American Academy of Family Physicians.
American Academy of Family Physicians.
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Self-management: Taking Charge of Your Health
One of the best ways to cope with a chronic illness is to take part in managing it. This can… to monitor my chronic illness? Should I also see a specialist for my chronic illness? Can you recommend a support group? What books or websites…
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Choosing a Family Doctor
A family doctor is trained in all areas of medicine to take care of your whole family. Choosing the right… understand how to help you make good decisions about your health. Your family doctor is responsible for diagnosing and treating acute and chronic illnesses. They…
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Exercise and Seniors
Some form of regular exercise is important for older adults… function (how your brain works). It is safe for most adults over 65 years old to exercise. Even most patients who have chronic illnesses can exercise safely. These include heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and arthritis. Many of these conditions…
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Food Allergies
A food allergy is an abnormal reaction by your immune system to a food. It is usually treated with antihistamines… bad is going to happen. They may have pale skin (because of low blood pressure) or lose consciousness. They may also have chronic illnesses. Eczema (skin disorder)…
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Teenagers: How to Stay Healthy
Developing healthy habits when you’re a teenager will help you as you grow into an adult. Learn tips for staying… Children and teenagers with obesity are more likely to have obesity as an adult. They are also at higher risk for other chronic illnesses, depression,…
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Preventing Malnutrition in Older Adults
Older adults are more vulnerable to malnutrition. Learn ways to prevent it… problems that cause a loss of appetite or make it hard to eat. This could include conditions such as dementia and other chronic illnesses. They may be on restricted diets that make foods…
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Hepatitis C
Hepatitis C is a serious virus that causes inflammation of the liver. It is spread from person to person through… viral infections such as mononucleosis or cytomegalovirus can cause hepatitis. There are 2 main kinds of hepatitis: acute hepatitis (short-lived) and chronic hepatitis (lasting at least 6 months). Most people get…
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Depression
Depression is a mood disorder that affects people of all ages and is different for everyone. A person who has… What is depression? Depression is a medical illness. Someone who has depression has symptoms nearly every day, all day, for 2 weeks or longer. This…
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Dehydration
Dehydration is when your body doesn’t have enough fluids to work properly. It happens when you lose more fluids than… Dehydration is when your body doesn’t have enough fluids to work properly. It happens when you lose more fluids than you take in. This…
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Prescription and OTC Drug Abuse
The abuse of both prescription and over-the-counter medicines is an epidemic. Ask your doctor how to safely treat pain to… Nearly everyone in the nation agrees: Prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drug abuse is at epidemic levels. The two represent what a doctor prescribes (prescription…
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Getting Motivated to Work Out
Making a habit of working out is difficult to start, but beneficial to your mental and physical health… The hardest part of working out is getting started. We all know we need to do it. Often, we’re glad we did. We feel energized and better…
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Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder that affects the nervous system and causes tremors, slowed movements and stiff muscles… What is Parkinson’s disease? Parkinson’s disease is a kind of movement disorder. It affects the nervous system and causes problems with muscle movement. It is…
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Group B Strep Infection
Group B strep is a common kind of bacteria that can sicken newborns who are exposed to it during… What is group B strep? Group B streptococcus, or group B strep for short, is a common kind of bacteria (germ). It can live in…
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Coping with a Family Member’s Opioid Addiction
Watching someone you care about struggle with addiction is incredibly difficult. Educate yourself how best to help them while taking… Opioid addiction (or opioid use disorder, as it is now known) has become a national public health crisis. According to the U.S. Department of…
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Opioid Addiction
An opioid addiction is a powerful urge to use opioids. These are medicines that are prescribed to relieve pain, such… What is opioid addiction? An addiction is a strong craving to do something. In this case, it’s a strong craving to use opioids. Addiction…
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High-Altitude Illness
High-altitude illness can occur when you travel to altitudes higher than 8,000 feet. It happens when your body doesn’t get… What is high-altitude illness? High-altitude illness, or sickness, is a condition that can occur when you travel to a high altitude, such as the…
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Safe Use, Storage, and Disposal of Opioid Drugs
It’s important to take opioids exactly as prescribed by your doctor. You should also take care storing and disposing of… Opioids are addictive. They are prescribed by some doctors as a powerful pain reliever to manage severe acute or chronic pain. Most opioids come…
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Palliative Care
Palliative care is designed to improve the quality of care for a person who has a serious or life-threatening… Palliative care is designed to help people who have a serious illness. The illness may chronic (ongoing) or life-threatening. This includes a form of cancer that…
