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The pericardium is a membrane, or sac, that surrounds your heart. It holds the heart in place and helps it work properly. Problems ... inflammation of the sac. It can be from a virus or other infection, a heart attack, heart ...
Platelets, also known as thrombocytes, are blood cells. They form in your bone marrow, a sponge-like tissue in your bones. Platelets play a major role in blood clotting. Normally, when one ...
Taking home a new baby is one of the happiest times in a woman's life. But it also presents both physical and emotional challenges. : Get as much rest as possible. You may find that ...
... check your health. The prenatal test may use a sample of your blood, urine or fluid from ... your pregnancy, your provider may recommend additional tests as well. Some tests are suggested for all women, ...
Puberty is the time in life when a boy or girl becomes sexually mature. It is a process that usually happens between ages 8 and 13 for girls and ages 9 ... in the pubic area and armpits. Menstruation (or a period) usually happens last. In boys: Puberty usually ...
... than anywhere else except home. Schools can have a major effect on children's health. Schools can teach ... promote healthy behaviors. Physical education classes give children a chance to get exercise. Schools work to: Prevent ...
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that comes and goes with the seasons. It usually starts in the late fall and early winter and ... in the spring or summer, but that is a lot less common. Symptoms of SAD may include: ...
... it is more common in people who : Spend a lot of time in the sun or have ... Have light-colored skin, hair and eyes Have a family member with skin cancer Are over age ...
... your skin. Your skin gets its color from a pigment called melanin. Special cells in the skin ... little melanin, your skin gets lighter. Vitiligo is a condition that causes patches of light skin. Albinism ...
... fat, and blood vessels. Soft tissue sarcoma is a cancer of these soft tissues. There are many ... of tissue they started in. They may cause a lump or swelling in the soft tissue. Sometimes ...
Your throat is a tube that carries food to your esophagus and air to your windpipe and larynx (also called the voice box). ... for the throat is pharynx. You can have a sore throat for many reasons. Often, colds and ...
... in people older than 50. Younger people with a spine injury or a narrow spinal canal are also at risk. Diseases such as arthritis and scoliosis can cause spinal stenosis, too. ...
... But there's another type of steroid - sometimes called a corticosteroid - that treats a variety of problems. These steroids are similar to ... corticosteroids to treat: Arthritis Asthma Autoimmune diseases such as lupus and multiple sclerosis Skin conditions such as ...
... on to the small intestine. Most people have a problem with their stomach at one time or ... over-the-counter medicines and lifestyle changes, such as avoiding fatty foods or eating more slowly. Other ...
Syringomyelia is a rare disorder that causes a cyst to form in your spinal cord. This cyst, called a syrinx, gets bigger and longer over time, destroying part of the spinal ...
As a teenager, you go through many physical, mental, emotional, and social changes. The biggest change is puberty, the ... girls and ages 12 and 16 for boys. As your body changes, you may have questions about ...
Throat cancer is a type of head and neck cancer. Throat cancer has different names, depending on which part of the throat is ... other risk factors. For example, having HPV is a risk factor for oropharyngeal cancer. Symptoms of throat ...
The thymus is a small organ in your upper chest, under your breastbone. Before birth and during childhood, the thymus helps the body make a type of white blood cell. These cells help ...
What are triglycerides? Triglycerides are a type of fat. They are the most common type of fat in your body. They come from foods, especially butter, oils, ...
A urinalysis is a test of your urine. It is often done to check for a urinary tract infection, kidney problems, or diabetes. You ...