Brain Stimulation Therapies

Brain stimulation therapies involve activating or touching the brain directly with electricity, magnets, or implants to treat depression and other disorders. Electroconvulsive therapy is the most researched stimulation therapy and has the longest history of use. Other stimulation therapies discussed here — vagus nerve stimulation, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, magnetic seizure therapy, and deep brain stimulation—are newer, more experimental methods.

Cervical Cancer: The Preventable Gynecologic Cancer

Most cases of cervical cancer are easily preventable with regular screening tests and follow-up. It also is highly curable when found and treated early. Now vaccines are available to protect against the most common cause of cervical cancer.

Living with a Congenital Heart Defect

As medical care and treatment have advanced, infants and children with a congenital heart defect are living longer and healthier lives. Many now are living into adulthood.

All adults living with a heart defect and parents of children with a heart defect should talk with a heart doctor (cardiologist) regularly throughout their lives about treatments, medicines, and the ongoing and long-term care for their specific condition. This is important to make the best possible choices for their health or the health of their child. If they don’t understand a medical term or concept, they should ask their health care provider to explain. They also should take notes and ask questions during visits to the doctor.

Nasal corticosteroid sprays

A nasal corticosteroid spray is a treatment prescribed by your doctor. The medicine in the spray is placed directly in the nose to help reduce symptoms and make breathing through the nose easier.

How Nasal Corticosteroids Help You

Nasal corticosteroid sprays help to reduce swelling and mucus in the nasal passageway and relieve other bothersome nasal symptoms. The sprays work well:

Put Your Medicines Up and Away and Out of Sight

More than 60,000 young children end up in emergency rooms each year because they got into medicines while their caregiver wasn't looking. Always put every medicine and vitamin up and away every time you use it.

Families take medications and vitamins to feel well and to stay well. But did you know that more than 60,000 young children end up in emergency rooms every year because they get into medicines when their parent or caregiver isn't looking?

Some Fats Are Healthier Than Others

With the winter holidays upon us, you’ll likely be surrounded by family, friends and plenty of good food. Many of these foods, though, can be high in fat. Learn which fats are naughty and which are nice to your health. Then you can make smarter food choices.

Liver Biopsy

A liver biopsy is a procedure to remove a small piece of the liver so it can be examined with a microscope for signs of damage or disease. The three main types of liver biopsy are percutaneous, transvenous, and laparoscopic.

How Do You Know If Your Child Has ADHD?

Is your child in constant motion? Does he or she talk incessantly? Or have trouble focusing and prefer to daydream?

Then your child may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD.

This childhood disorder often begins between the ages of 3 and 6 years, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). And it may continue through the teenage years and into adulthood.

Managing Diabetes During the Holidays

Having diabetes shouldn't stop you from enjoying holiday celebrations and travel. With some planning and a little work, you can stay healthy on the road and at holiday gatherings with friends and family.

The most important step in managing diabetes during holiday travel and festivities is preparing. Know what you'll be eating, how to enjoy a few traditional favorites while sticking with a healthy meal plan, and how to pack necessary supplies for a trip, and you're all set to celebrate!

Whooping Cough: Diagnosis and Treatment

Pertussis (whooping cough) can be diagnosed by taking into consideration if you have been exposed to pertussis and by doing a:

·         History of typical signs & symptoms

·         Physical examination

·         Laboratory test which involves taking a sample of secretions (with a swab or syringe filled with saline) from the back of the throat through the nose.

·         Blood test