Hemoglobin, often written as Hgb, is the iron-rich protein inside red blood cells that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. It also carries carbon dioxide back to your lungs so you can exhale it. A normal Hgb level means your body is getting the oxygen it needs to function. For … Read more

When your child is in the middle of a meltdown, they are not giving you a hard time—they are having a hard time. Emotional dysregulation happens when a child’s brain is overwhelmed and cannot process feelings or sensory input effectively. To calm a dysregulated child, you must first regulate your own nervous system, then use … Read more

Parents deciding whether to vaccinate their children against COVID-19 often want one piece of information above all others: what are the side effects? For most children, the side effects are mild and short-lived. They typically include soreness at the injection site, fatigue, headache, and sometimes a low-grade fever. These reactions usually begin within a day … Read more

Tourette syndrome is a neurological condition that causes a person to make sudden, repeated movements or sounds called tics. These are not simply bad habits or something a person does on purpose. The science points to a disruption in the brain circuits that normally help us filter out unwanted movements and impulses. Understanding how Tourettes … Read more

A corneal debridement is a procedure where a doctor removes the surface layer of cells from your cornea, the clear front part of your eye. It sounds more serious than it feels. The eye is numbed first, so you stay awake but feel no pain during the procedure itself. The entire process usually takes only … Read more

Waking up with sore muscles can make the next night of sleep feel like a challenge. The right sleeping position can reduce pressure on tender areas and help your body rest. For most people, sleeping on your back with a pillow under your knees is the best starting point, while side sleepers should place a … Read more

Menopause brings major changes in estrogen and progesterone, but many women wonder about testosterone. The short answer is no — testosterone does not increase during menopause. In fact, testosterone levels gradually decline with age, and this decline continues through the menopausal transition. The symptoms women often attribute to “low testosterone” during menopause are usually driven … Read more

Yes, you can use heavy cream instead of half and half in most recipes, but you will need to adjust it. Heavy cream contains about twice the fat of half and half, so using it straight will change the texture and calorie count of your dish. The simplest fix is to dilute heavy cream with … Read more