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…...

What is blood pressure? Blood pressure is the force of blood against the walls of arteries as it leaves the heart. Sufficient pressure is necessary within the circulatory system to move blood throughout the body. If blood pressure gets too high, however, a number of adverse health effects can develop. Why are two numbers given…...

Search the National Library of Medicine's database, PubMed, and you will find hundreds of studies that have examined coffee's impact on health. Not only does this research overwhelmingly suggest that moderate coffee consumption doesn't cause harm, it appears that drinking coffee may even offer some health benefits. Moderate coffee consumption, defined as three or four…...

What is radon and where does it come from? Radon gas is formed by the natural radioactive decay of uranium in rock, soil, and water. It is colorless, odorless, and tasteless. Unless you tested for it, you would have no idea of its presence or its amount. It is found in all 50 states, although…...