Medicine

We all know a trip to the emergency room is never quick, but sometimes the ER is so jam-packed that you think that you're in the country's busiest ER. So just where is America's busiest ER? Well, it depends on who you ask.

By Kate Kershner

You just broke your arm, and you're flat broke. But you don't worry about getting medical treatment, because the doctors and nurses in the ER have to treat everyone who walks through the door. Or do they?

By Kate Kershner

Help! You just cut your hand while chopping vegetables. On the way to the hospital you cringe because you know that ER bill is going to be unbelievable. Why is that?

By Kate Kershner

You've got health insurance. Congratulations! But good luck finding a primary care doctor. There are a lot fewer of them these days, so you may end up using that shiny, new insurance card in an emergency room.

By Kate Kershner

We all know what to do in case of a medical emergency (get to the ER), but are you really qualified to recognize a true emergency when it happens?

By Kate Kershner

You have to go to the ER, but you don't have health insurance. You're not worried, though, because emergency rooms have to treat everyone who walks through the doors. But does that mean you get out of paying the costs you incur?

By Kate Kershner

Sometimes it's a lot easier to just take that expired cold medicine than run out to the drugstore when you're feeling sick. But are those expired meds even working? Or, worse, are they causing you harm?

By Jennifer Sellers

There's an assortment of medications on the market to treat depression. But many of them are also effective for managing other health issues.

By Maria Trimarchi

Salamanders regrow their tails. Starfish can grow new arms. When is it our turn? Let's take a look at what science has in the works.

By Kate Kershner

Microorganisms aren't all bad. Can we fight fire with fire and pit good bacteria against the bad ones? Yes, but maybe not the way you think.

By Kate Kershner

It can be hard to tell whether an injury, illness or other troubling symptom warrants a trip to the ER. While you should always err on the side of caution and go if you're unsure, these tips will make your decision easier.

By Karen Kirkpatrick

Working in the ER isn't easy, and emergency medical professionals deserve a ton of credit for doing excellent work in less-than-stellar circumstances. But inevitably, sometimes things go wrong. And when they do, what legal options do you have?

By Karen Kirkpatrick

Doomsday preppers recommend stocking up for the collapse of civilization -- and that includes antibiotics. But if you're getting them without a prescription, you're getting the veterinary kind.

By Patrick J. Kiger

When you're sick, sleep is one of the best things you can do to get better. But when you're several days into your antibiotics and still dragging, what's the cause: your illness or its cure?

By Patrick J. Kiger

Antibiotics save lives. But broad-spectrum antibiotics can really do a number on the delicate ecosystem in your intestines -- and the recovery time may surprise you.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Once you've gotten a sunburn during a course of antibiotics, you'll never forget the SPF again. But why would they lead to a burn in the first place?

By Patrick J. Kiger

Antibiotics are great at curing infections. But some are also great at upsetting your stomach and causing diarrhea. Which ones do we need to watch out for?

By Patrick J. Kiger

With some infections, it's hard to tell what may be causing your illness. And if it's serious, there's no time to wait for test results. Enter the broad-spectrum antibiotic -- and the problems it brings with it.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Humans tend to be forgetful when it comes to things that don't really interest us. Where did we put our keys? Did we take that last dose of antibiotics? We don't know about your keys, but we can help you with the penicillin question.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Robotic surgery doesn't mean Rosie from "The Jetsons" is going to get it. Instead, these high-tech bots let surgeons make the tiniest, most precise movements to limit tissue damage. But even now, researchers are dreaming up better robot inventions.

By Patrick J. Kiger

Family medicine isn't just for kids and their parents. The idea is that a physician sticks with you from birth to death, treating your whole body throughout your whole life. And it's changing with the times.

By Patrick J. Kiger

You cut yourself prepping dinner. It's after business hours. But should you really take that laceration to the emergency room? Maybe not.

By Maria Trimarchi

"Misbehaving periods" doesn't appear on any list of medication side effects, but as many women can attest, menstrual irregularities aren't uncommon when you're taking antibiotics. The culprit may not be the drugs.

By Alison Cooper

Some medications are high-maintenance about what foods you pair them with. A commonly prescribed heart drug, for example, can't be with black licorice. There are also certain antibiotics that just don't go well with a glass of milk.

By Alison Cooper

Some antibiotics are a little too good at cleansing your system. As in, you might find yourself literally running to the bathroom to deal with the side effects. Can probiotics solve the problem?

By Alison Cooper