Vital Signs of the Times

How do you know if your child is sick? Do you use a thermometer or any of the myriad new devices for measuring vital signs? Until the 20th century, most American mothers had none of these at their disposal, even thermometers. Instead, mothers used the oldest tools available: their…

Dry Drowning

What is dry drowning?

According to the World health organization (WHO), dry drowning results from spasm of the airway due to the presence of water and is rare. It can occur up to a day after swimming without water entering the wind pipe and typically does not occur when the…

Signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke

How will you know that you have a heat related illness?

Muscle cramps are the first sign of an illness related to heat exposure. Look out for it if you are outdoors and are exposed to the sun and heat for long…

All’s Well that Starts Well

How is health like a chair? Well, you can’t get healthy by sitting in a chair. But you can get healthy by understanding that, like a chair, all of health stands on four legs. Those ‘legs’ are diet, sleep, exercise, and stress-reduction. Unlike a chair, however, the four legs of…

Flu shots: how they work, why they are important, when to get them.

Flu or influenza is a disease caused by influenza virus. It is widely spread and almost everyone will get at least one infection within a few years. Every year, millions of people worldwide suffer from flu. In…