Symptom Management

• Menstrual Cycle: Dealing With Cramps

  Most women have painful cramps from their period from time to time. The good news is that you can usually relieve cramps with over-the-counter medicine and home treatment. Pain medicine and home treatment can help ease cramps. Stay ahead of the pain. Take over-the-counter pain medicine, such as ibuprofen (Advil, for...

• PTSD: Having a Plan

  Learn how to plan ahead for coping with stress and symptoms at home.

• Atrial Fibrillation: Managing Your Symptoms

  Learn how to manage your symptoms and live better with a-fib.

• Stories From People Controlling Their Asthma

  Hear how others with asthma have learned to control their symptoms.

• Heart Failure: Avoiding Triggers for Sudden Heart Failure

  Tells how to prevent sudden heart failure. Covers symptoms and lists triggers that lead to congestive heart failure: too much salt, too much exercise, and taking medicines wrong. Encourages staying with diet, medicine, and exercise plan.

• Parkinson's Disease: Other Symptoms

  Most people know that Parkinson's disease is a condition that affects how you move. But the breakdown of nerve cells in Parkinson's disease can cause other symptoms. These other symptoms, also called "non-motor" symptoms, include: Constipation. This is a common problem, mostly related to the breakdown of...

• Croup: Managing a Croup Attack

  Using techniques to help your child control symptoms of croup can help prevent the need to see a doctor at a clinic or emergency room. These techniques focus on keeping your child's airway open to make breathing easier. Keep calm and soothe your child. Anxiety and panic can make symptoms worse. Recognize that...

• Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Controlling Symptoms With Diet

  Covers controlling irritable bowel syndrome with diet. Discusses limiting foods that may make symptoms like bloating or diarrhea worse. Explains importance of adding fiber to your diet, drinking plenty of water, and getting regular exercise.

• Arthritis: Managing Rheumatoid Arthritis

  Covers creating and following a plan to help manage symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Discusses early treatment with exercise and medicine to limit joint damage. Includes tips for coping with chronic joint pain, fatigue, and stiffness.

• GERD: Controlling Heartburn by Changing Your Habits

  Symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can be painful and, if allowed to continue, can lead to complications including esophagitis. Esophagitis is irritation or inflammation of the esophagus. You can make changes to your lifestyle to help relieve your symptoms of GERD. Here are some things to try...

• Lymphedema: Managing Lymphedema

  Discusses steps to avoid swelling from lymphedema if you've had lymph nodes removed or had radiation, especially for cancer. Covers how to prevent infection. Includes exercise to help circulation. Includes care of affected arm or leg, and skin and nails.

• PTSD: Checking In With Yourself

  Learn how to check on how you're feeling during or after PTSD treatment.

• Heart Failure: Symptom Record

  Use this form to describe the severity of your heart failure symptoms and whether they get worse. Also, record any new symptoms that develop. Take this form with you when you visit your doctor. Describe severity of symptoms and when they started...

• Heart Rhythm Problems: Diary of Symptoms

  If your doctor thinks you might have a heart rhythm problem, he or she may ask you to keep a diary of symptoms. This information can help your doctor find out what type of rhythm problem you have. And if you have a rhythm problem, a symptom diary...

• How to Track Your Stress

  You may not know what is causing your stress , exactly how your body responds to stress, or how you cope with stress. To find out, keep a record to track the times you feel stressed. Write down: What may have triggered the stress. Guess, if you aren't sure. How you felt and behaved in response to the stressful...

• Diary of Symptoms

  You can help your doctor diagnose and treat your condition by being prepared to answer questions about your symptoms. Since some symptoms are difficult to describe, it is helpful to write down information about your symptoms as you experience them...

• Preeclampsia: Expectant Management

  Expectant management, or observation, is sometimes used to manage complications of a high-risk pregnancy. Depending on the severity of your preeclampsia, you may need expectant management at home or in the hospital. Expectant management at home requires reduced activity and careful checking and daily recording of...

• Heartburn Symptom Record

  Record Answer questions Date and time of day: ________ Date and time of day: ________ Date and time of day: ________ Symptoms What were your symptoms? How long did the heartburn last? Do you have any other symptoms, such as asthma, hoarseness, or stomach pain? Does pain radiate to another part of your...