Overview Treatment of drug & alcohol problems requires many skill-sets, ranging from a basic understanding of the addiction process to cultural competencies. One of these essential skill-sets is counseling. Effective counseling techniques have been identified through research and practice. These…
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Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, is a very serious medical condition that can contribute to kidney failure, heart disease, strokes and heart attacks. While diet and exercise can be effective in reducing blood pressure levels, some people need…
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Massage therapy can be powerful medicine for many people and many health conditions. A University of Illinois meta-analysis of 37 research studies showed that massage decreases anxiety, blood pressure, heart rate and pain. A major study at Sloan-Kettering Memorial Cancer…
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Infective endocarditis is a serious condition caused by an infection on a valve of the heart. The cause of the infection is presumed to be related to systemic seeding of the blood by bacteria that usually are present in the…
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Overview Dysmenorrhea–or painful periods–is a condition that refers to the pain or discomfort associated with menstruation. Although not a serious medical problem, it is usually meant to describe a woman with menstrual symptoms severe enough to keep her from functioning…
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Overview Perspiration, or sweat, is part of your body’s cooling mechanism. Water on your skin’s surface evaporates and helps cool you down. Sweat itself doesn’t actually smell; the odor is caused by bacteria on your skin releasing unpleasant-smelling natural chemicals….
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An elastic adhesive bandage is a common element used in sports medicine. The bandage is ideal for taping ankles, wrists, knees and shoulders as it helps to support sprains and injuries in a joint area. An elastic adhesive bandage is…
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According to the National Institutes of Health, vitamins, minerals and herbs taken to improve our diet are called dietary supplements. Dietary supplements are so common in our modern healthcare routine that they can be found in most groceries, pharmacies and…
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Sports tape is a porous, nonelastic adhesive tape. Although it is lightweight, its high tensile strength makes it ideal for providing firm support and compression when applied to the body. Sports tape has many applications, including supporting the wrists and…
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Gauze is a thin, translucent cotton fabric made with an open weave that allows the skin to breathe. Because it does not seal off necessary air, it is ideal for promoting healing to almost any type of wound. Additionally, a…
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1. Consider Other Symptoms Painful trigger points associated with fibromyalgia can often be identified because of associated symptoms that range from depression to fatigue and pain. Trigger points can be identified by their location, number of points present, and what…
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1. Know What Causes Angina The most common explanation of the term “angina” is a choking type of pain in the chest caused by inadequate oxygenation of the heart muscle from coronary arteries that are blocked from the accumulation of…
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1. What is hepatitis A? Hepatitis A (HAV) is a virus that infects the liver. Hepatitis literally means “liver inflammation” and is prevalent around the world, especially in Mexico, Central and South America, Greenland, Africa, the Middle East, and the…
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1. Seek Emergency Medical Care Don’t assume that a transient ischemic attack (TIA) isn’t a medical emergency just because it resolves quickly. While these mini-strokes don’t cause any permanent brain damage, they put you at greater risk for a full-blown…
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1. Identify Symptoms of Dementia Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease is a rare and deadly brain disorder that currently has no cure. Unfortunately, the most reliable way to diagnose cases of CJD is through a brain biopsy, which can be extremely risky to…
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1. Go Horseback Riding Hippotherapy, a physical therapy that involves horseback riding, has been proven to improve muscle tone and coordination in a majority of children with cerebral palsy. The rhythmic movement of the horse may improve overall coordination and…
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1. Take the Same Steps You Would Take to Avoid a Common Cold Viruses spread primarily through bodily fluids and skin-to-skin contact. If you’re around someone with a known case of viral meningitis, you can prevent infection by avoiding contact…
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1. Feel the Burn–Again You recognize the symptoms easily–a nearly constant need to urinate and the pain and burning that occurs when you do empty your bladder. You may notice that your urine is dark, foul-smelling or even bloody. All…
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1. Acknowledge and Confront the Addiction Addictions come in all varieties–from drug and alcohol dependency to addiction to shopping and online games. But none of them can be dealt with properly until the addict recognizes the condition and resolves to…
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1. Exercise to Prevent Strain Incorporating an exercise regimen into your life strengthens your body and helps protect it from strain and inflammation, including costochondritis. Swimming can be an especially good sport to take up to help prevent inflammation of…
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1. Keep Taking the Medication One of the big concerns with schizophrenia medication is getting patients to keep taking it. Studies show that a sizable percentage of schizophrenics will stop their medication within the first year of treatment, either because…
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1. Obtain an Accurate Diagnosis for Ataxia Medical treatment of ataxia varies widely according to the causes of this neurological condition. There is no set protocol for dealing with the symptoms of ataxia, which include poor muscle coordination in the…
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1. Avoid a Lifelong Issue Hepatitis B assumes two forms, acute and chronic. Many cases start as acute, but they can turn into chronic cases if your liver sustains extensive damage. Acute cases can be dormant in your body for…
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1. Use a Mirror The easiest way to spot high arches is to examine your feet in a mirror. Since it is quite difficult to see your feet from the side, a mirror can help you better gauge the deepness…
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1. Get Moving to Stay Alert If you’re dealing with sleep deprivation, you’ll want to take steps to stay perky and alert. Getting the blood flowing is typically a good first step. Stand up, go for a brisk walk and…
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1. Enter Physical Therapy A physical-therapy program can improve the mobility of Friedreich’s ataxia patients and help them learn to manage everyday tasks, like getting around in their homes and going to school or work. Friedreich’s ataxia is a genetic…
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1. Get the Right Information You can’t definitively diagnose or treat yourself for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) all alone. You’ll need correct testing and accurate analysis. You’ll need prescriptions that address your personal needs and additional heath issues. You…
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1. Eat on a Regular Schedule If you show any outward symptoms of Gilbert’s disease, you can make them worse if you skip meals or become dehydrated. This hereditary liver condition, also referred to as Gilbert syndrome, causes your bilirubin…
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1. Recognize Hydrocephalus in Newborns Hydrocephalus occurs in two to three out of every 1,000 live births. In most cases, it’s congenital, meaning it has no known cause but is present at birth. A smaller number of cases are genetic…
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1. Seek Immediate Medical Attention If you spot any of the most common symptoms of sepsis, a life-threatening bacterial infection, you should seek immediate medical attention. These symptoms include, fever, delirium and confusion, chills, warm skin, hypothermia (loss of body…
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