A urinary tract infection (UTI) is an infection that occurs in any part of the urinary system (e.g., kidneys, ureters, bladder, and urethra). Bacteria, specifically E. coli bacteria that live in the bowel, are the most common cause of UTIs. Unfortunately, UTIs are one of the most frequent clinical infections in women, accounting for nearly … Continued

Ear infections are extremely common in babies and children because of their shorter and more horizontal Eustachian tubes. These tubes are more likely to allow bacteria and viruses to find their way into the middle ear. They’re also narrower in children and therefore more likely to become blocked. According to the National Institutes of Health, … Continued

Unexpected falls, injuries or illnesses need prompt, high-quality treatment from an urgent care or emergency room facility. But how can you easily decide between urgent care vs. emergency room for your situation? If you need immediate medical attention, your first thought might be to visit an emergency room. However, there are certain situations (e.g., when … Continued

The ankle is a large and complicated joint made up of three bones: the tibia (shin bone), fibula (smaller inner bone) and talus (bone that sits between the tibia and foot) that allow the foot to move up-and-down and side-to-side. All these moving parts make it one of the most commonly injured parts of the … Continued

Getting a mild burn (e.g., from cooking or styling your hair) can leave you running for the nearest faucet in search of cold water. While this may help soothe the stinging pain of a minor burn, would you know what to do if you sustained a more serious burn? (Hint: Lukewarm water may be a … Continued

Everyone knows what a bruise looks like, but may not understand exactly what’s happening under the skin. When the soft tissues of the body experience mild trauma, the small veins and capillaries (the smallest blood vessels in your body) under the skin sometimes break, and red blood cells leak out. When this happens, the red … Continued

COVID-19 is a new respiratory illness that’s affecting people of all ages around the world. As of March 20, 2021, nearly 30 million people in the United States have contracted this illness, and 540,000 of those have died. Though we don’t know everything about it yet, scientists are learning more every day. The good news … Continued

Superfoods are foods that have very high nutritional density. That means they are rich in minerals, nutrients and antioxidants. Antioxidants help lower your risk of serious health problems like heart disease, cancer, arthritis, stroke respiratory diseases, immune deficiency, emphysema and Parkinson’s disease. They also help protect your organs from toxins, lower cholesterol, prevent digestive problems, … Continued

Spoiler alert! It’s not 98.6° F. Keep reading to find out why. In the mid-1800s, a German physician determined 98.6° F was the normal body temperature after studying more than a million temperatures from 25,000 people. However, recent research suggests challenges this long time standard and states the average normal body temperature is actually closer to 97° … Continued

Splinter injuries are common, especially among children, so it’s important to know how to remove them safely. Small pieces of wood, glass and metal are the most common culprits and are often superficial enough to be easily removed from home. That being said, if you or your child has a large or deep splinter, it … Continued