Sooner or later, everybody gets a sore throat. Most result from a virus, such as a cold, flu or sinus infection, that invades the throat.
Air pollution, allergies, tobacco smoke and the dry air of wintertime heating can also bring on sore throats. Sustained shouting can also irritate the throat and cause soreness. Continue reading…
Health
What is the placenta and why is it important?
The placenta or “afterbirth” is a living organ whose function is critical to the growth, development and survival of the fetus. It both provides your baby with oxygen and nutrients as well as a mechanism for discarding waste products and carbon dioxide. Continue reading…
In short, there are no “false positives or negatives” for this test because it doesn’t give positive or negative results; it predicts a risk ratio such as 1 in 234 or 1 in 899 for the given condition. If you are told that your test was “abnormal” it only means that your risk calculated as greater than that for a 35 yr. old woman and would be a possible indication for an amniocentesis if you chose to have one. Continue reading…
Will I have an ultrasound during the pregnancy and can it tell me the sex?
The American College of Obstetrics lists 27 reasons for ultrasound examination (sonogram) in pregnancy. Many doctors will perform a vaginal ultrasound in the first trimester (12 weeks) to determine if the pregnancy is alive, when you are due, and how many fetuses there are. Little else can be determined at this point. Continue reading…
At this time, laser photocoagulation treatment is the only therapy of proven benefit for macular degeneration. This treatment is effective only for wet AMD; and among those with wet AMD, only a small fraction with a specific configuration of new blood vessels is eligible for laser therapy. There is no proven-effective therapy or preventative strategy for dry AMD. Continue reading…
The signs and symptoms of hyperthyroidism may be mild or severe depending on how high the thyroid hormone levels are in the blood. The symptoms result from the increased metabolism that occurs in various body organs. In most cases, there is no pain in the thyroid gland. So patients may not recognize that their symptoms are caused by the overactivity of this small gland in the lower part of the neck. In the case of Graves’ disease or an overactive nodular goiter, symptoms usually develop slowly over a number of months. The patient may not be aware of them until they are severe, unless a family member or friend notices that the person is having problems. With damage to the thyroid gland from thyroiditis, symptoms may develop more quickly over a few weeks or even days. Continue reading…
Vitamin O is worthless, says the Federal Trade Commission, the government agency that investigates false advertising claims. Continue reading…
By the time we reach adulthood we’ve probably all been stung a few times and have a good idea of what to expect. But to the uninitiated — such as children and others who haven’t been stung before — it’s important to watch for signs of a severe allergic reaction. If you see them, act! Continue reading…
How should I approach my son’s third-grade teacher to try to enlist her help in making math a more challenging subject for him?
Most gifted children figure out what we call the “basic skills” with very little effort. They often require only a limited amount of drill and practice, whereas many other children require more classroom time to review the basics before new concepts are introduced. Continue reading…
Some states or districts have adopted Food Pyramid Choice Menus (FPCM). According to the Oregon Department of Education, students in schools offering FPCM are given the daily opportunity to self-select lunches from a minimum of three entrees, six or more fruit and vegetable choices (including salad bar offerings), three bread/grain items (preferably one whole grain) and two types of low-fat milk. Continue reading…
