Children of all ages are exposed to ideas about thinness by parents, peers, and other sources. Starting in grade school, children may become more aware of body image as they compare themselves to others. Adolescents often become extremely concerned about their bodies and their weight. This is understandable since...
Inner strength is the ability to cope with the stressful situations in life. This is often called "resilience." Building inner strength begins with simple actions or thoughts that your child practices, such as planning for what to do next and learning to accept change. Inner strength can help a child face problems...
Self-esteem is a person's core belief about themself. A person's self-esteem is reflected in their actions, both in how as well as what they do. Although self-esteem varies from time to time, the pattern usually leans toward a healthy or unhealthy view of self. With healthy self-esteem, a person is more likely to...
Learn how to help your child deal with asthma and asthma treatments.
Learn tips for helping your child manage their emotional reactions.
Here's help understanding how your child's treatment plan can help manage and prevent seizures.
Learn how to help your child if they go through a traumatic event.
Most adolescents make the adjustment to middle school or junior high in a matter of weeks. But others may take longer to adjust. They may feel sick, refuse to leave the house, or have nightmares and unreasonable fears. You can help your child deal with this adjustment and anticipate other situations that may come up...
Learn how to help your child use a metered-dose inhaler with a mask spacer.
Learn how your child should use an inhaler with a spacer.
Learn how your child should use a metered-dose inhaler without a spacer.
How do you know if your child is overweight? Doctors use the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts or the body mass index (BMI) to measure a child's weight compared to their height. If you are concerned that your child is—or could become—overweight, talk about this with your child's doctor. The...
There are lots of ways you can help your newborn learn and communicate. Learn your newborn's cues. You can recognize when your baby is most alert and receptive. Newborn communication can be subtle. Look for signs—such as bright eyes and wiggling arms and legs—that your baby is happy and eager to interact. Pay attention...
As a parent, you are the ideal teacher to help your child learn about sex. Talking openly about sexuality helps your child understand their feelings, and it can help them have a positive attitude toward a natural process. It's best to keep your explanations honest and simple. A 6-year-old child won't need the details...
Most parents are nervous about their teenager driving a car. As a parent, you are right in your concern. Many teens learn to drive by taking driver's education classes. While teens are learning to drive, they need to get as much experience as possible with another adult in the car. If you are unable to help your teen...
Learn how to support your teen after a traumatic event.
Hematocrit is a measure of how much space (volume) the red blood cells take up in the blood. A hematocrit check is often used to test for anemia, which is a decrease in the amount of oxygen-carrying substance (hemoglobin) found in red blood cells. The hematocrit value may be given as a percentage of red blood cells in a...
Hematologists are medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the blood and blood system, such as anemia, blood-clotting disorders, and leukemia. Hematologists may also order blood transfusions, diagnose blood disorders, and perform procedures such as bone marrow aspiration and biopsy...
Heme iron polypeptide is a type of iron. You normally get iron from the foods you eat. In your body, iron becomes a part of your hemoglobin (HEEM o glo bin) and myoglobin (MY o glo bin). Hemoglobin carries oxygen through your blood to tissues and organs. Myoglobin helps your muscle cells store oxygen. Heme iron...
Hemin is made of red blood cells processed from human blood. Hemin works by lowering the production of a certain enzyme in the body. Hemin is used to treat the symptoms of occasional attacks of porphyria related to the menstrual cycle in women. Hemin helps control symptoms such as pain, increased heart rate or blood...
What is hemochromatosis? Hemochromatosis happens when too much iron builds up in the body. Your body needs iron to make hemoglobin, the part of your blood that carries oxygen to all of your cells. But when there is too much iron, it can damage the liver and heart and lead to other diseases, such as diabetes and...
Hemochromatosis is a condition that occurs when too much iron builds up in the body. Small amounts of iron are normally stored in the liver and heart, but excess iron will eventually damage these organs. There are two types of hemochromatosis: Hereditary (genetic) hemochromatosis. The most common form of hemochromatosis...
Hemochromatosis gene (HFE) testing is a blood test used to check for hereditary hemochromatosis, an inherited disorder that causes the body to absorb too much iron. The iron then builds up in the blood, liver, heart, pancreas, joints, skin, and other organs. In its early stages, hemochromatosis can cause joint and belly...
Discusses screening test for hereditary hemochromatosis, a genetic disorder that causes the body to absorb too much iron. Covers symptoms of hereditary hemochromatosis. Discusses who should be screened and offers reasons not to be screened.
Discusses process of hemodialysis when chronic kidney disease and acute kidney injury cause kidneys to lose ability to remove waste and extra fluid. Covers fistulas and grafts. Looks at what to expect after treatment. Discusses peritoneal dialysis.
Dialysis is a mechanical process that performs the work of healthy kidneys. Hemodialysis uses a human-made membrane (dialyzer) to remove wastes and extra fluid from the blood. It also restores the proper balance of certain minerals in the blood (electrolytes). The fluid used to filter or clean the blood is called...
Dialysis is a mechanical process that partly does the work that healthy kidneys would do. Hemodialysis uses a man-made membrane (dialyzer) to filter wastes, remove extra fluid from the blood, restore the proper balance of chemicals in the blood, and eliminate extra fluid (edema) from the body. Before hemodialysis...
Learn how timing affects what type of vascular access you can get before you start dialysis.
Hemoglobin is the substance in red blood cells that carries oxygen. Oxygen from the lungs binds to hemoglobin molecules and is carried through blood vessels to the rest of the body.
Hemoglobin is the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body. It also helps carry carbon dioxide back to the lungs, where it can be breathed out of the body. Abnormally low levels of hemoglobin result in anemia.
