Patient education: Blood in the urine (hematuria) in adults (The Basics) Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate Should I be worried if there is blood in my urine? — It can be scary to see blood in your urine. But try to stay calm. Blood in the urine is not usually serious. Still, it is important to see …
Chest Pain
Patient education: Chest pain (The Basics) Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate Should I call for an ambulance if I have chest pain? — You should call for an ambulance if the pain: ●Is new or severe ●Happens along with shortness of breath ●Lasts more than a few minutes ●Gets worse when you walk, climb stairs, or do …
Quitting Smoking
Patient education: Quitting smoking (The Basics) Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate What are the benefits of quitting smoking? — Quitting smoking can lower your chances of getting or dying from heart disease, lung disease, kidney failure, infection, or cancer. It can also lower your chances of getting osteoporosis, a condition that makes your bones weak. Plus, quitting …
Vitamin B12 and Folate Deficiency
Patient education: Vitamin B12 deficiency and folate (folic acid) deficiency (The Basics) Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate What are vitamin B12 deficiency and folic acid deficiency? — Vitamin B12 and folic acid (also called “folate” or “vitamin B9”) are 2 different vitamins that your body needs to work normally. A “deficiency” means that your body does not …
Jaundice in Babies
Patient education: Jaundice in babies (The Basics) Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate What is jaundice? — “Jaundice” is the word doctors use when a baby’s skin or white part of the eye turns yellow. Jaundice is common in newborn babies and can happen within days of a baby’s birth. Babies are usually checked for jaundice for a …
Nutrition Tips for Kids
Nutrition Tips for Kids HEALTHY EATING, Source: AAFP (American Academy of Family Physicians) Why is healthy eating important for my child? Many more children in the United States are being diagnosed with high cholesterol, or as overweight or obese. These conditions can cause many health problems for your child, such as diabetes and high blood pressure. These conditions can affect …
Asthma in Adults
Patient education: Asthma in adults (The Basics) Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate What is asthma? — Asthma is a condition that can make it hard to breathe. Asthma does not always cause symptoms. But when symptoms occur, they can be scary. Asthma attacks happen when the airways in the lungs become narrow and inflamed (figure 1). Asthma …
Seasonal Allergies in Adults
Patient education: Seasonal allergies in adults (The Basics) Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate What are seasonal allergies? — Seasonal allergies, also called “hay fever,” are a group of conditions that can cause sneezing, a stuffy nose, or a runny nose. Symptoms occur only at certain times of the year. Most seasonal allergies are caused by: ●Pollens from …
Flu Vaccine
Patient education: Flu vaccine (The Basics) Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate What is the flu vaccine? — The flu vaccine is a treatment that can keep you from getting sick with the flu. The flu is an infection that can cause fever, cough, body aches, and other symptoms. There are different forms of the flu, including the …
Acid Reflux in Babies
Patient information: Acid reflux (gastroesophageal reflux) in babies (The Basics) Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate What is acid reflux? — Acid reflux (also called “gastroesophageal reflux” or just “reflux”) is when the acid that is normally in the stomach backs up into the esophagus (figure 1). The esophagus is the tube that carries food from the mouth …