First Aid The “hug of life” is an appropriate name for the Heimlich maneuver. If someone can’t talk and grasps his or her throat, the person is probably choking, and you may be able to dislodge the object with the Heimlich maneuver. Here’s how: 1. Without delay, stand behind the person who’s choking. 2. Wrap […]
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Abdominal & Urinary Conditions Hemorrhoids are veins in or outside of the anus that may become dilated or swollen. Signs & Symptoms * Bright red blood on or in the stool, on toilet paper, or in the toilet. * Anal or rectal tenderness. Anal itching. * Uncomfortable, painful bowel movements, especially with straining. * A
First Aid Hyperventilation is breathing too deeply and faster than normal. This causes too much carbon dioxide to be exhaled. As a result, levels of carbon dioxide in the blood and brain tissue drop. Signs & Symptoms * Your heart pounds. * It feels like you can’t get enough air. * You feel tingling and
General Health Conditions Hepatitis is liver inflammation. With hepatitis, the liver has trouble screening poisons from the blood. Also, the liver can’t regulate bile. This is a liquid that helps digest fats. Signs & Symptoms Signs and symptoms depend on the cause. Some persons have no symptoms. When symptoms first occur, they include fatigue, fever,
Abdominal & Urinary Conditions A hernia occurs when body tissue “bulges” through a weak area or hole in a muscle. Often, this happens in the wall of the abdomen. Signs & Symptoms * A bulge in the skin. The bulge may be more easy to see when you cough, lift, or strain, or when you
Abdominal & Urinary Conditions With a hiatal hernia, the normal action that closes off the top of the stomach does not work well. Food or stomach acids back up into the esophagus. This is known as Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Signs & Symptoms Many people have no symptoms with a hiatal hernia. Others have one
Respiratory conditions Hiccups are simple to explain. The diaphragm (the major muscle which sits like a cap over the stomach) goes into spasms. The vocal cords close rapidly. This causes the “hiccup” sound. Causes * Eating too fast. Swallowing air with the food. * Drinking carbonated beverages. Drinking too much alcohol. * Doing things to
Pregnancy & Prenatal Care A blood pressure reading concerns the blood in the arteries. The top number in the reading is the systolic pressure. That’s the pressure when the heart muscle contracts. The bottom number is the diastolic pressure. That’s the pressure when the heart muscle relaxes. An example of a blood pressure reading is
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Sexual Health HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. AIDS is acquired immune deficiency syndrome. It is caused by HIV. The virus destroys the body’s immune system. This leaves a person unable to fight off diseases. The virus also attacks the central nervous system causing mental problems. One million people in the U.S. have HIV, but
Women’s Health HIV stands for human immunodeficiency virus. AIDS is acquired immune deficiency syndrome. It is caused by HIV. The virus destroys the body’s immune system. This leaves a person unable to fight off diseases. The virus also attacks the central nervous system causing mental problems. Signs & Symptoms When first infected with HIV, many
