do to make sure they are healthy and safe? What about if you don’t have pets, why should you be concerned about animal safety? How do you protect yourself against an attack from an animal?