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The bladder is a hollow, muscular sac located in the lower abdomen. It temporarily stores the urine made by the kidneys until it is released into a tube called the urethra, which transports the urine out of the body. When empty, the bladder is about the size and shape of a pear. The muscles of the bladder enable it to […]

We all know that bacteria and viruses trigger infections that can be serious and even life-threatening. These germs are easily spread when you touch contaminated objects or surfaces, and then touch your nose, mouth or eyes, allowing the malicious microbes to enter your body and make you ill. Consider all the objects you touch in a typical day. These include […]

A tradition common during the holidays is the giving of gifts to loved ones, particularly children. But it’s important that the presents are appropriate for children’s ages, skills and abilities, and that any toys given are well-made and safe. Those are the key messages of National Safe Toys and Gifts Month, observed each year in December. The Consumer Product Safety […]

The holidays are a happy season for joyfully celebrating with family, friends, and coworkers. But for many people, this season is also a time of heightened anxiety and stress. Often, people get worked up from the increased responsibilities, lofty expectations and soaring financial pressures that go along with the holidays, and that causes them distress. If you get stressed out […]

Since 1997, the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) has endeavored to place a spotlight on the bone-weakening disease osteoporosis and its precursor, osteopenia, by designating a day in October as World Osteoporosis Day. This theme for 2023 was “Build Better Bones,” with the goal of urging health care organizations and policymakers to create more avenues to prevent, diagnose and treat these […]

Epilepsy is a chronic brain disease characterized by recurring, unprovoked seizures, which are sudden, unexpected alterations in consciousness and behavior. Epilepsy seizures are caused by sudden surges of abnormal electrical activity within the brain initiated by damaged brain cells. According to the Epilepsy Foundation, epilepsy is the fourth most common neurological disorder, after migraine, stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. In the […]

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is high pressure in the pulmonary artery, the blood vessel that carries blood from the heart to your lungs. Oxygen-depleted blood returns to the right side of the heart. The lower chamber (right ventricle) pumps the blood into the pulmonary artery and into the lungs to be enriched with oxygen. The heart then pumps the oxygen-rich blood […]

Skin is the largest organ of the body. An average adult has about 8 pounds and 22 square feet of it. Skin is active, living tissue, and each of its three layers has a job to do to protect the body and keep it healthy. The outermost layer of the skin is the epidermis. It provides a waterproof barrier against […]

The cells in your body need a steady source of energy to function. They get it from a simple sugar called glucose that’s released when the food you eat is broken down. But glucose can’t get into your cells without help. It needs insulin, a hormone produced by the beta cells of your pancreas. November is Diabetes Awareness Month. Diabetes […]