Text messaging has become a preferred method of communication for a large number of Americans, particularly teens and young adults. According to market research performed by the Nielsen Company in 2010, the average teenager sends more than 3,000 texts per month! Amazingly, this number appears to be on the rise, especially among teenagers age 13…...

Earlier this month, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) published their most recent recommendations regarding screening for depression in adolescents (aged 12 to 18 years). This recommendation seems particularly timely in view of reports of "clusters" of teen suicide recently reported in California and other locations in the U.S. The USPSTF is an…...

The common cold is a viral infection of the upper respiratory system. On average, children have six to eight colds per year, and adults have two to four. The common cold places a heavy burden on society, accounting for approximately 40% of time taken off work and millions of days of school missed by children…...

Coughing helps to clear the respiratory system of irritants and secretions associated with a cold or flu. With most minor respiratory infections it is best not to interfere with this mechanism. When someone is unable to rest because of the cough or needs "help" in clearing secretions, they often consider taking an over-the-counter cough medicine. Two…...

There is a wealth of medical mythology attached to sneezing. One legend has it that when sneezing, the heart stops beating and the phrase "bless you" is meant to encourage the heart to resume beating. Other sources say that offering a blessing after sneezing came in the 14th century during the bubonic plague epidemic. At…...

Guidelines published by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend that adults ages 50-75 who are at average risk for the development of colon cancer can reasonably be screened by one of three methods: 1) fecal occult blood testing, 2) sigmoidoscopy, or 3) colonoscopy. Fecal occult blood testing involves the use of "cards" onto which…...

Rather than considering the amount of protection that they afford, new sunglasses are often selected for their frames, the size of the lenses, or for a particular coating on the lenses. It is important to remember, however, that the most important job for sunglasses is to prevent damage to the eyes from the sun's harmful…...

X-rays done during dental visits have seemingly become a routine part of the examination. But did you know that the American Dental Association (ADA) in conjunction with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has developed guidelines for when and why they should be performed? Why perform x-rays of teeth? Dental x-rays can provide valuable…...