Using a Home Test Kit for Protein in Urine

Your doctor may have you check the amount of protein in your urine at home. Increased protein might be a sign that your kidneys are being damaged. You can buy a simple test kit with urine testing strips at most pharmacies and drugstores. To test your urine each day, dip a urine testing strip into a fresh sample of your...

Using a metered-dose inhaler with a spacer (adult)

Shake the inhaler and remove its cap: Step 1 Shake the inhaler and remove the inhaler cap. Check the inhaler instructions to see if you need to prime your inhaler before you use it. If it needs priming, follow the instructions on how to do it. Place the mouthpiece into the spacer: Step 2 Place the mouthpiece of the...

Using a Paper Bag to Control Hyperventilation

Try these steps to control hyperventilation Take 6 to 12 easy, natural breaths, with a small paper bag held over your mouth and nose. Then remove the bag from your nose and mouth and take easy, natural breaths. Next, try belly-breathing (diaphragmatic breathing). Alternate these techniques until your hyperventilation...

Using a Walker

Learn how to use your walker correctly so you can stay stable and safe.

Using a Walker

Using a walker can help you move with less pain and more stability. A walker can help you be more independent and safe as you do your daily activities. Be sure your walker fits you. When you stand up in your normal posture and relax your arms at your sides, the walker's hand grips should be level with your wrists. Then...

Using Antibiotics Wisely

Antibiotics are drugs used to kill bacteria. Bacteria can cause infections such as strep throat, ear infections, and pneumonia. These medicines can't cure everything. They don't kill viruses or help with allergies. And they don't help illnesses such as the common cold, the flu, or a runny nose. Antibiotics are generally...

Using Cold and Heat Therapies

Cold and heat therapies are treatments that use cold or heat to help with pain, soreness, muscle spasms, swelling, and inflammation. There are different ways you can do cold and heat therapies. For example, you might use an ice pack for cold therapy or an electric heating pad for heat therapy. Most people like to use...

Using Crutches

Crutches can help you walk when you have an injured hip, leg, knee, ankle, or foot. Your doctor will tell you how much weight—if any—you can put on your leg. Be sure your crutches fit you. When you stand up in your normal posture, there should be space for two or three fingers between the top of the crutch and your...

Using Crutches

Learn how using crutches the right way will help you stay stable and safe while you heal.

Using Eye Ointment

If you are using both eyedrops and eye ointment, put the eyedrops in at least 10 minutes before the ointment. If you have an eye infection, don't wear contact lenses while you are using the ointment, unless your doctor has told you it's okay. Using a mirror may make it easier to see what you are doing. Here are the...

Using Ice and Cold Packs

Ice and cold packs can relieve pain, swelling, and inflammation from injuries and other conditions, such as arthritis. Types of ice and cold packs Ice towel. Wet a towel with cold water and squeeze it until it is just damp. Fold the towel, place it in a plastic bag, and freeze it for 15 minutes. Remove the towel from...

Using Low-Vision Aids at Home

Vision aids can help you in many of your daily activities. Here are lists of vision aids used in different areas. Which ones might help you? Cooking Vision aids for cooking include: Large-print, ringing, or talking cooking timer. Large-print or marked control dials for stove, oven, and other kitchen appliances. Raised...

Using Nitroglycerin for Angina

Discusses using nitroglycerin to treat angina. Covers how to take quick-acting nitroglycerin. Provides info on side effects and interactions with other drugs. Covers how to store nitroglycerin. Includes info on when to call for emergency help.

Using Tape to Remove Warts

Tape occlusion is a low-cost method of wart removal that involves covering the wart with a small piece of duct tape. It is often called the "duct tape" method. Cut a piece of duct tape as close to the size of the wart as possible. You can place a bandage over the tape to help it stay on. Leave the tape in place for 6...

Using Vaporizers and Humidifiers

Humidifiers and vaporizers add moisture to the air, making it less drying to your mouth, throat, and nose. A humidifier blows cool to lukewarm mist into the air, and a vaporizer puts out hot steam. A cool-mist humidifier is better for children. The mist from a humidifier may be more comfortable to breathe than hot...

Usnea

Botanical names: Usnea barbata How It Works Usnic acid gives usnea its bitter taste and also acts as an antibiotic in test tube studies. 2 Test tube studies have suggested an anti-cancer activity for usnic acid. However, this action has not been sufficient to warrant further investigation in humans. 3 Usnea also...

ustekinumab

Ustekinumab is used to treat plaque psoriasis in adults and children who are at least 6 years old. Ustekinumab is also used to treat psoriatic arthritis in adults, and is sometimes given with another medicine called methotrexate. Ustekinumab is also used in adults to treat moderately to severely active Crohn's...

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