In ordinary circumstances pain hurts. Because it hurts we react to it. We therefore rarely experience pain in pure form. I have warned you that some of these ideas are at first a little hard to accept. This idea is basic to our management of pain, so please go along with me. You can actually [...]

Q. Okay, let us start with the x-ray examination. The patient is referred to the radiologist for this. What takes place? A. When making the appointment, the patient is given instructions, and it is essential these be carried out exactly. Usually, not eating food or drinking fluids for a certain number of hours before the [...]

As explained in the previous chapter, sciatica – whether or not it is also marked at times by pain or aches in the lower back – can stem from a wide variety of underlying problems, some of them potentially serious, others less so. However, no matter what your health problem may be, the first step [...]

Claimed by enthusiasts as an anti-aging vitamin and as a remedy for most skin disorders, vitamin E is not considered effective for these purposes by most doctors and dietitians. They agree, however, that it helps tissues defend themselves against harmful oxidant “free radicals” that may be one cause of cancer. However, for that, one needs [...]

Symptoms: headache; fever; sore, red throat; vomiting; abdominal pain; swollen lymph glands in neck; sandpaper rash. Home care: give aspirin or paracetamol to relieve pain and fever and take the child to the doctor. Precautions -    Keep infants away from groups of children, some of whom may be carriers of the strep bacteria. -    If one child [...]

A patch test is performed if a careful history (based on the site of the lesion) offers a clue to the offending agent. The gauze used in testing (which is soaked in the suspected material) is left on the skin for forty-eight to seventy-two hours. The causes of contact dermatitis include the following materials: Soaps [...]

Caffeine Caffeine is a stimulant and could therefore be classed as a ‘drug’. It has an adverse effect on fertility but it can also cause problems once a woman is pregnant. In a study of 2967 pregnant women, carried out by the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale University School of Medicine, the [...]

What is it? A condition in which the eyes don’t look at an object in conjunction. The word ‘squint’ is also used to describe the condition in which children especially screw their eyes up to look at something. This is not really a squint at all but it makes sense to take your child for [...]

Many women feel isolated and confused when they have been diagnosed as suffering from endometriosis. Who do you turn to when your family and friends do not understand? They may find it difficult to understand your feelings and are not always able to provide the support and help you need. A support group such as [...]

The following a probably useful: •     Wash several times a day with bland soap and water. Don’t scrub, wash gently. Dry well with a rough towel. •     Use non-greasy, water-based cosmetics. •     Get into the sunlight as much as possible. Ultraviolet light not only cures but prevents acne. Some people’s acne gets worse in hot [...]