Facts you should know about healthy parenting Share Your Story Learn the basic principles of healthy parenting, avoid mealtime battles, and encourage physical fitness. Raising a happy, healthy child is one of the most challenging jobs a parent can have — and also one of the most rewarding. Yet many of us don't approach parenting with the same focus we...
How to Get Rid of Hiccups: Causes, Cure & Remedies
What are hiccups? A woman who drinks from the opposite edge of the glass can decrease hiccuping. Source: Getty Images The main muscle that helps your lungs expand and contract to breathe is the diaphragm, which is in your abdomen and controls the volume of your chest cavity. Hiccups (also spelled hiccough) happen when this diaphragm muscle spasms. In response,...
Ringworm vs. Eczema: Similarities, Differences & Treatment
What is ringworm? What is eczema? Share Your Story Ringworm and eczema both cause itchiness. Ringworm is a common fungal infection of the skin (ringworm is also termed tinea or dermatophytosis), and the different types of ringworm are named for the location of the rash on the body (for example, tinea corporis [arm and/or leg], scalp [tinea capitis]). These infections...
Quad Marker Screening Uses, Normal Results, and Accuracy
What should you know about quad marker screening? Readers Comments 1 Share Your Story What is the quad marker screening test? The quad marker screening test (quad screen) is a blood test administered in pregnancy, typically between the 15th and 20th weeks of gestation. Similar to the triple screen, the quad marker screen provides information about whether there is an...
Treating the Flu in People with Health Risks: Get the Facts
Treating Influenza (Flu) in People with Health or Age Factors That Increase Their Risk of Complications Treating the flu in people with health risks facts* *Treating the flu in people with health risks facts medical author: Charles Patrick Davis, MD, PhD People with chronic diseases like asthma, diabetes and chronic heart disease are more frequently hospitalized if they get the...
Sick Building Syndrome Symptoms, Definition, Causes & Prevention
Facts you should know about sick building syndrome Sick building syndrome is believed by some to be an illness caused by unknown agents in buildings. Sick building syndrome is a controversial subject because many experts do not think it is a true syndrome. Sick building syndrome has no known cause, however, known causes of illness such as lead poisoning, formaldehyde...
Schizophrenia Symptoms and Coping Tips
What is schizophrenia? Signs and symptoms of schizophrenia Schizophrenia is a type of mental illness in which the affected person cannot distinguish between real and imaginary things or situations. There are times when people can completely lose touch with reality. Most people with schizophrenia recover well, whereas some experience relapse or worsening of the condition. If you have been diagnosed...
Steroids to Treat Arthritis 24 Side Effects, Benefits & Complications
What are steroids? Readers Comments 5 Share Your Story A syringe and an assortment of steroid pills; photo by iStock Steroids (short for corticosteroids) are synthetic drugs that closely resemble cortisol, a hormone that your body produces naturally. Steroids work by decreasing inflammation and reducing the activity of the immune system. They are used to treat a variety of inflammatory...
Pregnancy Planning Tips: How to Prepare for Baby
Facts you should know about pregnancy planning Share Your Story Picture of a fetus at 12 weeks Many women choose to start pregnancy planning prior to conception so that they may minimize possible toxic exposures to the fetus. Women or couples with an increased risk or family history of genetic (inherited) diseases may undergo genetic counseling as a step in...
Pheochromocytoma Symptoms, Treatment, Diagnosis & Prognosis
Facts you should know about pheochromocytoma Someone with a pheochromocytoma usually has three classic symptoms — headache, sweating, and heart palpitations (a fast heartbeat) in association with markedly elevated blood pressure (hypertension). Pheochromocytoma is a relatively rare tumor of the adrenal glands or of similarly specialized cells outside of the adrenal glands. Headache, sweating, and a fast heartbeat are typical...