Patient information: Acne (The Basics) Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate What is acne? — Acne is the medical term for pimples. Pimples happen when pores get clogged with dead skin and oil, and bacteria build up. Then the skin gets inflamed and can turn red or swell (picture 1). Picture 1. Is there anything I can do …
Varicose Veins and Other Vein Diseases
Patient information: Varicose veins and other vein disease in the legs (The Basics) Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate What is vein disease? — Vein disease is a condition that can affect the veins in the legs. It can cause leg pain, varicose veins, swollen legs, or open sores. Varicose veins are swollen and twisted veins. Vein disease …
Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia)
Patient information: Low blood sugar in people without diabetes (The Basics) Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate What is low blood sugar? — Low blood sugar is a condition that happens when the level of sugar in a person’s blood gets too low. Some symptoms of low blood sugar are mild, such as sweating or feeling hungry. Others …
Weight loss Surgery (Bariatric Surgery)
Patient information: Weight loss surgery (The Basics) Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate What is weight loss surgery? — Weight loss surgery, sometimes called “bariatric surgery,” is a surgery to help you lose weight. It works by making your stomach smaller. Some types of surgery also change the path food takes through your gut so that you take …
Breastfeeding
To all new mothers: Why Should I Breastfeed? Breast milk is the perfect food for your baby. Many health organizations—including the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the World Health Organization (WHO)—recommend that mothers breastfeed their newborn babies. What are the advantages of breastfeeding? Health benefits for baby: …
Vitamin D Deficiency in Babies and Children
Patient information: Vitamin D for babies and children (The Basics) Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate Why is vitamin D important for babies and children? — Babies and children need vitamin D to grow normally and develop healthy bones. What can happen if babies and children don’t get enough vitamin D? — Babies and children who don’t get …
Vitamin D Deficiency in Adults
Patient information: Vitamin D deficiency (The Basics) Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate What is a vitamin D deficiency? — vitamin D deficiency is when you do not have enough vitamin D in your body. This is a problem, because the body needs vitamin D to absorb calcium and for other important jobs. People who do not have …
Hepatitis C
Patient information: Hepatitis C (The Basics) Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate What is hepatitis C? — Hepatitis C is a disease that harms the liver. The liver is a big organ in the upper right side of the belly. A virus causes this disease. The virus is called the hepatitis C virus. It spreads from person to …
Hepatitis B
Patient information: Hepatitis B (The Basics) Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate What is hepatitis B? — Hepatitis B is a serious disease that harms the liver. The liver is a big organ in the upper right side of the belly. A virus causes this disease. The virus spreads from person to person when their bodily fluids touch. …
Hepatitis A
Patient information: Hepatitis A (The Basics) Written by the doctors and editors at UpToDate What is hepatitis A? — Hepatitis A is an infection that harms the liver. The liver is a big organ in the upper right side of the belly. Hepatitis A is caused by a virus. When people have hepatitis A, the virus leaves their body in …