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May 01st, 2023

5/1/2023

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Kidney stones​
    
Description

Collapse SectionKidney stones (also called renal stones or urinary stones) are small, hard deposits that form in one or both kidneys; the stones are made up of minerals or other compounds found in urine. Kidney stones vary in size, shape, and color. To be cleared from the body (or "passed"), the stones need to travel through ducts that carry urine from the kidneys to the bladder (ureters) and be excreted. Depending on their size, kidney stones generally take days to weeks to pass out of the body.

Kidney stones can cause abdominal or back pain (known as renal colic). Renal colic usually begins sporadically but then becomes constant and can lead to nausea and vomiting. The site of pain can change as the stone moves through the urinary tract. Some small stones pass through the kidney and urinary tract with little discomfort, while larger ones can block the flow of urine and impair kidney function. Kidney stones can also result in blood in the urine (hematuria) or kidney or urinary tract infections. Unusually large stones or stones that are difficult to pass can be medically removed.
​
Although there are many types of kidney stones, four main types are classified by the material they are made of. Up to 75 percent of all kidney stones are composed primarily of calcium. Stones can also be made up of uric acid (a normal waste product), cystine (a protein building block), or struvite (a phosphate mineral). Stones form when there is more of the compound in the urine than can be dissolved. This imbalance can occur when there is an increased amount of the material in the urine, a reduced amount of liquid urine, or a combination of both.
People are most likely to develop kidney stones between ages 40 and 60, though the stones can appear at any age. Research shows that 35 to 50 percent of people who have one kidney stone will develop additional stones, usually within 10 years of the first stone.

Treatment for Kidney Stones
How do health care professionals treat kidney stones?Health care professionals usually treat kidney stones based on their size, location, and what type they are.

Small kidney stones may pass through your urinary tract without treatment. If you’re able to pass a kidney stone, a health care professional may ask you to catch the kidney stone in a special container. A health care professional will send the kidney stone to a lab to find out what type it is. A health care professional may advise you to drink plenty of liquids if you are able to help move a kidney stone along. The health care professional also may prescribe pain medicine.

Larger kidney stones or kidney stones that block your urinary tract or cause great pain may need urgent treatment. If you are vomiting and dehydrated, you may need to go to the hospital and get fluids through an IV.
Kidney stone removalA urologist can remove the kidney stone or break it into small pieces with the following treatments:

Shock wave lithotripsy. The doctor can use shock wave lithotripsy NIH external link to blast the kidney stone into small pieces. The smaller pieces of the kidney stone then pass through your urinary tract. A doctor can give you anesthesia NIH external link during this outpatient procedure.

Cystoscopy and ureteroscopy. During cystoscopy, the doctor uses a cystoscope to look inside the urethra and bladder to find a stone in your urethra or bladder. During ureteroscopy, the doctor uses a ureteroscope, which is longer and thinner than a cystoscope, to see detailed images of the lining of the ureters and kidneys. The doctor inserts the cystoscope or ureteroscope through the urethra to see the rest of the urinary tract. Once the stone is found, the doctor can remove it or break it into smaller pieces. The doctor performs these procedures in the hospital with anesthesia. You can typically go home the same day.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy. The doctor uses a thin viewing tool, called a nephroscope, to locate and remove the kidney stone. The doctor inserts the tool directly into your kidney through a small cut made in your back. For larger kidney stones, the doctor also may use a laser to break the kidney stones into smaller pieces. The doctor performs percutaneous nephrolithotomy NIH external link in a hospital with anesthesia. You may have to stay in the hospital for several days after the procedure.

After these procedures, sometimes the urologist may leave a thin flexible tube, called a ureteral stent, in your urinary tract to help urine flow or a stone to pass. Once the kidney stone is removed, your doctor sends the kidney stone or its pieces to a lab to find out what type it is.

The health care professional also may ask you to collect your urine for 24 hours after the kidney stone has passed or been removed. The health care professional can then measure how much urine you produce in a day, along with mineral levels in your urine. You are more likely to form stones if you don’t make enough urine each day or have a problem with high mineral levels.

Health care professionals usually treat kidney stones based on their size and what they are made of.

How can I prevent kidney stones?To help prevent future kidney stones, you also need to know what caused your previous kidney stones. Once you know what type of kidney stone you had, a health care professional can help you make changes to your eating, diet, and nutrition to prevent future kidney stones.

Drinking liquidsIn most cases, drinking enough liquids each day is the best way to help prevent most types of kidney stones. Drinking enough liquids keeps your urine diluted and helps flush away minerals that might form stones.

Though water is best, other liquids such as citrus drinks may also help prevent kidney stones. Some studies show that citrus drinks, such as lemonade and orange juice, protect against kidney stones because they contain citrate, which stops crystals from turning into stones.

Unless you have kidney failure, you should drink six to eight, 8-ounce glasses a day. If you previously had cystine stones, you may need to drink even more. Talk with a health care professional if you can’t drink the recommended amount due to other health problems, such as urinary incontinence, urinary frequency, or kidney failure.

The amount of liquid you need to drink depends on the weather and your activity level. If you live, work, or exercise in hot weather, you may need more liquid to replace the fluid you lose through sweat. A health care professional may ask you to collect your urine for 24 hours to determine the amount of urine you produce a day. If the amount of urine is too low, the health care professional may advise you to increase your liquid intake.

MedicinesIf you have had a kidney stone, a health care professional also may prescribe medicines to prevent future kidney stones. Depending on the type of kidney stone you had and what type of medicine the health care professional prescribes, you may have to take the medicine for a few weeks, several months, or longer.
For example, if you had struvite stones, you may have to take an oral antibiotic for 1 to 6 weeks, or possibly longer.
​
If you had another type of stone, you may have to take a potassium citrate tablet 1 to 3 times daily. You may have to take potassium citrate for months or even longer until a health care professional says you are no longer at risk for kidney stones.

​Kidney Stones
Definition & Facts


In this section:
  • What are kidney stones?
  • Do kidney stones have another name?
  • What type of kidney stones do I have?
  • How common are kidney stones?
  • Who is more likely to develop kidney stones?
  • What are the complications of kidney stones?

What are kidney stones?Kidney stones are hard, pebble-like pieces of material that form in one or both of your kidneys when high levels of certain minerals are in your urine. Kidney stones rarely cause permanent damage if treated by a health care professional.

Kidney stones vary in size and shape. They may be as small as a grain of sand or as large as a pea. Rarely, some kidney stones are as big as golf balls. Kidney stones may be smooth or jagged and are usually yellow or brown.

A small kidney stone may pass through your urinary tract on its own, causing little or no pain. A larger kidney stone may get stuck along the way. A kidney stone that gets stuck can block your flow of urine, causing severe pain or bleeding. Learn more about your urinary tract and how it works.

If you have symptoms of kidney stones, including severe pain or bleeding, seek care right away. A doctor, such as a urologist, can treat any pain and prevent further problems, such as a urinary tract infection (UTI).

A small kidney stone may pass through your urinary tract on its own, causing little or no pain. A larger kidney stone may get stuck along the way.Do kidney stones have another name?The scientific name for a kidney stone is renal calculus or nephrolith. You may hear health care professionals call this condition nephrolithiasis, urolithiasis, or urinary stones.

What type of kidney stones do I have?You probably have one of four main types of kidney stones. Treatment for kidney stones usually depends on their size, location, and what they are made of.

Calcium stonesCalcium stones, including calcium oxalate stones and calcium phosphate stones, are the most common types of kidney stones. Calcium oxalate stones are more common than calcium phosphate stones.

Calcium from food does not increase your chance of having calcium oxalate stones. Normally, extra calcium that isn’t used by your bones and muscles goes to your kidneys and is flushed out with urine. When this doesn’t happen, the calcium stays in the kidneys and joins with other waste products to form a kidney stone.

Uric acid stonesA uric acid stone may form when your urine contains too much acid. Eating a lot of fish, shellfish, and meat—especially organ meat—may increase uric acid in urine.

Struvite stonesStruvite stones may form after you have a UTI. They can develop suddenly and become large quickly.

Cystine stonesCystine stones result from a disorder called cystinuria that is passed down through families. Cystinuria causes the amino acid cystine to leak through your kidneys and into the urine.

How common are kidney stones?Kidney stones are common and are on the rise. About 11 percent of men and 6 percent of women in the United States have kidney stones at least once during their lifetime.1

Who is more likely to develop kidney stones?Men are more likely to develop kidney stones than women. If you have a family history of kidney stones, you are more likely to develop them. You are also more likely to develop kidney stones again if you’ve had them once.

You may also be more likely to develop a kidney stone if you don’t drink enough liquids.

People with certain conditionsYou are more likely to develop kidney stones if you have certain conditions, including
  • a blockage of the urinary tract
  • chronic, or long-lasting, inflammation of the bowel
  • cystic kidney diseases, which are disorders that cause fluid-filled sacs to form on the kidneys
  • cystinuria
  • digestive problems or a history of gastrointestinal tract surgery
  • gout, a disorder that causes painful swelling of the joints
  • hypercalciuria, a condition that runs in families in which urine contains unusually large amounts of calcium; this is the most common condition found in people who form calcium stones
  • hyperoxaluria, a condition in which urine contains unusually large amounts of oxalate
  • hyperparathyroidism, a condition in which the parathyroid glands release too much parathyroid hormone, causing extra calcium in the blood
  • hyperuricosuria, a disorder in which too much uric acid is in the urine
  • obesity
  • repeated, or recurrent, UTIs
  • renal tubular acidosis, a disease that occurs when the kidneys fail to remove acids into the urine, which causes a person’s blood to remain too acidic

People who take certain medicinesYou are more likely to develop kidney stones if you are taking one or more of the following medicines over a long period of time:
  • diuretics, often called water pills, which help rid your body of water
  • calcium-based antacids
  • indinavir, a protease inhibitor used to treat HIV infection
  • topiramate, an anti-seizure medication

What are the complications of kidney stones?Complications of kidney stones are rare if you seek treatment from a health care professional before problems occur.
If kidney stones are not treated, they can cause
  • hematuria, or blood in the urine
  • severe pain
  • UTIs, including kidney infections
  • loss of kidney function

References[1] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Chapter 9: Urinary tract stones. In: Litwin MS, Saigal CS, eds. Urologic diseases in America. www.niddk.nih.gov (PDF, 0.39 MB) . Published 2012. Accessed September 26, 2016.

Symptoms & Causes

What are the symptoms of kidney stones?

Symptoms of kidney stones include
  • sharp pains in your back, side, lower abdomen, or groin
  • pink, red, or brown blood in your urine, also called hematuria
  • a constant need to urinate
  • pain while urinating
  • inability to urinate or can only urinate a small amount
  • cloudy or bad-smelling urine

See a health care professional right away if you have any of these symptoms. These symptoms may mean you have a kidney stone or a more serious condition.

Your pain may last for a short or long time or may come and go in waves. Along with pain, you may have
  • nausea
  • vomiting

Other symptoms include
  • fever
  • chills

You may have a kidney stone if you have pain while urinating or feel a sharp pain in your back or lower abdomen.What causes kidney stones?Kidney stones are caused by high levels of calcium, oxalate, and phosphorus in the urine. These minerals are normally found in urine and do not cause problems at low levels.

​Certain foods may increase the chances of having a kidney stone in people who are more likely to develop them.

Diagnosis
How do health care professionals diagnose kidney stones?

Health care professionals use your medical history, a physical exam, and lab and imaging tests to diagnose kidney stones.

A health care professional will ask if you have a history of health conditions that make you more likely to develop kidney stones. The health care professional also may ask if you have a family history of kidney stones and about what you typically eat. During a physical exam, the health care professional usually examines your body. The health care professional will ask you about your symptoms.

A health care professional will ask if you have a history of health conditions that make you more likely to develop kidney stones.What tests do health care professionals use to diagnose kidney stones?Health care professionals may use lab or imaging tests to diagnose kidney stones.

Lab testsUrine tests can show whether your urine contains high levels of minerals that form kidney stones. Urine and blood tests can also help a health care professional find out what type of kidney stones you have.

Urinalysis. Urinalysis involves a health care professional testing your urine sample. You will collect a urine sample at a doctor’s office or at a lab, and a health care professional will test the sample. Urinalysis can show whether your urine has blood in it and minerals that can form kidney stones. White blood cells and bacteria in the urine mean you may have a urinary tract infection.

Blood tests. A health care professional may take a blood sample from you and send the sample to a lab to test. The blood test can show if you have high levels of certain minerals in your blood that can lead to kidney stones.
Imaging testsHealth care professionals use imaging tests to find kidney stones. The tests may also show problems that caused a kidney stone to form, such as a blockage in the urinary tract or a birth defect. You do not need anesthesia for these imaging tests.

Abdominal x-ray. An abdominal x-ray is a picture of the abdomen that uses low levels of radiation and is recorded on film or on a computer. An x-ray technician takes an abdominal x-ray at a hospital or outpatient center, and a radiologist reads the images. During an abdominal x-ray, you will lie on a table or stand up. The x-ray technician will position the x-ray machine over or in front of your abdomen and ask you to hold your breath so the picture won’t be blurry. The x-ray technician then may ask you to change position for additional pictures. Abdominal x-rays can show the location of kidney stones in the urinary tract. Not all stones are visible on abdominal x-ray.

Computed tomography (CT) scans. CT scans use a combination of x-rays and computer technology to create images of your urinary tract. Although a CT scan without contrast medium is most commonly used to view your urinary tract, a health care professional may give you an injection of contrast medium. Contrast medium is a dye or other substance that makes structures inside your body easier to see during imaging tests. You’ll lie on a table that slides into a tunnel-shaped device that takes the x-rays. CT scans can show the size and location of a kidney stone, if the stone is blocking the urinary tract, and conditions that may have caused the kidney stone to form.

Treatment

How do health care professionals treat kidney stones?

Health care professionals usually treat kidney stones based on their size, location, and what type they are.

Small kidney stones may pass through your urinary tract without treatment. If you’re able to pass a kidney stone, a health care professional may ask you to catch the kidney stone in a special container. A health care professional will send the kidney stone to a lab to find out what type it is. A health care professional may advise you to drink plenty of liquids if you are able to help move a kidney stone along. The health care professional also may prescribe pain medicine.

Larger kidney stones or kidney stones that block your urinary tract or cause great pain may need urgent treatment. If you are vomiting and dehydrated, you may need to go to the hospital and get fluids through an IV.

Kidney stone removalA urologist can remove the kidney stone or break it into small pieces with the following treatments:

Shock wave lithotripsy. The doctor can use shock wave lithotripsy to blast the kidney stone into small pieces. The smaller pieces of the kidney stone then pass through your urinary tract. A doctor can give you anesthesia during this outpatient procedure.

Cystoscopy and ureteroscopy. During cystoscopy, the doctor uses a cystoscope to look inside the urethra and bladder to find a stone in your urethra or bladder. During ureteroscopy, the doctor uses a ureteroscope, which is longer and thinner than a cystoscope, to see detailed images of the lining of the ureters and kidneys. The doctor inserts the cystoscope or ureteroscope through the urethra to see the rest of the urinary tract. Once the stone is found, the doctor can remove it or break it into smaller pieces. The doctor performs these procedures in the hospital with anesthesia. You can typically go home the same day.

Percutaneous nephrolithotomy. The doctor uses a thin viewing tool, called a nephroscope, to locate and remove the kidney stone. The doctor inserts the tool directly into your kidney through a small cut made in your back. For larger kidney stones, the doctor also may use a laser to break the kidney stones into smaller pieces. The doctor performs percutaneous nephrolithotomy in a hospital with anesthesia. You may have to stay in the hospital for several days after the procedure.

After these procedures, sometimes the urologist may leave a thin flexible tube, called a ureteral stent, in your urinary tract to help urine flow or a stone to pass. Once the kidney stone is removed, your doctor sends the kidney stone or its pieces to a lab to find out what type it is.

The health care professional also may ask you to collect your urine for 24 hours after the kidney stone has passed or been removed. The health care professional can then measure how much urine you produce in a day, along with mineral levels in your urine. You are more likely to form stones if you don’t make enough urine each day or have a problem with high mineral levels.

Health care professionals usually treat kidney stones based on their size and what they are made of.How can I prevent kidney stones?To help prevent future kidney stones, you also need to know what caused your previous kidney stones. Once you know what type of kidney stone you had, a health care professional can help you make changes to your eating, diet, and nutrition to prevent future kidney stones.

Drinking liquidsIn most cases, drinking enough liquids each day is the best way to help prevent most types of kidney stones. Drinking enough liquids keeps your urine diluted and helps flush away minerals that might form stones.

Though water is best, other liquids such as citrus drinks may also help prevent kidney stones. Some studies show that citrus drinks, such as lemonade and orange juice, protect against kidney stones because they contain citrate, which stops crystals from turning into stones.

Unless you have kidney failure, you should drink six to eight, 8-ounce glasses a day. If you previously had cystine stones, you may need to drink even more. Talk with a health care professional if you can’t drink the recommended amount due to other health problems, such as urinary incontinence, urinary frequency, or kidney failure.

The amount of liquid you need to drink depends on the weather and your activity level. If you live, work, or exercise in hot weather, you may need more liquid to replace the fluid you lose through sweat. A health care professional may ask you to collect your urine for 24 hours to determine the amount of urine you produce a day. If the amount of urine is too low, the health care professional may advise you to increase your liquid intake.

MedicinesIf you have had a kidney stone, a health care professional also may prescribe medicines to prevent future kidney stones. Depending on the type of kidney stone you had and what type of medicine the health care professional prescribes, you may have to take the medicine for a few weeks, several months, or longer.

For example, if you had struvite stones, you may have to take an oral antibiotic for 1 to 6 weeks, or possibly longer.

If you had another type of stone, you may have to take a potassium citrate tablet 1 to 3 times daily. You may have to take potassium citrate for months or even longer until a health care professional says you are no longer at risk for kidney stones.

Type of kidney stonePossible medicines prescribed by your doctorCalcium Stones
  • potassium citrate, which is used to raise the citrate and pH levels in urine
  • diuretics, often called water pills, help rid your body of water

Uric Acid Stones
  • allopurinol, which is used to treat high levels of uric acid in the body
  • potassium citrate

Struvite Stones
  • antibiotics, which are bacteria-fighting medications
  • acetohydroxamic acid, a strong antibiotic, used with another long-term antibiotic medication to prevent infection

Cystine Stones
  • mercaptopropionyl glycine, an antioxidant used for heart problems
  • potassium citrate

Talk with a health care professional about your health history prior to taking kidney stone medicines. Some kidney stone medicines have minor to serious side effects. Side effects are more likely to occur the longer you take the medicine and the higher the dose. Tell the health care professional about any side effects that occur when you take kidney stone medicine.

Hyperparathyroidism surgeryPeople with hyperparathyroidism, a condition that results in too much calcium in the blood, sometimes develop calcium stones. Treatment for hyperparathyroidism may include surgery to remove the abnormal parathyroid gland. Removing the parathyroid gland cures hyperparathyroidism and can prevent kidney stones. Surgery sometimes causes complications, including infection.

Eating, Diet, & Nutrition
Can I help prevent kidney stones by changing what I eat or drink?

Drinking enough liquid, mainly water, is the most important thing you can do to prevent kidney stones. Unless you have kidney failure, many health care professionals recommend that you drink six to eight, 8-ounce glasses a day. Talk with a health care professional about how much liquid you should drink.

Studies have shown that the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet can reduce the risk of kidney stones. Learn more about the DASH diet.2

Studies have shown that being overweight increases your risk of kidney stones. A dietitian can help you plan meals to help you lose weight.

Does the type of kidney stone I had affect food choices I should make?Yes. If you have already had kidney stones, ask your health care professional which type of kidney stone you had. Based on the type of kidney stone you had, you may be able to prevent kidney stones by making changes in how much sodium, animal protein, calcium, or oxalate is in the food you eat.

You may need to change what you eat and drink for these types of kidney stones:
  • Calcium Oxalate Stones
  • Calcium Phosphate Stones
  • Uric Acid Stones
  • Cystine Stones

A dietitian who specializes in kidney stone prevention can help you plan meals to prevent kidney stones. Find a dietitian who can help you.

Calcium Oxalate StonesReduce oxalate
If you’ve had calcium oxalate stones, you may want to avoid these foods to help reduce the amount of oxalate in your urine:
  • nuts and nut products
  • peanuts—which are legumes, not nuts, and are high in oxalate
  • rhubarb
  • spinach
  • wheat bran

Talk with a health care professional about other food sources of oxalate and how much oxalate should be in what you eat.

Reduce sodium
Your chance of developing kidney stones increases when you eat more sodium. Sodium is a part of salt. Sodium is in many canned, packaged, and fast foods. It is also in many condiments, seasonings, and meats.

Talk with a health care professional about how much sodium should be in what you eat. See tips to reduce your sodium intake.

Limit animal protein
Eating animal protein may increase your chances of developing kidney stones.
A health care professional may tell you to limit eating animal protein, including
  • beef, chicken, and pork, especially organ meats
  • eggs
  • fish and shellfish
  • milk, cheese, and other dairy products

Although you may need to limit how much animal protein you eat each day, you still need to make sure you get enough protein. Consider replacing some of the meat and animal protein you would typically eat with beans, dried peas, and lentils, which are plant-based foods that are high in protein and low in oxalate.
Talk with a health care professional about how much total protein you should eat and how much should come from animal or plant-based foods.

Get enough calcium from foods

Even though calcium sounds like it would be the cause of calcium stones, it’s not. In the right amounts, calcium can block other substances in the digestive tract that may cause stones. Talk with a health care professional about how much calcium you should eat to help prevent getting more calcium oxalate stones and to support strong bones. It may be best to get calcium from low-oxalate, plant-based foods such as calcium-fortified juices, cereals, breads, some kinds of vegetables, and some types of beans. Ask a dietitian or other health care professional which foods are the best sources of calcium for you.

Calcium Phosphate Stones

Reduce sodium
Your chance of developing kidney stones increases when you eat more sodium. Sodium is a part of salt. Sodium is in many canned, packaged, and fast foods. It is also in many condiments, seasonings, and meats.

Talk with a health care professional about how much sodium should be in what you eat. See tips to reduce your sodium intake.

Limit animal protein
Eating animal protein may increase your chances of developing kidney stones.
A health care professional may tell you to limit eating animal protein, including
  • beef, chicken, and pork, especially organ meats
  • eggs
  • fish and shellfish
  • milk, cheese, and other dairy products

Although you may need to limit how much animal protein you have each day, you still need to make sure you get enough protein. Consider replacing some of the meat and animal protein you would typically eat with some of these plant-based foods that are high in protein:
  • legumes such as beans, dried peas, lentils, and peanuts
  • soy foods, such as soy milk, soy nut butter, and tofu
  • nuts and nut products, such as almonds and almond butter, cashews and cashew butter, walnuts, and pistachios
  • sunflower seeds

Talk with a health care professional about how much total protein you should eat and how much should come from animal or plant-based foods.

Get enough calcium from foods

Even though calcium sounds like it would be the cause of calcium stones, it’s not. In the right amounts, calcium can block other substances in the digestive tract that may lead to stones. Talk with a health care professional about how much calcium you should eat to help prevent getting more calcium phosphate stones and to support strong bones. It may be best to get calcium from plant-based foods such as calcium-fortified juices, cereals, breads, some kinds of vegetables, and some types of beans. Ask a dietitian or other health care professional which foods are the best sources of calcium for you.
​
Uric Acid StonesLimit animal protein
Eating animal protein may increase your chances of developing kidney stones.
A health care professional may tell you to limit eating animal protein, including
  • beef, chicken, and pork, especially organ meats
  • eggs
  • fish and shellfish
  • milk, cheese, and other dairy products
Although you may need to limit how much animal protein you have each day, you still need to make sure you get enough protein. Consider replacing some of the meat and animal protein you would typically eat with some of these plant-based foods that are high in protein:
  • legumes such as beans, dried peas, lentils, and peanuts
  • soy foods, such as soy milk, soy nut butter, and tofu
  • nuts and nut products, such as almonds and almond butter, cashews and cashew butter, walnuts, and pistachios
  • sunflower seeds
Talk with a health care professional about how much total protein you should eat and how much should come from animal or plant-based foods.
Losing weight if you are overweight is especially important for people who have had uric acid stones.
Cystine StonesDrinking enough liquid, mainly water, is the most important lifestyle change you can make to prevent cystine stones. Talk with a health care professional about how much liquid you should drink.
Tips to Reduce Your Sodium Intake
Most Americans consume too much sodium. Adults should aim to consume less than 2,300 mg a day.3 One teaspoon of table salt has 2,325 milligrams (mg) of sodium. If you have had calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate stones, you should follow this guideline, even if you take medicine to prevent kidney stones.
Here are some tips to help you reduce your sodium intake:
  • Check the Percent Daily Value (%DV) for sodium on the Nutrition Facts label found on many foods. Low in sodium is 5% or less, and high in sodium is 20% or more.
  • Consider writing down how much sodium you consume each day.
  • When eating out, ask about the sodium content in the food.
  • Cook from scratch. Avoid processed and fast foods, canned soups and vegetables, and lunch meats.
  • Look for foods labeled: sodium free, salt free, very low sodium, low sodium, reduced or less sodium, light in sodium, no salt added, unsalted, and lightly salted.
Check labels for ingredients and hidden sodium, such as
  • sodium bicarbonate, the chemical name for baking soda
  • baking powder, which contains sodium bicarbonate and other chemicals
  • disodium phosphate
  • monosodium glutamate, or MSG
  • sodium alginate
  • sodium nitrate or nitrite
References[2] Taylor EN, Fung TT, Curhan GC. DASH-style diet associates with reduced risk for kidney stones. Journal of the American Society of Nephrology. 2009;20(10):2253–2259.
[3] U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020—2025. 9th ed. U.S. Department of Agriculture. Published December 2020. Accessed July 15, 2021. www.dietaryguidelines.gov
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Reduce Healthcare Costs and Increase Tacit Knowledge

​PATENT PENDING

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St. Louis College of Pharmacy, St. Louis
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​University Hospital - MU Health Care
About the patent Inventor: Umesh Bhargava, BS., B. Pharm., MS., Ph. D., R. Ph.  is a first-generation Indian American who completed his MS in Pharmacy from St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 1961, shown above on the left. Then started Research Assistantship on Black Walnut with Missouri University Hospital at Columbia, shown on the right. While on Research Assistantship, he did his Ph. D. in Pharmacology in 1967 with the research on Pharmacology of Ellagic Acid from Black Walnut. Ellagic Acid is a polyphenolic compound present in many fruits and vegetables which works against diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc., that became popular on the internet between 1970 and 1990. Ellagic Acid might have popularized the consumption of fruits and vegetables in people who believed Vegan lifestyle. According to Oncologists, a published report, Ellagic Acid was the best discovery of the decades. Fruits like pomegranate, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, walnuts, and pecans are rich in ellagic acid.

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NIH News in Health | A monthly newsletter from the National Institutes of Health, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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​Programs & Services  - HHS

HHS administers more than 100 programs across its operating divisions. HHS programs protect the health of all Americans and provide essential human services, especially for those who are least able to help themselves.
Social Services - Programs and services such as Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), Head Start, child care, and child support help individuals, families, and communities.
Prevention & Wellness HHS agencies offer resources to help you eat smart, exercise regularly, and get routine health screenings and vaccinations.
Providers & Facilities Locate health care providers and facilities, compare your options, and find resources for caregivers.
Public Health & Safety - HHS agencies offer resources to help you and your family stay safe by informing you about food, drugs, medical devices, violence prevention, and more.
Emergency Preparedness & Response - HHS leads the nation in preventing, preparing for, and responding to the adverse health effects of public health emergencies and disasters.
Research - Learn how HHS expands scientific understanding of health care, public health, human services, biomedical research, and availability of safe food and drugs.
​Featured Topic  Websites - Discover HHS websites on topics such as the flu, vaccines, tobacco, health care, mental health, food safety, bullying, HIV/AIDS, and more.
Education & Training Opportunities - Find HHS education and training opportunities for health professionals and students including loans, scholarships, and training programs.
Complaints & Appeals - Find out how to file a complaint or appeal a decision related to health information privacy, civil rights, Medicare, and more.

Health Literacy

"Health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the capacity to obtain, process, and understand basic health information needed to make appropriate health decisions.
Low health literacy is more prevalent among:

Older adults
Minority populations
Those who have low socioeconomic status
Medically underserved people"


What is our role in promoting health literacy?

Health literacy is a common thread through all of our programs. A large portion of the people we serve are poor and medically underserved.
​
They need help understanding and navigating a complex health care system. They require culturally competent providers who speak their language so they can make informed health care choices. A number of patients may be confused with certain medical language, have difficulty understanding English, struggle with filling out forms, or have limited access to health providers in their community. With the proper training, health care professionals can identify patients' specific health literacy levels and make simple communication adjustments."

The healthcare sector relies heavily on knowledge that is evidence-based information, diagnoses, and treatments that are implemented quickly in a patient’s best interests in treating patients. In the healthcare industry, the correct information can quite literally save lives—but only if professionals can have the ability to access it quickly from anywhere, at any time. HHS provides evidence-based, timely health information to the public participating through its main partners FDA, CDC, NCI, NIH, and NAID. A website containing such information would reduce overall healthcare costs in America by eliminating unnecessary expenses.
​
The Information and resources related to evidence-based programs and policies are shown below:
​
  • Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP)
    A group of medical and public health experts that develops recommendations on how to use vaccines to control diseases in the United States
  • CDC Guidelines and Recommendations
    One-stop shop for guidelines or recommendations developed by CDC (and CDC collaborations with other organizations and agencies), or by CDC federal advisory committees; includes recommendations, strategies, and information to help decision makers choose courses of action in specific situations
  • Prevention of HIV/AIDS, Viral Hepatitis, STDs, and TB Through Health Care Website
    Information on policies and practices that leverage the healthcare system to help prevent HIV/AIDS, viral hepatitis, STD, and TB infections
  • Compendium of Proven Community-Based Prevention Programs External
    Compendium of 79 evidence-based disease and injury prevention programs that have saved lives and improved health
  • Guide to Community Preventive Services (The Community Guide)External
    Resource that helps users choose evidence-based programs and policies to improve health and prevent disease in communities
  • Prevention Status Reports
    Reports that highlight—for all 50 states and the District of Columbia—the status of public health policies and practices designed to prevent or reduce 10 important public health problems
  • US Preventive Services Task Force External
    Independent panel of nonfederal experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine that conducts scientific evidence reviews of a broad range of clinical preventive health care services and develops recommendations for primary care clinicians and health systems

With my experience in the hospital, this website is suitable for the hospitals. But it can be used by any industry that wants to reduce healthcare costs for their employees by improving health and educating them with health information. The website contains evidence-based healthcare information and tools when adopted on a large scale would reduce overall healthcare costs in America. The website also has a provision for users to enter their information on ten or more website pages if the user wants. The Department of Health and Human Services has launched Healthy People 2030, with the goals for this decade as follows:
​
  • Attain healthy, thriving lives and well-being, free of preventable disease, disability, injury, and premature death.
  • Eliminate health disparities, achieve health equity, and attain health literacy to improve the health and well-being of all.
  • Create social, physical, and economic environments that promote attaining full potential for health and well-being for all.
  • Promote healthy development, healthy behaviors, and well-being across all life stages.
  • Engage leadership, key constituents, and the public across multiple sectors to take action and design policies that improve the health and well-being of all.

The update addresses personal health literacy and organizational health literacy and provides the following definitions:
​
  • Personal health literacy is the degree to which individuals have the ability to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.
  • Organizational health literacy is the degree to which organizations equitably enable individuals to find, understand, and use information and services to inform health-related decisions and actions for themselves and others.

In 2015 the U.S. spent nearly $9,000 for the health of every American — far more than what the governments of other countries spend on the health of their citizens – yet life expectancy and health outcomes are generally worse for Americans than for citizens of other developed nations in North America and Europe.

For the reasons of the high cost to treat disease in America, "disease prevention should be woven into all aspects of our lives, including where and how we live, learn, work and play. Everyone—government, businesses, educators, health care institutions, communities and every single American—has a role in creating a healthier nation.

The website has five major sections.  1. User Section: The home page entitled hospital has many links to get health information quickly. The home page is like an independent website to learn anything about healthcare. If the hospital wants to add specific information for their departments, this is the place to provide it.  2. Most Economic Burden Diseases:  Describe diseases like arthritis, diabetes, chronic diseases, health literacy, heart disease, and stroke. 3. CDC Main Categories: Data & Statistics, Diseases & Conditions, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental Health, Featured content, Global Health, Healthy Living, Injury, Violence, & Safety, State, Tribal, Local, & Territorial, Travel Health, Workplace Safety & Health, and Other. 4. Media Type: Infographics, Microsites, Videos, and Widgets & CDC TV. 5. Footer: The footer is also like an independent website available on every website page. Here employees can make comments after reading articles to get credit for CE.

About the patent Inventor: Umesh Bhargava, BS., B. Pharm., MS., Ph. D., R. Ph.  is a first-generation Indian American who completed his MS in Pharmacy from St. Louis College of Pharmacy in 1961, shown above on the left. Then started Research Assistantship on Black Walnut with Missouri University Hospital at Columbia, shown on the right. While on Research Assistantship, he did his Ph. D. in Pharmacology in 1967 with the research on Pharmacology of Ellagic Acid from Black Walnut. Ellagic Acid is a polyphenolic compound present in many fruits and vegetables which works against diabetes, heart disease, cancer, etc., that became popular on the internet between 1970 and 1990. Ellagic Acid might have popularized the consumption of fruits and vegetables in people who believed Vegan lifestyle. According to Oncologists, a published report, Ellagic Acid was the best discovery of the decades. Fruits like pomegranate, blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, cranberries, walnuts, and pecans are rich in ellagic acid.

The healthcare sector relies heavily on knowledge that is evidence-based information, diagnoses, and treatments that could be implemented quickly in a patient’s best interests. CDC and others have tried to record this knowledge and communicate through different mediums such as articles, prints, audios, microsites, videos, widgets, and other records that can be quickly and easily transmitted from one individual to another for easier use. But the healthcare industry is so complex that no matter what the delivery system is. It involves multiple professionals in diverse workplaces collaborating to deliver proper care to patients. In addition, it requires tacit knowledge in the form of expert opinion gained through years of experience. Learning is a continuous process, but the goal of this website is to increase this knowledge to provide decision-makers with the tools they need to turn information into a Permanent Tacit Health Knowledge Asset within the healthcare facility they use it.

A healthcare website can create a more efficient flow of information between all your doctors and staff; nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, and dieticians, which could ultimately increase healthcare efficiency and productivity. Developing this type of Tacit Health Knowledge Asset would decrease Healthcare Costs when adopted in most hospitals in America. On this website, I have tried to bring information from many sources outside to gain users experience. 

By using the Walnut Healthcare Global System creative tool, every hospital has a chance to achieve maximum productivity through increasing healthcare efficiency by involving multi-talented groups of people within the hospital and technology working together to reduce healthcare costs. This website provides a lifelong educational offerings experience that develops management competencies and improves professional skills vital to succeeding through this tool. A separate booklet on the Self Power Leadership is available to management upon request.
The Self Power Leadership:  An introductory guide to The Self Power Leadership and how to succeed at it.
By Umesh C. Bhargava, Ph. D., Walnut Healthcare Global System Creative Business Tool

How to Grow the Tacit Health Knowledge Asset?  This knowledge or know-how is embedded or rooted in the mind of talented people, acquired through years of experience, expanded by getting together with talented people, as it is hard to communicate on this subject, sometimes it may be better to let the minds of people speak to each other through socialization as it can increase creativity and innovation in your organization. START A DISCUSSION BETWEEN EACH OTHER PICK A TOPIC.

Generally, a royalty is an agreement between the inventor (the licensor) and manufacturer, publisher, agent, or user (the licensee). In this case, the licensor has permitted to let the other users, or the hospitals use the inventor's ideas and creations free of royalty fees, as long as the licensee keeps the intellectual property performing well by allowing the maximum benefit to both parties, the licensor, and licensee, who have interest in the success this creation. There is no single way to charge or not charge royalty rates at the beginning. When you know the value of the patents, trademark, or copyright, you’ll be able to calculate the royalty rates more accurately and decide what to do. In the beginning, a licensing agreement will be made between the licensor and the licensee, free of charge for at least one year. But each customer has to pay yearly operation fees to maintain the website. Walnut Healthcare Global System owns and will continue to develop the four websites. Customer services and educational advocacy are to be provided by Walnut Healthcare. Each hospital or business will build the Tacit Health Knowledge Asset by their plan using the website and the Walnut Healthcare Global System Creative Tools as appropriate.  Walnut Healthcare is the facilitator and completes the contractual agreements to start the process. Walnut Healthcare Global System can also add information to the customer's portion of the website at a low cost to make the site more useful to the business. We have four different websites for customers to test. For more information or questions, please contact [email protected]. 
Walnut Healthcare Global System (WHCGS) Creative Tools

The Walnut Healthcare Global System developed the Creative Tools to achieve maximum productivity through increasing health literacy involving multi-talented groups of people and technology working together to achieve the best results to reduce healthcare costs. Together with discovering the drivers of spending and spending growth in US health care. How do the organization’s strategy and decision-making processes impact total spending and value, and how to control them? Lifelong educational offerings that develop management competencies and improve professional skills are vital to succeed through this tool.

​You also need Self Power learned with experience; it is that kind of power that helps you see things through your inner eye. For “The Self Power” to work, organizations need to create an environment that encourages creativity and innovation. Creativity in art increases boundaries beyond norms; for example, in recent years, woodturning has become an artistic craving for Sarena Bhargava’s creative expression, allowing her to explore the organic splendor and diverse energy of wood to create her art. Each piece of wood has a story to share and how it is transformed into a distinctively inspired expression of beauty and function. The art in the movie can be seen in the filmography at the International Movie Database (IMBd) by clicking here. Creativity and innovations can benefit humankind in many ways – Linda Naiman, founder of Creativity at Work.  Institutions should focus on bringing together multi-talented groups of individuals who collaborate to exchange ideas and knowledge to shape different directions of the future.

Our mind works like a global brain that connects with other people using the different systems without even knowing them. For a computer to work, it needs an internet connection, the global brain works using other methods, and your mind expands manifolds and handles complex problems without any personal interference. Organizations led by such leaders would have a higher success rate in innovation, employee engagement, for any change, and renewal.

​This website is the result of three patent applications working on the following concepts:

The first patent application deals with Providing and Spreading Health Literacy in Unique ways through Websites using Phones, WhatsApp, and Computers Singularly or in Combination with the Public and Healthcare Professionals to Decrease Nation's Healthcare Costs.  The patent shows a website can effectively spread healthcare information to the public and healthcare professionals in a cost-effective manner on a large scale using 10,250 healthcare articles from the CDC   that can theoretically be increased to a maximum of 250,000. 


The second patent application deals with "Our mind works like a global brain that connects with other people using the different systems without even knowing them. For a computer to work, it needs an internet connection but, the global brain works using other methods, and your mind expands manifolds and handles complex problems without any personal interference. Organizations led by such leaders would have a higher success rate in innovation, employee engagement, any change, and renewal."

"The Walnut Healthcare Global System is a creative tool to achieve maximum productivity through increasing health literacy involving multi-talented groups of people and technology working together to achieve the best results to reduce healthcare costs. Together with discovering the drivers of spending and spending growth in US health care. How do the organization’s strategy and decision-making processes impact total spending and value, and how to control them? Lifelong educational offerings that develop management competencies and improving professional skills are vital to succeed through this tool.

The Self Power can be learned, it is that kind of power that helps you see things through your inner eye. For “The Self Power” to work, organizations need to create an environment that encourages creativity and innovation. After that, they should focus on bringing together multi-talented groups of individuals who collaborate to exchange ideas and knowledge to shape the direction of the future."

The third patent application deals with the design of the website.  The website was created by making hundreds of websites, doing research, and using art and creativity on making websites with colors for over six years. Design thinking draws upon logic, imagination, intuition, and systemic reasoning to explore all possibilities as shown on the following figure. 
Picture

​According to Linda Naiman, founder of Creativity at Work.  creativity and innovations can benefit humankind in many ways "What if you could repair your body at the cellular level? Could food be grown right in the crowded cities where people live? How far can we extend the human life span?"


“Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” Steve Jobs

“The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination.” Albert Einstein


Artist's mind works differently than other people woodturning has become an artistic craving for Sarena Bhargava’s creative expression, allowing her to explore the organic splendor and diverse energy of wood. Each piece of wood has a story to share and how it is transformed into a distinctively inspired expression of beauty and function. These creative expressions can be seen in her filmographic work at the International Movie Database (IMBd): by clicking here.

To learn about Art and Health Creative Innovations go to the following sites:

Artist Gallery (5 pages)
Complete Happiness to Cure for all Pain and Suffering

Creative Mind Expansion
​How does the Global Brain Work?
​
What is Creativity?  in Website:  
https://artandhealthadvocates.weebly.com/ (Use password 1234)
​Who is Artist?  in Website: http://www.communitycare.cc/
​Zen Happiness

From Harvard 12 ways to cut health care costs

​In the healthcare industry, the correct information can quite literally save lives—but only if professionals can have the ability to access it quickly from anywhere, at any time.  The Internet has shifted toward more patient-centered care, enabling consumers to gather health-related information themselves; communicate with care providers, health plan insurance companies, and other consumers electronically; and even be willing to receive care in the home.  Healthcare Knowledge in the form of links from many sources is shown below:

CDC A-Z Index   👈
👉A     B     C     D     E     F     G     H     I     J     K     L     M     N     O     P     Q     R     S     T     U     V     W     X     Y     Z     #
CLEAR HEALTH FROM NIH ​​​​​ 
👈
👉A   B   C   D   E   F    G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U   V   W   X   Y   Z
​
NHS A-Z LIST OF COMMON ILLNESSES AND CONDITIONS INCLUDING THEIR SYMPTOMS, CAUSES AND TREATMENTS

👉A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I  J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U     V   W   X   Y   Z


DAILYMED​         MEDLINEPLUS®        MICROMEDIX         UPTODATE 

  

A-Z INDEX (NIOSH) FOR WORKPLACE SAFETY & HEALTH TOPICS
 👉 A   B   C   D   E   F   G   H   I   J   K   L   M   N   O   P   Q   R   S   T   U    V   W   X   Y   Z  

​
​👉​OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA'S) >> A TO Z INDEX​​👈
​
Diabetes Mellites👈

  • 4 Steps to Manage Your Diabetes for Life 
  • Diabetes and Women
  • Diabetes and Your Feet
  • Diabetes Features & Spotlights
  • Diabetes-Related Press Releases and Media Advisories
  • ​Evaluation Resources
  • Fact Sheets
  • Flu & People with Diabetes
  • Gestational Diabetes
  • Gestational Diabetes and Pregnancy
  • Health Care Providers ​
  • How to Save Money on Diabetes Care
  • Infographics
  • Making Physical Activity a Part of a Child’s Life
  • Making Physical Activity a Part of an Older Adult’s Life
  • Managing Diabetes 
  • Prediabetes: Your Chance to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
  • Prevent Type 2 Diabetes in Kids
  • Reports and Publications
  • Social Media
  • Videos and Podcasts
  • Webinars and Videos

​Heart Diseases👈 

  • About Heart Disease
  • About Million Hearts® 2027
  • Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
  • Facts about Atrial Septal Defect
  • Health, United States, 2013 includes special section on prescription drugs
  • Heart Age Infographics | VitalSigns
  • Heart Disease
  • Heart Disease and Men
  • Heart Disease Facts
  • Heart Disease: It Can Happen at Any Age | CDC Features
  • Heart Disease Patient Education Handouts
  • Heart Attack Symptoms, Risk, and Recovery
  • Heart Disease Resources for Health Professionals
  • ​High Blood Pressure
  • High Blood Pressure Symptoms and Causes
  • How Cardiac Rehabilitation Can Help Heal Your Heart
  • How much physical activity do older adults need?
  • Know Your Risk for Heart Disease
  • Learn & Prevent | Million Hearts
  • Lower Your Risk for the Number 1 Killer of Women 
  • Million Hearts and Eating Well launch heart-healthy nutrition resource
  • Million Hearts® e-Updates
  • Million Hearts® Syndicated Content
  • Prevent Heart Disease
  • Snapshots of Progress - Centers for Disease Control 
  • Sodium Reduction in Communities Program (SRCP)
  • Three Things You May Not Know About CPR
  • Vital Signs: High Blood Pressure and Cholesterol-Out of Control
  • Women and Heart Disease

Additional Health & Medical Online Resources (See Disclaimer on Table below)
American Cancer Society - cancer.org
Fighting cancer with research, education, patient care, and rehabilitation.

CDC - cdc.gov
Fights disease and supports communities and citizens to do the same.

Department of Health and Human Services - hhs.gov
Principal agency for protecting the health of U.S. citizens.

Drugs.com - drugs.com
Easy-to-read drug information and useful online tools including a pill identifier.

Epocrates - epocrates.com
Point of care diagnostic and treatment information for doctors. Subscription required.

Everyday Health - everydayhealth.com
Personalized health advice, tools, and communities.

Healthline - healthline.com
Condition and procedure topics, symptom checker, and pill identifier.

Mayo Clinic - mayoclinic.org
Award-winning medical and health information for healthy living.

MedicineNet - medicinenet.com
Authoritative medical information for consumers.

Medline Plus - medlineplus.gov
Diseases, symptoms, injuries, and more with photographs and illustrations.

Medpage Today - medpagetoday.com
Latest clinical and policy coverage geared towards health care professionals.

Medscape - medscape.com
Medical information for specialists, physicians, and industry professionals.

Merck Manuals - merckmanuals.com
The world's most widely-used medical guides, available online.

NIH - nih.gov
Focal point for medical research in the United States.

OpenMD - openmd - Also see: Health Site Directory
Health search engine spanning thousands of medical organizations and government databases.

RxList - rxlist.com
Drug information for consumers and medical health professionals.

UpToDate - uptodate.com
Evidence-based clinical decision support resource for health care providers.

WebMD - webmd.com

Thousands of medical entries from abdomen to zygote.

Doctor Reviews

CareDash - caredash.com
Provider ratings and patient reviews. Make informed decisions about your health.

Castle Connoly
Top doctors based on peer nomination and review by a physician-directed research team.
castleconnolly.com

Health Grades - healthgrades.com
Details on provider's experience, patient satisfaction and hospital quality.

U.S. News Health - health.usnews.com
Directory includes 750,000+ physicians and surgeons.

Vitals - vitals.com

Find, rate or check up on a doctor in the United States. Search by location, specialty or ailment.

Zocdoc - zocdoc.com
​Find a doctor and book an appointment. Read verified doctor reviews and ratings by patients.

Medical Journals

BioMed Central - biomedcentral.com
Provides open access to hundreds of peer-reviewed medical journals.

Free Medical Journals - freemedicaljournals.com - Also see: Free Medical Books
Site that promotes and links to free full-text medical journals and resources.

JAMA - freebooks4doctors.com
The most widely circulated peer-reviewed medical journal in the world.

New England Journal of Medicine - nejm.org
Publishes new medical research findings, review articles, and editorial opinion.

PubMed Central - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Free digital archive of biomedical and life sciences journal literature.

Child and Teen Health

Girls Health - girlshealth.gov
Reliable, supportive health information for girls ages 10 to 16.

Partnership for a Drug Free America - drugfree.org
Answers and guidance on drug abuse, prevention, and treatment.

Pregnancy Helpline - thehelpline.org
Education and information for those experiencing pregnancy related issues.

Teen Health - kidshealth.org
Honest information and advice about health, relationships, and growing up.

DISCLAIMER: The following website links provide information relating to healthcare and education decisions. The website has these Internet links as a courtesy to our users. The website inventor does not take responsibility for the accuracy, availability, or content of these external site.
Medical Information web sites

  • AARP MedicareRx Plans United Healthcare
  • ​Antibiotics Dosing (Johns Hopkins)
  • DailyMed (Current Medication Information)
  • EMedicine (Online Medical Textbook)
  • F D A - US Food and Drug
  • GlobalRPh.Com 
  • Institute For Safe Medication 
  • Lexi-Comp 
  • MedicineNet.com
  • Perinatology
  • ​PREVLINE (Prevention Online)
  • PubMeD Central Journal
  • ResourceClinical - Clinical & Prescribing 
  • RPhWorld.com (Drugs, calculators)
 
 DRUG/HEALTH CARE FOR CONSUMERS
  • CVS Caremark
  • Directory of Spine Specialists 
  • Drug.Com
  • Free Medication Programs
  • Everyday Health
  • Healthline
  • Mayo Clinic Health Information Center
  • MedLine Plus Site - Drugs/Medical A-Z
  • National Library of Medicine (World's Largest Medical Library)
  • Preventive health Services
  • U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (Healthfinder.gov)
  • Walgreens (Walgreens Website)
  • WebMD 
  • Weight Watchers

HEALTH INFORMATION FOR PROFESSIONALS
  • C D C - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • ​Education Resources Information Center (ERIC)
  • www.emedicine.com
  • Hardin.MD
  • ​National Institute of Aging
  • Perinatology
  • UK National Health Service 
  • ​W H O - World Health Organization: Health Topics

NURSING WEBSITES
  • Allnurses.com
  • Anatomy of the Human Body (Gray's Anatomy) 
  • Cancer.gov
  • Family Practice Notebook
  • HardinMD
  • HIV InSite
  • NOAH: New York Online Access to Health
  • NursingCenter.Com
  • Perinatology

PEDIATRIC WEBSITES
  • American Academy of Pediatrics
  • CHADD Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • KidsHealth
  • Medem
  • MedCalculater
  • Pediatric Dosage Calculator
  • Pediatric On Call
  • Perinatology

PHYSICIAN WEBSITES
  • Americal Medical Association
  • Am Academy Family Phys
  • British Medical Journal
  • DailyMed (Current Medication Information)
  • DocFinder 
  • Family Doctor
  • Family Practice Notebook
  • Health Grades
  • Infectious Diseases Society of America
  • Medicare Participating Physician Directory
  • Medpage Today
  • MedScape (Free CME Resource For Physicians)
  • New England Journal Medicine 
  • PDQ® – National Cancer Institute
  • Perinatology

​Other Useful Links
  • Acute Care Online
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  • Alcohol may be less harmful for people over 50212K views28 Feb 2019
  • Study reveals how much fiber we should eat to prevent disease87K views11 Jan 2019
  • These common drugs may increase dementia risk63K views25 Jun 2019
  • This sleep disorder puts people at 'very high risk' of Parkinson's59K views6 Mar 2019
  • Processed foods lead to weight gain, but it's about more than calories48K views17 May 2019
  • Hypertension treatment may slow down Alzheimer's progression48K views23 Jun 2019
  • Blocking fatty acids slows prostate cancer progression46K views9 Feb 2019
  • 6 innovations from Future Healthcare 201946K views22 Mar 2019
  • Common blood pressure drug may increase cardiac arrest risk44K views18 Mar 2019
  • Intermittent fasting boosts health by strengthening daily rhythms42K views18 Jan 2019
  • Common food additive may impact gut bacteria, increase anxiety40K views22 Jan 2019
  • Is high blood pressure always bad?40K views13 Mar 2019
  • Study finds evidence of 'clear relationship' between appendectomy and Parkinson's40K views10 May 2019
  • How language shapes our brains...and our lives34K views22 Feb 2019
  • These diets and supplements may not really protect the heart34K views9 Jul 2019
  • Osteoporosis breakthrough: Bone mass increased by 800 percent30K views12 Jan 2019
  • Why do doctors underdiagnose these 3 conditions in women?30K views8 Mar 2019
  • Can social media really cause depression?28K views10 Feb 2019
  • Experimental drug may prevent Alzheimer's disease26K views16 Jan 2019
  • The 7 wonders of poop26K views1 Feb 2019
  • Hot tea may raise esophageal cancer risk26K views22 Mar 2019
  • This common food additive may fuel weight gain, diabetes26K views25 Apr 2019
  • Diabetes: Drug duo helps body replenish its insulin-producing cells24K views2 Jan 2019
  • Giving up alcohol for just 1 month has lasting benefits24K views3 Jan 2019
  • New treatment under trial could restore brain cells in Parkinson's24K views27 Feb 2019
  • How do oral bacteria make colorectal cancer more aggressive?24K views4 Mar 2019
  • New HIV vaccine could expose latent virus and kill it24K views9 Apr 2019
  • DASH diet reduced heart failure risk 'by almost half' in people under 7524K views14 May 2019
  • Common heartburn drug linked with fatal conditions24K views4 Jun 2019
  • Eating earlier in the day aids weight loss by curbing appetite24K views24 Jul 2019
  • Alzheimer's blood test detects brain damage years before symptoms22K views22 Jan 2019
  • Simple drug formula regenerates brain cells22K views11 Feb 2019
  • Higher cholesterol, egg consumption linked to heart disease22K views18 Mar 2019
  • Knee osteoarthritis: A low-carb diet may relieve symptoms22K views27 Mar 2019
  • Can scientists 'hack' memory?22K views5 Apr 2019
  • Depression and constipation: What's the link?22K views10 May 2019
  • Scorpion venom compounds can kill dangerous bacteria22K views13 Jun 2019
  • Intermittent fasting: How I got started22K views21 Jun 2019
  • Alzheimer's: What leads to brain cell damage?20K views21 Jan 2019
  • Fasting boosts metabolism and fights aging20K views4 Feb 2019
  • New stem cells could be 'universally transplanted'20K views19 Feb 2019
  • New device can detect cancer in just a drop of blood20K views26 Feb 2019
  • The FDA approve esketamine nasal spray for severe depression20K views8 Mar 2019
  • Does eating mushrooms protect brain health?20K views15 Mar 2019
  • Why too much vitamin D can be a bad thing20K views25 Mar 2019
  • What does science say about the effects of meditation?20K views29 Mar 2019
  • Could this protein explain why migraine is more common in women?20K views9 Apr 2019
  • 5-minute breathing 'workout' may benefit heart and brain health20K views10 Apr 2019
  • Can purple corn reduce inflammation, diabetes?20K views17 Apr 2019
  • Muscle-building protein shakes may threaten health20K views3 May 2019
  • Scientists discover anti-aging potential in old drug20K views29 May 2019    
  • ​Are dogs better at detecting cancer 'than advanced technology?'20K views19 Jun 2019
  • Exercise may increase lifespan 'regardless of past activity levels'20K views29 Jun 2019
  • Giving up alcohol may significantly boost mental health20K views8 Jul 2019
  • Have researchers found a new risk factor for schizophrenia?18K views14 Jan 2019
  • Stool transplants from 'super donors' could be a cure-all18K views22 Jan 2019
  • Are we facing a Parkinson's pandemic?18K views3 Feb 2019
  • Keto diet: New study unearths sex differences18K views26 Mar 2019
  • Some brain functions may be restored after death, pig study suggests18K views18 Apr 2019
  • Rice and obesity: Is there a link?18K views3 May 2019
  • Can this food additive turn our gut bacteria against us?18K views14 May 2019
  • People with fibromyalgia have different gut bacteria18K views24 Jun 2019
  • Cardiovascular risk linked not to weight, but to body fat storage18K views1 Jul 2019
  • Why do women have less sex as they age?18K views11 Jul 2019
  • How do our emotions affect our immune response?16K views5 Jan 2019
  • Melanoma mortality rates vary across the country16K views24 Jan 2019
  • Humans can learn new foreign words while asleep16K views5 Feb 2019
  • Nature vs. nurture: Do genes influence our morals?16K views27 Feb 2019
  • Psychedelics: Risks and benefits of microdosing revealed16K views4 Mar 2019
  • Alzheimer's disease: An eye test could provide early warning16K views18 Mar 2019
  • Study links severe gum disease to raised dementia risk16K views20 Mar 2019
  • Can a blood pressure drug protect the brain from Parkinson's?16K views23 Apr 2019
  • Could gut bacteria explain the link between stress and autoimmune disease?16K views16 May 2019
  • What are the perks and problems of being a night owl?16K views14 Jun 2019
  • Poor sleep may hinder weight loss, study shows16K views2 Jul 2019
  • Chronic fatigue syndrome: New evidence of immune role14K views1 Jan 2019
  • ALS: A new therapy may be in sight14K views17 Jan 2019
  • How your immune system uses chaos to prevent disease14K views22 Jan 2019
  • High blood pressure linked to zinc deficiency14K views29 Jan 2019
  • How safe are e-cigarettes? The debate continues14K views12 Feb 2019
  • Marijuana may be risky for those with heart disease14K views18 Feb 2019
  • Vitamin D and brain health: New mechanism may explain link14K views25 Feb 2019
  • Single injection gives mammals night vision14K views4 Mar 2019
  • New brain stimulation therapy is effective against depression14K views12 Mar 2019
  • Ovarian cancer: New drug may prevent recurrence14K views14 Mar 2019
  • Skin moisturizer could reduce risk of disease14K views17 Mar 2019
  • More evidence links weight gain to meal times14K views25 Mar 2019
  • Could probiotics evolve in the gut and cause harm?14K views29 Mar 2019
  • Chili pepper compound may slow down lung cancer14K views9 Apr 2019
  • How ketamine can change the brain to fight depression14K views24 Apr 2019
  • Does living alone increase mental health risk?14K views2 May 2019
  • How Pokémon characters can help us understand the brain14K views12 May 2019
  • How do we recall the past? New mechanism revealed14K views22 May 2019
  • Night owls' health may benefit from 'simple' routine adjustments14K views10 Jun 2019
  • World first: Researchers completely remove HIV from mice14K views3 Jul 2019
  • Spinach supplement may increase muscle strength14K views5 Jul 2019
  • How doctors got it wrong: 3 'conditions' they no longer recognize14K views12 Jul 2019
  • What happens when you remove fluoride from tap water?12K views4 Jan 2019
  • Insomnia breakthrough: Scientists identify 5 types12K views17 Jan 2019
  • 'Reprogramming' immune cells to attack cancer tumors12K views22 Jan 2019

HELPFUL LINKS

  • American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
  • American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology
  • Pollen Forecasts
  • American Board of Allergy and Immunology
Clinical Resources and Tools

​Clinical Tools:
  • Maternal Patient Safety Bundles developed by the former Council on Patient Safety in Women’s Health Care.
  • Maternal Early Warning Signs (MEWS) Protocol developed by the former Council on Patient Safety in Women’s Health Care.
  • Toolkit for Improving Perinatal Safety developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).
  • Guide to Patient and Family Engagement in Hospital Quality and Safety developed by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ).

Healthcare Professional Education:
  • POST-BIRTH Warning Signs Education Program developed by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).
  • Back to Basics: Foundations for Mindful Care developed by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).
  • Eliminating Preventable Maternal Mortality and Morbidity from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
  • Maternal Cardiac Conditions: Addressing a Leading Cause of Pregnancy-Related Death--Webinar hosted by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).

Implicit Bias and Stigma:
  • March of Dimes’ Professional Education, including Implicit Bias Training focused on maternity care.
  • Beyond Labels: Reducing Stigma developed by March of Dimes.
  • SPEAK UP Program by the Institute for Perinatal Quality Improvement.
    • Video: A Physician Shares Stories about Listening to Black Women
  • AWHONN Insights Podcast: The Impact of Implicit Bias in Healthcare
  • Healthy Equity, Implicit Bias, Stigma & Antiracism developed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services.

​Health Equity and Cultural Awareness:
  • American Medical Association (AMA) Center for Health Equity.
  • Importance of Social Determinants of Health and Cultural Awareness in the Delivery of Reproductive Health Careexternal icon by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG).
  • Birth Equity developed by the Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN).
  • Think Cultural Healthexternal icon developed by the Office of Minority Health.
  • The EveryONE Project™ developed by the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Additional resources related to maternal health and pregnancy-related complications.