When shoes begin to rub the ankle bone, it can feel uncomfortable and even painful. According to KidsHealth.org, blisters, corns or calluses can form on the feet or ankle bone from friction. This can especially happen when breaking in a new pair of shoes or if the same area keeps being rubbed on your foot every day.

A complete cholesterol test is a collection of blood tests that determine the levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (a type of fat) in your blood. HDL cholesterol is defined as "good" while LDL is considered "bad." Separate blood tests are required to gauge each type of cholesterol.

The iliac artery is a major artery found in both legs, branching off the aorta in the lower abdomen to serve as the major blood supply to the pelvis and each leg. In turn, each of the iliac arteries branch off into smaller arteries that serve the entire lower extremities.

Throughout the majority of history, women and couples had to count solely on prayer and luck for family planning. Some couples who desired children were not able to have them. Other couples have desired fewer children or pregnancies that were spaced farther apart, but had trouble accomplishing this goal.

A strained quad can be as minor an injury as a microtear in the fibers of the thigh muscles or as major as a total rupture of the muscles. The speed of your recovery depends on the severity of your injury, so if you have done serious damage to your quadriceps, expect your healing process to take some time.

Having an infant or toddler who wakes up with a fever can be scary. A fever typically occurs when your child’s body is fighting an infection. A child’s fever usually gets better within a few days, according to MayoClinic.com.

Red blood cells carry oxygen to all cells in your body. Hemoglobin -- a protein found in red blood cells -- binds to oxygen molecules and delivers oxygen to tissues and cells via your circulatory system. When hemoglobin levels fall below normal levels, your body won't function optimally.

Hormonal birth control has been available to American women since the early 1960s with the introduction of "the pill." Since then, birth control via hormones can also be accomplished with injections, patches, implants and rings, although pills remain the most popular method and the most studied.

The recovery after vasectomy is usually quick, and most men experience few side effects after the procedure. On occasion, some men may notice a lump in one or both testicles after a vasectomy. Some causes for testicular lumps after vasectomy include sperm granulomas, hematomas and inflammation.

The traditional Chinese diet, featuring low or moderate amounts of animal-based protein and plenty of plant-based foods, is one among many traditional diet styles that has received praise for its disease-fighting abilities.

Peppermint oil is extracted from the stem, leaves and flowers of the peppermint plant. It is often used as a flavoring in toothpaste and mouthwash, but is also used in the alternative medical world, as well.

The Dead Sea is unique due to its high concentrations of salts and minerals. It is particularly rich in magnesium, sodium, potassium and calcium. Use of Dead Sea mud has been studied in connection with health benefits and healing properties for physical ailments.