Sound waves enter the ear through the ear canal. Then they strike the eardrum. The eardrum is what separates the ear canal from the middle ear. The sound waves make the eardrum vibrate. The vibrations move to the bones of the middle ear. This boosts the sound and sends it to the inner ear. The inner ear is a...
Your heart is divided into two separate pumping systems, the right side and the left side. The right side of your heart receives oxygen-poor blood from your veins and pumps it to your lungs, where it picks up oxygen and gets rid of carbon dioxide. The left side of your heart receives oxygen-rich blood from your lungs...
The kidneys are two bean-shaped organs located on either side of the spine, just below the ribs. The kidneys filter wastes from the blood and help balance water, salt, and mineral levels in the blood. To do this, blood from the body enters the kidney. Inside the kidney, blood is filtered and waste is removed. Salt...
A compression wrap is used to prevent swelling, which can help your ankle feel better. It does not support the ankle or prevent it from moving. This means that it does not protect your ankle, but it can remind you to be careful with your ankle. Before you start: Roll up an elastic bandage if it isn't already rolled up...
Learn practical tips for building well-being.
Learn some tried-and-true ways to comfort a crying baby.
Learn how to check your heart rate with these simple steps.
To keep the eye clean: Wipe away the drainage from around the eye. Moisten a clean cotton ball or washcloth with warm (not hot) water, and gently wipe from the inner (near the nose) to the outer part of the eye. With each wipe, use a new or clean part of the cotton ball or washcloth. Keep a supply of clean cotton balls...
Cleaning and drying the skin carefully can help prevent rashes and infections. To wash under skin folds: Use one hand to lift and flatten the skin fold. Gently clean the area with a washcloth, and then dry.
Wedge a small piece of wet cotton under the corner of the nail to cushion the nail. This will also help lift the nail slightly off of the skin.
To do this type of breast exam, check the entire breast area by moving your fingers in circles around the breast. Start at the outer edge of the breast and make smaller and smaller circles around the breast until you reach the nipple. As you circle around the breast area, move your fingers in small, coin-sized circles...
To do this type of breast exam, check the entire breast area by using an up-and-down pattern. Start at one edge of the breast area and move your fingers up and down to the edges of your breast and across the entire breast area. As you move across the breast area, move your fingers in small, coin-sized circles using...
Stretch the muscles in the back of your thighs with this seated hamstring stretch.
Help prevent blood clots with ankle pumps. They're easy, and really important.
Stretch the muscles in the back of your lower leg with this seated calf stretch.
Chair push-ups can strengthen your arm muscles.
Learn how to do curl-ups to strengthen your core.
Learn how to do glute sets to strengthen the muscles in your butt that help rotate and extend your legs.
Picturing a calm and peaceful place can help you feel more relaxed. Here's how.
Heel raises strengthen your lower leg muscles, which help support your knees, ankles, and feet.
Heel slides strengthen the muscles that bend your hip and your knee.
Learn what mindfulness meditation is, and try a short meditation.
Learn what mindfulness meditation is, and try a short meditation.
Learn how to do progressive muscle relaxation to help calm your body and mind.
Quad sets can strengthen your quad muscles—the muscles in the front of your thigh that help straighten your knee.
Strengthen the thigh muscles that help support your knee by doing short-arc (terminal) knee extension exercises.
Riding a stationary bike is great for increasing the strength and mobility of your knees and legs.
Strengthen your glutes, quadriceps, and hamstrings with step-up and step-down exercises.
Straight-leg raises strengthen the muscles in the front of your thighs and your hips.
Learn how to do the bird dog exercise to increase strength and stability in your shoulder, core, and hips.
