A "serious health condition" is an illness, injury, impairment or physical or mental condition that involves: in-patient care in a hospital, hospice or residential medical care facility; or continuing treatment by a health care provider. In general, if you or your family member are incapacitated for more than three consecutive days, seeing a doctor or other health care provider at least twice within 30 days (the first visit must take place within 7 days of the incapacity), and under a regimen of continuing treatment by the health care provider, you or your family member are considered to have a condition that "involves continuing treatment by a health care provider," and are thus protected under the FMLA even if no hospitalization is involved. However, a regimen of continuing treatment that includes the taking of over-the-counter medications or bed-rest or other similar activities that can be initiated without a visit to a health care provider is not, by itself, sufficient to constitute a regimen of continuing treatment for the purposes of FMLA leave. Some examples of conditions generally considered "serious" are: heart conditions, strokes, back conditions, injuries caused by accidents, pregnancy and related conditions such as miscarriages and morning sickness, cancer, asthma, pneumonia, diabetes, epilepsy, serious infections, Alzheimer's, and arthritis. There are many other health conditions not on this list that could also be considered serious health conditions.