Healthcare Access, Patient Care, and Common Medical Procedures

Essential healthcare topics including medical procedure explanations, the pros and cons of universal care, and guidance on navigating health services for families.

Couple cooking in kitchen

How to Take Care of Your Own Health

To stay as healthy as possible, you have to be an active participant in your own care. You can help maintain health and wellness by following a few steps every day, and be aware of changes in how you feel. This responsibility is not only for adults, but teens as well.

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Smiling young pharmacist showing prescription medication to a customer

Clarithromycin Tablet Side Effects

Clarithromycin (Biaxin) is a prescription antibiotic that was first approved for use in the United States in 1993. Now, more than 3 million prescriptions are filled for the drug every year, according to a 2014 update from the National Library of Medicine, or NLM.

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How to Heal a Pulled Groin

A groin pull, or strain, refers to an overstretch or tear injury to one of the three adductor muscles that run down the inside of the thigh and work to pull the legs together.

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Blood Donors Making Donation In Hospital

Common Venipuncture Sites

Venipuncture is a procedure involving the puncture of a vein for the purposes of collecting blood or administering intravenous (IV) therapy and IV drugs. A phlebotomist or other health care provider will apply a tourniquet above the intended area of the venipuncture.

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pink dahlia

Homeopath Vs. Naturopath

Homeopathy and naturopathic medicine are unique, yet complementary health care modalities practiced by many lay and medically trained practitioners throughout the U.S. Both modalities share the tradition of searching for the root cause of illness to treat patients at a fundamental level, and are considered to be "

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Pros & Cons of Free Universal Health Care

Americans are becoming increasingly confused about universal health care and if it is even a plausible solution to a broken health care system. The number of Americans without insurance is over 45 million, according to the National Coalition on Health Care.

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mid age woman having headache

Long-Term Side Effects of Topiramate for Migraines

Topiramate (Topamax) is a medicine used to treat epilepsy and prevent migraines. It decreases overly active brain signaling and is used alone or combined with other antiepileptic medicines to treat seizures. Topiramate is also used to prevent migraine headaches.

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Contact lens

How to Remove Deposits From Contact Lenses

More than 32 million Americans wear contact lenses, according to the American Optometric Association, and at some point every one of them has had to learn to clean the lenses. Though "no-rub"

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Woman holding pregnancy test

Baby Movement in Obese Moms

One of the biggest thrills of pregnancy is feeling your baby move -- at least until the kicks start keeping you awake at night.

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Male doctor examining a male patient

How to Boost ATP Levels

Adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, is known as the main energy source for cells in the body and aids in various functions like muscle contraction and protein production. While there are no known ways to definitively increase the amount of ATP your body produces, there are supplements that may help boost levels of ATP.

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African boy opening gift

How to Apply for Christmas Help for Low Income Families

Planning for a happy Christmas for your family is challenging if you feel you lack the financial resources to celebrate properly with your children. The fact is that many not-for-profit agencies in cities and towns across the United States recognize this reality.

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Serious baseball player stretching

How to Stop My Sternum from Hurting When I Stretch

The sternum is a long, flat bone that attaches to the ribcage, and provides protection to a number of important internal organs -- including the heart and lungs. While the sternum is a relatively sturdy bone, it is at risk for the development of certain acute health conditions.

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Brittle Nails With Ridges

Your fingernails are affected by your health and aging, just like the rest of your body. While brittle nails with ridges may be unsightly, in most cases, those conditions usually do not indicate serious health problems.

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X-ray of hips

Relocating a Hip Joint

According to the old children’s song, the thigh bone is connected to the hip bone. However, genetics and traumatic events sometimes conspire to make that connection rather tenuous. Hip dislocation occurs when your thigh bone or femur slips out of your hip bone socket or acetabulum.

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Female doctor talking to young female nurse indoors

Why Are Statistics Important in the Health Care Field?

Quantitative research guides health care decision makers with statistics--numerical data collected from measurements or observation that describe the characteristics of specific population samples. Descriptive statistics summarize the utility, efficacy and costs of medical goods and services.

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doctor examining a woman's throat

Inflammation of the Uvula

The uvula hangs down in the back of the mouth and is the final portion of the soft palate. Although the function of this soft flap of skin is not fully understood, possible functions may include assisting with speech and the production of saliva.

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Drug

Side Effects of Not Taking Pills With Food

Medications can be harsh on an empty stomach depending on the medication and its strength. However, some medications need to be taken on an empty stomach to increase their absorption and effectiveness. It's important to speak with your pharmacist to determine the best way to take your medications.

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