FOR PATIENTS: CHILDREN'S HEALTH

FOR PATIENTS: ADULT DISEASES AND CONDITIONS

There's a lot of discussion these days about fit kids. People who care (parents, doctors, teachers, and others) want to know how to help kids be more fit. Being fit is a way of saying a person eats well, gets a lot of physical activity (exercise), and has a healthy weight. If you're fit, your body works well, feels good, and can do all the things you want to do.

Some steps only parents can take - such as serving healthy meals or deciding to take the family on a nature hike. But kids can take charge, too, when it comes to health.

Keeping your child healthy is a big job! Read all about common childhood aches, pains, and illnesses, plus how to take care of your child's body from teeth to toes.

Looking for information about a chronic childhood condition or disease? Read about asthma, allergies, cancer, diabetes, heart murmurs, sleep disorders, and much more.

Too many emotions? Is it just a phase or a serious problem? Help your child cope with life's ups and downs, from dealing with divorce to preparing for new siblings. Or find out how to understand your child's behavior, whether it's toddler tantrums or teenage depression.

"Adult Diseases and Conditions" articles are patient education materials written by different medical societies.

These articles were created and written with the patient in mind and have been medically reviewed for accuracy by physicians within the medical societies. These articles provide a broad understanding of diseases, including the diagnoses, symptoms, treatment options and prevention recommendations. General health information includes excerpts from consumer health books, patient information guides and FAQs.

Some articles were originally created for physicians but contain a wealth of information for the medically savvy patient.

We believe in providing professional level resources to motivated patients who want to know more about a medical condition than what is covered by patient education materials. These advanced resources include abstracts of clinical journal studies (which provide information on the latest research from medical societies' peer-reviewed medical journals), policy statements and physician practice guidelines, as well as professional conference reports and other clinical information.

THERAPIES AND HEALTH STRATEGIES

MEDICATIONS

Does what I do really affect my health? Very much so. All of the major causes of death--cancer, heart disease, stroke, lung disease and injury--can be prevented by things you do.

What can I do to keep myself healthy? The choices you make about the way you live are important to your health. Here are some choices you can make to help yourself stay healthy:

• Don't use any form of tobacco.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Exercise regularly.
• Drink alcohol in moderation, if at all.
• Don't use illegal drugs.
• Practice safe sex.
• See your doctor regularly for preventive care.

The way patients make health care decisions is much more complicated than is often recognized. Patient autonomy allows both that patients will sometimes defer to clinicians and that they should sometimes be active inquirers, ready to question their clinicians and do some independent research. At the same time, patients' active inquiry requires clinicians' support.

The Internet has changed the way we live, work and shop. The growth of the Internet has made it possible to compare prices and buy products without ever leaving home. But when it comes to buying medicine online, it is important to be very careful. Some websites sell medicine that may not be safe to use and could put your health at risk.

Some websites that sell medicine:

• aren’t U.S. state-licensed pharmacies or aren’t pharmacies at all
• may give a diagnosis that is not correct and sell medicine that is not right for you or your condition
• won’t protect your personal information

Some medicines sold online:

• are fake (counterfeit or “copycat” medicines)
• are too strong or too weak
• have dangerous ingredients
• have expired (are out-of-date)
• aren’t FDA-approved (haven't been checked for safety and effectiveness)
• aren’t made using safe standards
• aren’t safe to use with other medicine or products you use
• aren’t labeled, stored, or shipped correctly

Meet and talk with your doctor

• Talk with your doctor and have a physical exam before you get any new medicine for the first time.
• Use ONLY medicine that has been prescribed by your doctor or another trusted professional who is licensed in the U.S. to write prescriptions for medicine.
• Ask your doctor if there are any special steps you need to take to fill your prescription.