Last night, I was walking out from work late at night, and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, a bat sitting on the parking lot lawn charged toward me and within seconds flew very close to me. I did not have time to react or realize what happened or if it touched me.
Last night, I was walking out from work late at night, and all of a sudden, out of nowhere, a bat sitting on the parking lot lawn charged toward me and within seconds flew very close to me. I did not have time to react or realize what happened or if it touched me.
I have HSV-1 and HSV-2. I found out that my outbreaks are now forming from the inside lining of my genital area, which is all the way in the vagina. My question is -- does this mean my outbreaks are becoming severe, and am I more susceptible to cancer? And what's the best treatment for HSV-2?
I was six months pregnant when a smiling stranger on a bus asked where I was delivering. Within minutes, this woman was sharing intimate details of her own birthing experience -- the water breaking, the contractions that failed to get closer together, and the way her doctor deftly sewed up the four-inch incision from her Caesarean section. "I'm telling you, this guy was good," she said. "Next time, I'm just scheduling my C-section. None of this pushing stuff."
I have just turned 55 and am still having a regular, clockwork period every single 28 days. It lasts only three to four days, but it is still there! Is there any danger in having this go on so long? I was approximately 13 years old when I started, and here I still am! I have no symptoms of menopause at all.
A preliminary report suggesting that N95 respirators -- filtering devices worn over the mouth and nose -- protect against swine flu better than surgical face masks seems to be incorrect, researchers revealed during a meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA).
My pediatrician's office has only the H1N1 flu nasal spray vaccine and the shot that contains thimerosal. I would like my 1-year-old son to receive the vaccine. Since he is too young for the nasal spray, is it better for him to get the shot with thimerosal or wait for the shot without the preservative?
It's time to "fall back" again. At 2 a.m. Sunday, you'll have to turn your clock back one hour, because it's the end of daylight saving time.
Instead of feeling crisp and refreshed, Jesse Wu wakes up sluggish after 12 hours of sleep.
Schizophrenia drugs, increasingly prescribed to children with bipolar disorder and other conditions, can cause youngsters to experience rapid weight gain, according to a new study.
My 10-month-old baby boy is having surgery for an undescended testicle. Is he too young to put him through surgery or should I go ahead with it? Should I give him more time for the testicle to descend?
Patients in the 13 states where medical marijuana is legal can now light up without fear of federal reprisal, but they may still have to answer to local authorities.
I received the flu shot but about 10 days later came down with a painful cough, headache, fatigue and sore throat, but no fever. Is this a reaction to the flu shot? It's miserable!
I received the flu shot but about 10 days later came down with a painful cough, headache, fatigue and sore throat, but no fever. Is this a reaction to the flu shot? It's miserable!
My daughter has had ringworm for about a month. It is getting worse. She used a cream. What causes ringworm? We don't have pets.
From motorcycles to lawnmowers, life is full of noise, but new research shows that it presents a bigger danger for some people than others.
My son was found to have H1N1 flu and has to stay home from school. How can we keep the rest of the family from getting sick?
AWOL tampons, gas, losing your breakfast on the doc? To prove that you are so not alone when it comes to mortifying health mishaps, Health readers shared some of their stories with us. And our own medical editor, Roshini Rajapaksa, MD, weighs in on when you really do need to talk to your doctor about an embarrassing episode or symptom.
Parents can check out growth charts -- a nifty graph that tells them where their child falls in relation to peers in terms of height and weight -- just about everywhere, from a child's vaccination records to the doctor's office.
Are you finally ready for some good news about the recession? As it turns out, a shaky economy might actually be good for your health.
At my teenage son's recent visit to the pediatrician, he was advised to check his testicles regularly. Is this necessary? I don't remember being told this when I was growing up.
A woman who had the wrong embryo implanted in her gave birth to a baby boy Friday, according to a statement from the couple.
Most of us have experienced those maddening midnight moments when, no matter how tired we are, we either can't fall asleep, can't stay asleep or our sleep is of such poor quality it feels as if we were awake. For anyone who has tossed and turned at night, here's some expert advice for solving nine sleep problems.
In 2007, a resident surgeon snapped a picture of a patient's tattoo -- the words Hot Rod on his penis -- and shared it with colleagues, making international news when the story was leaked to the press. At least the resident didn't post the picture on the Internet.
On a cold morning in February, 10 days after undergoing in vitro fertilization, Carolyn Savage lay in bed at her Ohio home waiting for the results of her pregnancy test.
The first data from H1N1 vaccine trials in children reveal some good news, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said Monday.
If someone develops shingles after she gave birth will this virus affect her next pregnancy? Is there any chance or possibility that the shingles will return again for the rest of her life? And if it can, will the shingles break out in the same spot, or can it be in a different area of the body? What can you do to prevent recurrence? Thanks.
Health officials expect more than 3 million doses of H1N1 flu vaccine to be available in the first week of October.
Nine years of blindness almost drove Sharron "Kay" Thornton to suicide.
Think a little spanking won't do much harm to kids? New research says the effects can be long-lasting.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved applications from four manufacturers to make H1N1 flu vaccine, the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services said Tuesday.
If the shower scene in Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho scared you, here's another reason to scream: A new study says that potentially disease-causing germs can get trapped in showerheads and grow into biofilm, or coats of slime that deliver a bacteria blast along with your hot water.
The H1N1 flu vaccine will be available earlier than had been expected, the director of the nation's top disease agency told CNN on Monday.
When Genevieve and Brian Skory were new to parenting, they allowed their two young kids to read or watch TV until they fell asleep.
Facing the world after an isolating and traumatic experience is often stressful, especially for those who have been away for a long time.
Federal authorities said Tuesday that health care providers could consider simply watching for flu symptoms in some individuals rather than prescribing preventive antiviral drugs right away if a person has been exposed to the flu.
I'm an elementary school teacher and am worried about H1N1 flu. What can I do to try to keep my students and myself healthy?
Do you sometimes feel as if going to a doctor's office is like going through a revolving door: in, swoosh-blur, out? You fight traffic to get there, wait a while in the waiting room, wait a while in the exam room, get seen, get dressed and get out. But once you've gone, you realize you're missing something -- maybe a small piece of helpful information. Below, some insider tips from medical specialists who tell you what your doctor doesn't have time to tell you in that all-too-brief appointment.
Children with high-risk medical conditions or disabilities should be among the first to be vaccinated against H1N1 influenza, also known as swine flu, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention advised Thursday.
Calvino Inman had just stepped out of the shower one evening in May when a glimpse of his reflection in the mirror caused him to panic. "I looked up and saw myself, and I thought I was going to die," says the 15-year-old from Rockwood, Tennessee. His eyes were streaming tears of blood.
An advisory panel is recommending a major step up in protection for health workers dealing with patients suspected or confirmed to have H1N1 influenza.
The federal government is reintroducing a powerful weapon in the fight against the H1N1 flu virus: Elmo.
Over this past week, I had some interesting conversations with colleagues who are also health care professionals. These conversations usually start with, "You know what I hate about the media ... ?"
Andrew Stein, 10, and his brother, Nathan, 7, are having a typical end-of-summer vacation: hanging out at the pool, visiting their grandparents and waiting for the beginning of school.
Brazil has confirmed 557 deaths caused by H1N1 flu, the highest total in the world, the nation's Health Ministry says.
By the time she was in her 40s, Andrea Cinnamond was afraid she'd never be a mother. Then came the day in 2005 her daughter was born through in vitro fertilization, followed two years later by twin sons. Today, Kaitlin, Jack, and Aidan bounce around like Ping-Pong balls through their Boston, Massachusetts, home.
For over a month now, one of my nostrils has been clogged, so to speak. It will randomly open up, or switch from the right to the left. What is causing this, and what can I do to clear it?
The straight-up truth: Some childhood milestones are a lot less fun than others. No one actually looks forward to her kid needing stitches, getting cavities, or snapping a bone, yet medical rites of passage like these are as much a part of growing up as learning to ride a bike. (In fact, said bike may be to blame for a bunch of them!) And while some may simply be annoying to deal with, others can be downright scary. Whatever the case, we'll help you and the young'uns get through some of the most common, with a lot less drama.
She was called "the littlest refusenik," one of the many Soviet Jews denied permission to leave the Soviet Union because her father had been exposed to government secrets.
Infant car safety seats can -- and do -- save newborns' lives in traffic accidents. In fact, you can't leave the hospital without one.
Because of the complexity of this viewer question, three of CNNHealth's expert doctors are offering advice. Last week, Diet and Fitness expert Dr. Melina Jampolis had ideas for gaining weight in a healthy way. Today, Dr. Jennifer Shu offers information about concerns for a baby born to an addicted woman. Watch for insights Tuesday from Mental Health expert Dr. Charles Raison.
Even 6-year-olds at Hamilton Central School in central New York came to school prepared for swine flu. Jessica Poyer, a first-grade teacher, noticed in the spring that kids had begun bringing their own hand sanitizer, tissues and water bottles.
A federal advisory committee issued sweeping guidelines Wednesday for a vaccination campaign against the pandemic swine flu strain, identifying more than half the U.S. population as targets for the first round of vaccinations.
I can't get my 2-year-old to drink ANY MILK! I have tried soy milk, cow milk with Nesquik, and nothing works. Any suggestions?
Insomnia, the inability to fall or stay asleep, can make the days feel fuzzy and the nights never-ending.
I am 49 years old and take Seasonique. Will I start menopause even though I am on birth control?
First came naming babies after movie stars. Then there were copycats of celebrity outfits, Academy Award dresses and even nose jobs. Now, the celebrity chase is getting genetic.
Surgeons at two Washington hospitals have performed seven kidney transplants involving 14 recipients and donors who did not match, using a process that virtually eliminates the chances of organ rejection.
Facial surgery that targets and removes small portions of migraine-triggering muscle or nerve tissue may offer permanent relief for some people with the debilitating headaches, a new study suggests.
I recently stopped taking Vicodin for my fibromyalgia pain. I had been taking it for about three years. I quit cold turkey and am wondering what is the best thing for the withdrawal [symptoms], like natural things I can take to help me get through this?
When Holly Betten, 28, came home from the hospital after a rough delivery, she had one day to adjust to her new life as a mom before her husband went back to working 12-hour days as a computer-software architect.
I am 41 years old and for a while now I have noticed hair growing under my chin. Is that because I might have low levels of estrogen? I know I can remove them with laser but why is this happening?
Kids plus germs often equals extreme yuckiness (think stomach flu). But there are some childhood afflictions that -- even though they're not at all dangerous -- are (how to put this?) truly disgusting. First, the good news: The four conditions described here have nothing to do with hygiene and are much more common than you think, so there's no need to be embarrassed. The bad news? Well, read on.
Neither of Dr. Arthur Kellerman's parents wanted to die in a hospital. His father had metastatic cancer and his mother had had multiple strokes, and Kellerman wanted to respect their wishes about the ends of their lives.
There may be a reason that children's asthma rates are so high in urban areas. Youngsters with stressed-out parents and exposure to air pollution have a higher risk of asthma, according to a study in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Asked by How much water do babies need to drink?
The special effects exploded too early while Michael Jackson filmed a Pepsi commercial in 1984 and his hair caught on fire, causing burns to his scalp.
Oh, the agony of the feet! They take more than their fair share of abuse (strappy stilettos, flimsy flip-flops, a running routine). But aside from the occasional pedicure, they don't get a lot of attention -- until they start hurting in ways you can't ignore. Real Simple asked experts to explain the six most common ailments women experience and offer smart tips on how to treat them effectively.
Sure, the fountain of youth is as elusive as ever, but there's plenty you can do to stay young. With all that scientists are learning about the powers of exercise, antioxidant-rich roods, healthy fats, and brain-teasing games to keep you feeling and looking your best, age can really just be a state of mind. This head-to-toe guide shows how to beat the clock -- or at least slow it down.
This Caribbean city already known for cigars, furniture, chocolate and coffee may become a magnet for Americans seeking controversial stem cell therapy for life-threatening illnesses if a Florida cardiologist has his way.
Although you may think that bottled water is a safer option than tap, two new reports show that the store-bought stuff is actually less regulated than the water you get out of your faucet for free.
Can someone who is a diabetic and on the insulin pump go white-water rafting?
If you have a hard time crawling out of bed in the morning, it could be that your body is biologically programmed to start the day later.
For the past several months, I have noticed that I have been retaining water. When I take my socks off in the evening, the ringed indentations left on my skin will stay up to an hour after removing the clothing. I've asked my physician about the cause and she indicated that I am probably ingesting too much salt. Although I do consume sodium in my everyday foods, I do not feel that I am eating too much salt. My doctor suggested that I take water pills. I have been taking two pills per day and have increased my consumption of water (as I read that water retention is often caused by dehydration). I'm not seeing any change in my water retention. Do you have any suggestions?
Diprivan is a powerful I.V. anesthetic drug used for patients undergoing certain surgeries and diagnostic procedures.
The new president of the American Medical Association, which represents the interests of the nation's doctors, said Wednesday the group is open to a government-funded health insurance option for people without coverage.
Questions abound about how to best inoculate the world against swine flu as health officials plan for a campaign that could dwarf any previous flu vaccination effort.
A government advisory panel voted Tuesday to recommend eliminating prescription drugs that combine acetaminophen with narcotics -- such as Vicodin and Percocet -- because of their risk for overdose and for severe liver injury.
I am seven months pregnant and am wondering if I should invest in cord blood banking when my baby is born.
This week it was reported that Steve Jobs, the CEO and cofounder of Apple, underwent a liver transplant two months ago. One detail concerning Jobs's transplant seemed odd: The surgery took place at a hospital in Tennessee, some 2,000 miles from Jobs' home in northern California. Why Tennessee?
Middle-aged and older women who have migraines with auras -- the flashing lights, a certain smell, or other sights or sounds that can signal oncoming pain -- appear to have a higher risk of strokes and heart attacks than their migraine-free peers, a new study suggests.
"Quick, I-V." "Is he breathing?" "Flip him over." "Heart rate? Pulse?" The nurses' commands and questions filled the recovery room at an Egyptian hospital.
It has been eight years since I have had my son through Caesarean section. During the last few days, I have been experiencing discomfort below my backbone right at the place where I got a shot for the Caesarean section. Is this a reason for concern, as I have not been able to sleep on my back for the last few days?
The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday warned consumers to stop using certain Zicam nasal cold remedy products, saying they can cause users to lose their sense of smell permanently.
I am exclusively beast-feeding my 4-month-old baby, who was diagnosed with allergic colitis at 3 months. I have been off dairy and soy for eight weeks now. We still see blood specks in his poop. He is gaining weight, albeit very slowly. Question, is it beneficial for me to be on an elimination diet and figure out what he is allergic to or is a hypoallergenic formula the answer? Has any research been done on this? My baby won't take those formulas and I am torn on what to do. Is breast-feeding detrimental in this case or will he outgrow it eventually in six months or a year? Please advise.
Henry Joseph Madden was a good student and track team member in high school, but he had a secret: He sometimes wore his mother's pantyhose and underwear under his clothes.
How does one get a very high potassium count, and how do you lower it?
Blockbuster movies are less likely to portray smokers than they have in the past, according to a new study. What's more, this decline in on-screen smoking may have occurred in tandem with a drop in the number of adolescents who have lit up in real life.
It's shortly after 5 a.m. when the phone rings, and on the line is a clearly anxious and worried parent.
If your pinkie and ring fingers tingle or feel numb, you might not want to pick up that cell phone to call the doctor.
I have stretch marks on my body. I wasn't pregnant nor am I pregnant now. How should I get rid of them permanently without going under the knife? Any safe creams or natural treatments?
The death of boxing champion Mike Tyson's 4-year-old daughter after a treadmill accident highlights the issue of hidden dangers in the home.
The case of Daniel Hauser, a Minnesota teenager whose family rejected chemotherapy based on religious beliefs, raised questions about the rights of parents in determining medical treatments for their children. On Tuesday, the family consented to chemotherapy for the 13-year-old to treat his Hodgkin's lymphoma after the boy's tumor grew.
I noticed a single strand of grey hair on my 3½ year old daughter today. I would like to know if it could be external factors or some vitamin deficiency. There is no known history of young children having grey hair in either my or my wife's family. She is a healthy child. We are vegetarians and our ethnic background is Asian.
As the summer swim season starts Memorial Day weekend, water quality and health experts have a message for swimmers: Please don't pee in the pool.
Adults who were exposed to large amounts of secondhand smoke during childhood have lungs that look different on CT scans from those of people who grew up in a smoke-free environment, a new study suggests.
She had many plans for the future: to go to college, start a career, meet the man of her dreams, raise a family -- when the time was right.
An assistant principal who died after being hospitalized with the H1N1 virus did have an underlying condition, the New York City's health commissioner said Monday.
I think my gums are infected slightly. I brush twice a day, use Listerine, and Act rinsing. What can I use each day for getting healthier gums?
Here's a little-known fact: Under current law, it's possible to hold a patent on a piece of human DNA, otherwise known as a gene.

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