Unexpected Situations

Accidents & First Aid

Dealing with Emergencies Review this before you need it. Then, when you are faced with an emergency or injury, you will know where to turn. read article

Rest, Ice, Compress & Elevate (RICE) As soon as possible after an injury, such as a knee or ankle sprain, you can relieve pain and swelling and promote healing and flexibility with RICE—Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. read article

Caregiving

Care at the End of Life At the end of life, care may be given at home or in a hospital or nursing home. You may also choose to receive care through hospice, which provides care and support for people who are in the late stages of a terminal illness. read article

Family Life Cycle The emotional and intellectual stages you pass through from childhood to your retirement years as a member of a family are called the family life cycle. Situations such as severe illness, financial problems, or the death of a loved one can have an effect on how well you pass through the stages. read article

Coping

Helping Older Adults Who are Grieving Older adults may seem to overreact to a minor loss. What is considered a minor loss may bring memories and feelings about a previous greater loss. read article

Are You Depressed? This interactive tool can help you assess your symptoms and find out if you might be depressed. Although this tool is not for diagnosis, it may help you determine whether you should seek help from your doctor. try the tool

Labs, Tests & X-rays

Breast Biopsy A breast biopsy is usually done to check a lump found during a breast examination or a suspicious area found on a mammogram or ultrasound. read article

Cholesterol and Triglyceride Tests Cholesterol and triglyceride tests are blood tests that measure the total amount of fatty substances in the blood. read article

New Diagnosis

Heart Failure Your doctor may diagnose heart failure based on your symptoms and a physical exam. But you will need tests to find the cause and type of heart failure so that you can get the right treatment. read article

Skin Cancer, Melanoma Melanoma can develop in an existing mole or other mark on the skin, but it often develops in unmarked skin. Your health professional will examine your skin and if he or she suspects melanoma, a biopsy of the affected skin is needed to make a diagnosis. read article

Treatments

Depression Treatment of depression may include antidepressant medication, professional counseling such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, or a combination of the two. read article

Type 2 Diabetes There is no cure for type 2 diabetes, but there are ways to treat the disease. Even if you do not feel sick, you still need treatment to prevent more serious health problems in the future. read article