Exercises to do throughout the lifespan for falls prevention
Falls are a major risk to older adults. More than a quarter of people 65 and older fall each year.
Shelley Flannery
Experienced writer and content marketer specializing in health and wellness, higher education and nonprofit
Could your child’s cough mean something more?
Kids cough — it’s a common part of childhood. Most of the time, coughing is caused by a cold or the flu, allergies or other typical upper respiratory infections. Often, it’s nothing that can’t be treated at home with rest, hydration and time. But what if your child’s cough lingers or frequently returns? What if they’ve already been checked for pneumonia, bronchitis or bacterial infection and the cough just won’t go away?
Domestic Violence in the Transgender Community
Domestic violence affects individuals of all gender identities, with transgender people facing particularly high risks. More than half, or 54 percent, of transgender and non-binary individuals have experienced intimate partner violence (IPV) in their lifetimes, according to the Human Rights Campaign. That’s significantly higher than the general population, in which 41 percent of women and 26 percent of men have encountered suc...
Will my baby grow out of hip dysplasia?
Hip dysplasia is one of those concerning terms that many people don’t hear until they have a newborn. If your pediatrician has mentioned it, you’re probably wondering what it is and how it will affect your baby’s growth and development.
Hip dysplasia is an umbrella diagnosis that simply means there is instability in the hip joint(s). It is most often present at birth; however, it can develop in the first few weeks of life for unknown reasons. It is generally not painful in newborns. Severity ra...
Hip dysplasia is an umbrella diagnosis that simply means there is instability in the hip joint(s). It is most often present at birth; however, it can develop in the first few weeks of life for unknown reasons. It is generally not painful in newborns. Severity ra...
Can pancreatic cancer be diagnosed early?
Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to diagnose early, as widespread screening isn’t available and symptoms often remain silent until the cancer has already progressed.
“The classic presentation of a patient with pancreatic cancer is that of jaundice — yellowing of the skin and eyes — without abdominal pain,” said Dr. Marcus C. Tan, a surgical oncologist at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. “There may be other symptoms as well, but these are non-specific, such as weight loss, loss of appe...
“The classic presentation of a patient with pancreatic cancer is that of jaundice — yellowing of the skin and eyes — without abdominal pain,” said Dr. Marcus C. Tan, a surgical oncologist at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. “There may be other symptoms as well, but these are non-specific, such as weight loss, loss of appe...
What Most People Get Wrong About Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia can be a commonly misunderstood illness, in part due to a great deal of misinformation, which can lead to potentially damaging stigma for the estimated 2.4 million adults in the United States living with it. On top of that, the stigma associated with schizophrenia creates barriers for those yet to be diagnosed as well as for the caregivers of those living with the disorder.We sat down with mental-illness expert Erinn King, PA-C, a Seattle-based physician assistant, to discuss some...
Decoding your baby’s birthmark
You can’t take your eyes off your new baby, inspecting every inch of their little body, from head to adorable toes. In doing so, you may have noticed a birthmark — an area of skin that looks different from the rest.
Fortunately, birthmarks are rarely cause for concern.
Fortunately, birthmarks are rarely cause for concern.
How U Visas Can Help Immigrant Victims of Domestic Abuse
Many survivors of domestic violence hesitate to report their abusers because of embarrassment, financial concerns and a fear of retribution. For undocumented immigrants in the U.S., another threat looms even larger.
“The main reason that immigrant survivors of domestic violence don’t come forward is the fear of deportation,” says Andrea Cárcamo, a former policy analyst and legislative liaison at Casa de Esperanza, a national...
“The main reason that immigrant survivors of domestic violence don’t come forward is the fear of deportation,” says Andrea Cárcamo, a former policy analyst and legislative liaison at Casa de Esperanza, a national...
Understanding Treatment Options This World Mental Health Day
October 10th marks World Mental Health Day, a global movement that provides the opportunity to raise awareness for mental health issues and support individuals managing complex mental health conditions. This observance also aims to reduce the stigma surrounding the many mental health disorders that affect people worldwide and provide hope for those impacted by these conditions.
Inspiring Audiences Everywhere: Zach Sobiech’s Story
At first, Zach didn’t intend to share his story with anyone but his family and friends. When he learned three years into his fight that his osteosarcoma was terminal, his mom, Laura, suggested the 17-year-old write letters to his loved ones to say goodbye.
“One thing we really learned about dying is it’s so awkward for everybody, especially for the young,” Laura says. “There’s just no right time to say the big things without feeling like you’re imposing on the other person.”
“One thing we really learned about dying is it’s so awkward for everybody, especially for the young,” Laura says. “There’s just no right time to say the big things without feeling like you’re imposing on the other person.”
6 tips for staying well during fall break
Fall break is the perfect time to get away before the craziness of the holiday season begins. Unfortunately, it’s also when families tend to pick up a cold, the flu and COVID-19.
What This Mental-Health Expert Wants You To Know About Bipolar I Treatment
For the 4.8 million Americans living with bipolar I disorder, developing a long-term treatment plan is essential. Long-term treatment, or what’s often called “maintenance,” is how people diagnosed with the condition can help reduce the chance of the highs and lows of the mood disorder.
I'm Scared of My Husband. Is It Abuse?
If you’ve ever said (or thought), “I am scared of my husband,” there’s a good chance what you’re experiencing is abuse.
“Of course, it’s a bit more complicated than a simple yes-or-no question,” says social worker and psychotherapist Heather Howe. “But I would say that, in a majority of cases, if you’re afraid of your partner, there’s a very high chance that you’re being abused.”
“Of course, it’s a bit more complicated than a simple yes-or-no question,” says social worker and psychotherapist Heather Howe. “But I would say that, in a majority of cases, if you’re afraid of your partner, there’s a very high chance that you’re being abused.”
Inspiring Audiences Everywhere: Joel Soukup
There was very little on osteosarcoma in the media when Joel Soukup was diagnosed as a 16-year-old in 2003 — and even less on limb amputation. When he got the news that he would need to have his right leg, hip, and pelvis amputated, the only information he had to go on was a pamphlet from Mayo Clinic with black-and-white anatomical diagrams comparing before amputation and after.
Osteosarcoma Stories: Amazing Grace
In 2021, just as schools were reopening after the COVID-19 pandemic, 12-year-old Grace Messinger was still a remote learner due to her asthma, but that didn’t keep her from taking part in her regular classes.
One day, as Grace was holding a plank exercise during a remote physical education class, she felt something snap in her left shoulder. Believing it was a minor sprain from months of inactivity, Grace and her mom, Carrie, iced it and watched for bruising or swelling. When the pain still hadn...
One day, as Grace was holding a plank exercise during a remote physical education class, she felt something snap in her left shoulder. Believing it was a minor sprain from months of inactivity, Grace and her mom, Carrie, iced it and watched for bruising or swelling. When the pain still hadn...
What Women Need To Know About Schizophrenia
Few movies and TV shows accurately depict schizophrenia, and even fewer feature women with the condition—which undoubtedly plays a role in the misconception that schizophrenia only occurs in men. The truth is that rates of the condition are pretty evenly split between men and women. Schizophrenia affects up to an estimated 2.4 million adults in the United States, yet remains widely misunderstood by the general public and insufficiently treated.So why is schizophrenia seen by some people as a men...
Tragedy and Triumph
Jill MacDonald has defied the odds in many ways — for better and worse. At 42 she developed osteosarcoma, a bone cancer that most commonly affects children and young adults. Her osteosarcoma diagnosis came within two weeks of her husband learning he had stage 4 colon cancer.
How to Raise Money for Cancer Research: 7 Fundraising Ideas
Families and friends affected by osteosarcoma share creative fundraising event ideas they have used to fund breakthrough science on the disease and to create broader awareness of the need for a cure.
Innovation Making an Impact
When people ask neurologist Saunder Bernes, MD, who has worked at Phoenix Children’s for 37 years, when he’s going to retire, he says he doesn’t know. After all, it’s too exciting a time in medicine.
“To be able to offer a family treatment, if not a cure, for diseases we never thought we’d be able to, is the reason I continue to work,” Dr. Bernes says.
“To be able to offer a family treatment, if not a cure, for diseases we never thought we’d be able to, is the reason I continue to work,” Dr. Bernes says.
Soothing Summer Scrapes: Walk-In Clinic or Treat at Home?
Popsicles, picnics and sunshine are sure signs summer is here. Unfortunately, so are stings, scrapes and bug bites. The good news is that most summer ailments can be treated at home. And when in doubt, there’s always the walk-in clinic.
Can States Protect Kids from Reunification Camps?
In case you missed it, this past February we covered the horrors of family reunification camps, for-profit programs purportedly designed to help parents reestablish a relationship with the children they’ve been “alienated” from by the other parent, usually through divorce. One such camp, Building Family Bridges, markets itself as an “innovative four-day workshop” that “helps children reunify with a parent they claim to hate or fear.”
The low-down on high-risk pregnancy birth plans
When it comes to delivering a baby, having a birth plan in place is key. But if your pregnancy is high-risk, you may be wondering what options you’ll have when planning your delivery. Is it even worth filling out a birth plan?
When your child should see a GI about vomiting
It’s a fact of life that no one prepares parents for: Kids vomit. Often at the most inopportune times. But when is kids’ vomiting harmless and when could it signal something more?
The good news is that the vast majority of vomiting in kids is nothing to worry about. It’s most frequently caused by gastroenteritis, a stomach infection often referred to as the stomach flu even though it has no connection to influen
The good news is that the vast majority of vomiting in kids is nothing to worry about. It’s most frequently caused by gastroenteritis, a stomach infection often referred to as the stomach flu even though it has no connection to influen
What can cause a high-risk pregnancy?
Most pregnancies are mostly smooth sailing, or what medical professionals refer to as “low-risk.” But nearly everyone knows a mom who’s had a high-risk pregnancy, so you may be wondering what the chances are that yours will be too.
It’s difficult to estimate exactly what percentage of pregnancies are high-risk, considering that a standardized definition of a “high-risk pregna
It’s difficult to estimate exactly what percentage of pregnancies are high-risk, considering that a standardized definition of a “high-risk pregna
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