Before You Call the Doctor:

Contents

Introduction:
You Already Are Your Own “Primary Care Practitioner”.

Chapter 1:
The 7 Keys to Optimal Health
1. Eat and Drink Right
2. Exercise Regularly
3. Don’t Smoke
4. Get Adequate Rest
5. Manage Your Stress Load
6. Maintain Strong Social Ties
7. Reduce Your Risks
• Understand Your Personal and Family Medical History
• Get Screened Appropriately
• Get All Recommended Immunizations
• Prevent Accidents
• Take Action Against Occupational Risks
• Develop “Street Smarts”

Chapter 2:
Your Home Black Bag: Essential Items for a Well-Stocked
Medicine Cabinet and Home Medical Tool Kit
Medicines
Supplies
Books
Your Personal Medical Record

Chapter 3:
Lifesavers: First-Aid for Common Medical Emergencies
Be Prepared
Play It Safe
Bleeding
Broken Bones
Choking
Electrocution
Fire
Head Injury
Heat Stroke
Heart Attack
Hypothermia and Frostbite
Loss of Consciousness
Motor Vehicle Accidents
Near Drowning
Poisoning and Overdoses
Seizures
Shock

Chapter 4:
Whole Body Health Problems
Allergies
Anemia
Body Odor
Chinese Restaurant Syndrome
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Diabetes
Edema
Fatigue
Fever
Fluid Retention
Hangover
Insomnia
Jet Lag
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) Intolerance
Motion Sickness
Overweight and Obesity
Sick Building Syndrome
Swollen Feet, Ankles, Hands
Swollen Glands

Chapter 5:
Emotional Health
Anorexia Nervosa
Anxiety
Bad Habits, Compulsions, and Addictions
Bulimia
Depression
Eating Disorders
Fears and Phobias
Manic Depression
Stress

Chapter 6:
The Skin and Hair
Abscesses
Abrasions
Acne
Athlete’s Foot
Bite Wounds
Blisters
Boils
Bruises
Burns
Calluses
Chickenpox
Contact Dermatitis
Crabs
Cuts
Cysts
Dandruff
Diaper Rash
Dishpan Hands
Dry Skin
Eczema
Excessive Hair
Hair Loss
Heat Rash
Herpes Zoster
Hives
Human Bites
Impetigo
Infections
Inflamed Hair Follicles
Ingrown Toenails
Insect Bites and Stings
Irritations
Itching
Jock Itch
Lice
Lumps
Moles
Nail Problems
Poison Plants
Prickly Heat
Psoriasis
Puncture Wounds
Rashes
Ringworm
Scabies
Scaly Patch Rash
Scrapes
Seborrhea
Shingles
Spider Bites
Sunburn
Sweating Excessively
Tinea Versicolor
Warts

Chapter 7:
The Head, Neck, and Nervous System
Alzheimer’s Disease
Bell’s Palsy
Dizziness
Facial Paralysis
Fainting or Lightheadedness
Febrile Seizures
Fever Fits
Headache
Memory Loss
Seizures
Sinus Headache
Stroke
Stuttering and Stammering
Tics and Twitches
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Jaw Problems
Transient Ischemic Attacks (TIAs)
Tremors
Vertigo

Chapter 8:
The Eyes.
Bags Under the Eyes
Black Eye
Blurry, Distorted, or Double Vision
Cataracts
Computer Screen Eyes
Conjunctivitis
Contact Lens Problems
Double Vision
Dry Eyes
Eye Pain
Eyestrain
Glaucoma
Macular Degeneration
Pinkeye
Red Eyes
Something in Your Eye
Sty
Tearing or Excessive Watering

Chapter 9:
The Ears.
Airplane Ears
Ear Infections
Ear Pain
Hearing Loss
Pierced Ear Infections
Pierced Ear Cuts and Tears
Ringing in the Ears
Ruptured Eardrum
Something in Your Ear
Swimmer’s Ear
Wax in the Ear

Chapter 10:
The Mouth, Nose, and Throat
Bad Breath
Bleeding Gums
Broken Nose
Bruxism
Canker Sores
Chapped Lips
Cold Sores
Hoarseness and Laryngitis
Loss of Smell
Loss of Taste
Nosebleeds
Postnasal Drip
Runny Nose
Snoring
Sore Throat
Something in Your Nose
Sores in the Mouth
Strep Throat
Stuffed Nose
Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Jaw Problems
Thrush
Tongue Bite
Tonsillitis
Tooth Decay
Tooth Knocked Out
Toothache
Toothgrinding

Chapter 11:
The Respiratory System
Asthma
Bronchiolitis
Bronchitis, Acute
Bronchitis, Chronic
Common Cold
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
Cough
Croup
Emphysema
Flu
Formaldehyde Poisoning
Hayfever
Hiccups
Influenza
Painful Breathing
Shortness of Breath
Sinus Infection
Upper Respiratory Infection
Wheezing

Chapter 12:
The Cardiovascular System: The Heart and Blood Vessels
Angina
Chest Pain
Congestive Heart Failure
Heart Attack
High Blood Pressure
High Cholesterol
Palpitations
Varicose Veins

Chapter 13:
The Digestive System
Abdominal Cramps
Amebiasis
Anal Bleeding
Anal Burning
Anal Discharge
Anal Itching
Anal Pain
Belching
Blood in the Stool
Colic
Colitis
Constipation
Diarrhea
Diverticular Disease
Flatulence
Food Poisoning
Gallstones
Gas
Gastritis
Gastroenteritis
Giardiasis
Heartburn
Hemorrhoids
Hernia
Hiatal Hernia
Indigestion
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Lactose Intolerance
Nausea
Nervous Stomach
Rupture
Stomach Flu
Stomachache
Turista
Trouble Swallowing
Ulcerative Colitis
Ulcers
Vomiting

Chapter 14:
The Urinary Tract
Bedwetting
Bladder Infection
Blood in Urine
Color Change in Urine
Cystitis
Difficult Urination
Excessively Frequent Urination
Kidney Stones
Painful Urination
Urinary Incontinence
Urinary Tract Infection

Chapter 15:
The Bones, Muscles, and Joints
Achilles Tendinitis
Ankle Pain
Arm Pain
Arthritis
Back Pain, Lower
Back Pain, Upper
Bunions
Bursitis
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Charley Horse
Elbow Pain
Fibromyalgia
Fibrositis
Finger Injury
Finger Pain
Flat Feet
Foot Pain
Ganglion
Golfer’s Elbow
Gout
Hand Pain
Heel Spur Syndrome
Hip Pain
Ingrown Toenail
Knee Pain
Leg Pain
Muscle Cramps
Muscle Strains
Muscle Tears
Neck Pain
Osteoporosis
Plantar Fasciitis
Plantar Warts
Rib Injury
Sciatica
Shoulder Pain
Slipped Disc
Sprains
Stress Fractures
Swollen Joints
Tendinitis
Tennis Elbow
Toe Injury
Toe Pain
Torn Ligament
Wrist Pain

Chapter 16:
Women’s Health
Atrophic Vaginitis
Bacterial Vaginosis
Breast Pain, Tenderness, or Soreness
Breast Lumps
Breast Swelling
Douching
Endometriosis
Fibrocystic Breasts
Fibroids
Gardnerella
Lumpy Breasts
Menopause
Menstrual Cramps
Menstrual Disorders
Nipple Discharge
Nipple Pain, Tenderness, or Soreness
Osteoporosis
Pain or Soreness During Intercourse
Pelvic Pain
Premenstrual Syndrome
Toxic Shock Syndrome
Uterine Fibroids
Vaginal Burning
Vaginal Discharge
Vaginal Dryness
Vaginal Itching
Vaginitis
Yeast Infection

Chapter 17:
Men’s Health
Blood in Semen
Blue Balls
Circumcision
Discharge from the Penis
Foreskin That Won’t Retract
Lump in the Testicles
Pain in the Groin or Testicles
Pain on Ejaculation
Painful Erection
Penis Size
Phimosis
Problems with Urination
Prostate Enlargement
Prostatic Syndrome
Prostatitis
Prostatodynia
Swollen Testicles

Chapter 18:
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
AIDS
Chlamydia
Gonorrhea
Herpes
Nonspecific Urethritis
Penile Discharge
Syphilis
Trichomonas
Vaginal Discharge
Venereal Warts

Chapter 19:
Contraception and Sex Problems
Abortion
Birth Control Pills
Cervical Cap
Condoms
Contraceptives
Desire Differences
Diaphragm
Ejaculation Difficulties
Ejaculation, Involuntary
Erection Problems
Fertility Awareness
Impotence
Infertility
Intrauterine Devices (IUDs)
Loss of Sexual Interest
Morning-After Contraception
Natural Family Planning
Nonintercourse Lovemaking as Birth Control
No Orgasm
Painful Intercourse
Pregnancy and Childbirth
Premature Ejaculation
Progesterone Implants
Retarded Ejaculation
Spermicides
Sponge
Sterilization
Tubal Ligation
Vaginismus
Vasectomy
Withdrawal