Some products (for example, gummy vitamins) can trick a child into thinking that medicines are food or candy, so many poisonings happen with medications. For a child, taking even a small amount of the wrong medicine can be deadly. Keeping Children Safe DO keep medicines and chemicals in a locked or safe place where…
How do I know if I’m having nighttime leg cramps or a different problem? Nighttime leg cramps are a painful tightening of muscles in the leg. They usually happen in the calf, but may happen in the foot or thigh while you’re sleeping. Nighttime leg cramps are different than restless legs syndrome; restless legs syndrome…
There are many medicines for coughs and colds that you can buy without a prescription. These medicines are for a runny or stuffy nose, sneezing, or cough. Even though some of these medicines come in a liquid form, they may not be safe for children under 6 years old. Since there is no solid proof…
Follow these steps to get the best effects from your eye drops or eye ointment: Wash your hands and the area around your eyes. Remove your contact lenses, unless you have been told it is okay to keep them in. If the bottle says to shake well, gently roll the bottle in your hands for…
When should my ears be cleaned? For many people, the inner part of your ear should never need to be cleaned. Earwax is normal. It helps keep your ears clean and healthy. Most of the time, earwax moves slowly from the inside of the ear to the outer ear by itself; however, sometimes the earwax…
What is a neti pot? A neti pot looks like a small genie lamp or teapot. It’s used to hold salt water (saline solution) that is poured into one nostril and allowed to drain out of the other nostril. This technique may help with sinus symptoms by clearing out your nasal passages, reducing swelling, and…
How Can You Prevent Another Kidney Stone? What is a kidney stone? A main job of the kidney is filtering wastes from the blood. The wastes often come from the food we eat and are passed into the urine. In some people, certain wastes can form a stone in the kidney. Depending on what…
