Pregnancy occurs when a  sperm  fertilizes an egg after it’s released from the  ovary  during  ovulation . The fertilized egg then travels down into the  uterus , where implantation occurs. A successful implantation results in pregnancy. On average, a full-term pregnancy lasts 40 weeks. There are many factors that can affect a pregnancy. Women who receive an early pregnancy diagnosis and  prenatal care  are more likely to experience a healthy pregnancy and give birth to a healthy baby. Knowing what to expect during the full pregnancy term is important for monitoring both your health and the health of the baby. If you’d like to prevent pregnancy, there are also effective forms of  birth control  you should keep in mind. Symptoms of pregnancy You may notice some signs and symptoms before you even take a pregnancy test. Others will appear weeks later, as  your hormone levels change . Missed period A missed period is one of the earliest...

Adapted from Massachusetts General Hospital. X-rays are a type of radiation called electromagnetic waves. X-ray imaging creates pictures of the inside of your body. The images show the parts of your body in different shades of black and white. This is because different tissues absorb different amounts of radiation. Calcium in bones absorbs x-rays the most, so bones look white. Fat and other soft tissues absorb less and look gray. Air absorbs the least, so lungs look black. The most familiar use of x-rays is checking for  fractures (broken bones), but x-rays are also used in other ways. For example, chest x-rays can spot pneumonia. Mammograms use x-rays to look for breast cancer. When you have an x-ray, you may wear a lead apron to protect certain parts of your body. The amount of radiation you get from an x-ray is small. For example, a chest x-ray gives out a radiation dose similar to the amount of radiation you're naturally exposed to from the environment over 10 days. Culled from...

Adapted from Bioninja What is an ECG or an EKG?   An electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) is a test that checks how your heart is functioning by measuring the electrical activity of the heart. With each heart beat, an electrical impulse (or wave) travels through your heart. This wave causes the muscle to squeeze and pump blood from the heart. An ECG measures and records the electrical activity that passes through the heart. A doctor can determine if this electrical activity is normal or irregular. An ECG may be recommended if you are experiencing  arrhythmia ,  chest pain , or palpitations and an abnormal ECG result can be a signal of a number of different  heart conditions . Culled from www.heartandstroke.ca