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The Digestive System: An Overview What is digestion? Food and drink must be changed into smaller molecules of nutrients to be absorbed into the blood and carried to cells throughout the body. Digestion is the process by which food and liquid are broken down into smaller parts

Domestic Violence What is domestic violence? Domestic violence means cruelty and abuse by family members or intimate partners. It may be from a spouse or ex-spouse. It may be from a boyfriend or girlfriend, or an ex. This kind of abuse can also happen on a date. And it may be

Benign Skin Growths What are benign skin growths? Skin changes as you grow older and are exposed to sunlight, health conditions, trauma, and other environmental changes. Most people have some skin marks, such as freckles and moles. They may multiply or darken over time. "Benign"

Common Liver Tests What are some common liver tests? A series of blood tests can often find out if the liver is inflamed, injured, or working normally. The pattern of abnormalities can point to hepatitis (infection or inflammation of the liver) versus cholestasis (problems with

Oral Health and Dental Specialists What is a general dentist (DDS or DMD)? To become a general dentist, a person must graduate from dental school and have either a DDS or a DMD degree: DDS. Doctor of dental surgery DMD. Doctor of dental medicine There is no difference between the

Overview of Kidney Disorders How do the kidneys work? The body takes nutrients from food and converts them to energy. After the body has used all the food components that it needs, waste products are left behind in the bowel and in the blood. The kidneys and urinary system help

Antibiotics What are antibiotics? Antibiotics are powerful medicines used to treat certain bacterial infections. Antibiotics don't cure all infections. And antibiotics that are used when not needed can be harmful. There are two main types of germs that cause most infections

Arthritis Diagnosis Diagnosing arthritis may be difficult. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis. Many symptoms are similar among the different conditions affecting the joints. Arthritis may be generally categorized into the following groups: degenerative arthritis

Preventing Eye Injuries in Children Eye injuries affect about 2.4 million people every year. Household products cause more than 125,000 serious eye injuries. Hospital emergency rooms treat nearly 23,000 victims of eye injuries from sports. Toys and home playground equipment cause

Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, and Triglycerides in Children and Teens What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a fat-like, waxy substance. It can be found in all parts of your child's body. It helps make cell membranes, some hormones, and vitamin D. The cholesterol in blood comes from 2