Before You Call the Doctor

An A-to-Z reference to the essentials of good home health care for more than 300 ailments, symptoms, and health-related concerns Before You Call the Doctor is easy to follow, and it’s organized to get you the information you need—quickly. Does someone in your family have a headache? • Find headache listed alphabetically in Chapter 7, “The Head and Nervous System.” There, you’ll learn about the three most common kinds of headaches and their causes in the section called “What’s Going On.” • Under “Before You Call the Doctor,” you’ll find a range of home-treatment suggestions, from common over-the-counter medications, wet towels, and ice packs to the techniques of massage, acupressure, nasal decongestion, and headache prevention. • “When to Call the Doctor” tells you what to do—and what to expect—when self-care strategies don’t work. • Finally, there are six “Red Flags”—special signs to watch for that indicate a headache needs immediate expert attention. This indispensable guidebook contains detailed, practical information on every page to help you achieve greater medical self-reliance.