Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

You should stay home from the flu until you have no fevers for 24 hours while not taking anti-fever medication and you're feeling better to go back to work or school.

The cost of cataract surgery is going to vary significantly based on your insurance, your doctor, the exact type of surgery and where you live in the United States. Very roughly, the cost can range anywhere from $3000-$6000 per eye.

Clubbed fingers/clubbed nails describe a condition where the fingernails become curved from the front to the back. In essence, they start to look like "clubs".

The most common medications to treat benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH) work in two major ways: relax the smooth muscles so urine flows out more freely and shrink the size of the prostate that is blocking urine flow. Alpha-adrenergic receptor blockers (alpha-blockers) and PDE5 inhibitors are the most common and help relax smooth muscle. 5 alpha-reductase inhibitors work by shrinking the size of the prostate.

While life expectancy has been increasing for people with multiple sclerosis (MS), recent evidence suggests life expectancy is lower (about 7 years) than the general population. However, there is considerable variation in disease progression on an individual basis.

The majority of people with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HOCM) will not have symptoms. Symptoms that lead to finding HOCM are non-specific and include heart palpitations, fainting, dizzines, shortness of breath and fatigue.

Crohn's disease is diagnosed by a combination of endoscopy (internal camera that looks at the stomach, intestines) and MRI or CT scans. Blood and stool samples will also be tested.

Consume foods rich in iron and vitamins such as beef, liver, fish, legumes (lentils, chickpeas) and dark leafy green vegetables.

Covid-19 Symptoms typically develop within 2-14 days after exposure to the virus.

Anisakiasis is diagnosed and can be treated with endoscpoy to remove the parasite worms.

Management of other chronic diseases, a healthy diet along with regular moderate exercise and maintaining social connections are recommended. There are no particular medications specific to this condition.

Yes, there are several drugs to treat ADHD that are both stimulants and non-stimulants. Additionally, behavioral health therapy along with lifestyle modifications are also recommended.

Yes, asthma attacks can be fatal. Recognizing the signs of an asthma attack and initiating treatment quickly is critical.

Diagnosis of osteoporosis is done by a bone mineral density scan (DEXA scan). Other tests that may be done include x-rays, blood and urine testing to look for an underlying cause of the osteoporosis.

Most people have little to no pain with a colonoscopy. Patients who have had colon surgery or women who have had a hysterectomy (removal of their uterus) are at higher risk of experiencing pain.

For most patients with dementia, ensuring cues are in place for daytime vs. nighttime, avoiding napping during the day and reviewing medications with your health care provider are critical.

Left untreated, tenosynovitis can lead to joint stiffness, chronic pain and loss of range of motion that may necessitate surgery to try and repair.

Most helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infections result in no symptoms.

Yes, stress can be a cause of or even worsen narcolepsy

Lung cancer often metastasizes to the brain, liver, bones, and adrenal glands.

For men, symptoms may include discharge from the penis, burning with urination, and testicular pain. For women, symptoms may include vaginal discharge or bleeding as well as burning with urination. However, many men and women will have no symptoms with gonorrhea, which is why routine testing or testing after potential exposure is critical.

Signs of heatstroke in children include severe headache, confusion, nasuea/vomiting, rapid breathing as well as decreased sweating and urination.

The difference between hemorrhoids and anal cancer are the appearance and hardness. Anal cancer will feel harder than hemorrhoids and may be buldging out of the anus more.

There is no guaranteed remedy to cure hoarseness or loss of your voice in a day.

Sinusitis is considered acute if it lasts up to 4 weeks. It is considered chronic if symptoms persist beyond 12 weeks.

While new treatments are being investigated in clinical trials, there is not yet a FDA-approved cure for spinocerebellar degeneration disease, also known as spinocerebellar ataxia. Rather, treatment is focused on symptom management with medications for things like muscle spasms and maintenance of mobilty with exercise, physical and occupational therapy.

If you are concerned you have obstructive sleep apnea, you should conduct your primary care provider first for evaluation. If it is sleep apnea, a sleep medicine specialist will evaluate with a sleep study.

Patients with hypophasphatasia (HPP) will have blood tests that show abnormally low alkaline phosphatase (ALP), increased levels of ALP breakdown products like pyrophosphates and increased levels of calcium in the blood.

Recurring fevers at night in adults may be caused by many different things like cancers, infections and autoimmune diseases.

Generally, you should see a doctor if you are: 1. Unable to keep any liquids down for more than a day at a time 2. Develop fevers and intensely worsening abdominal pain 3. Notice blood in your stools or vomit.

Eat in moderation, avoid heavy drinking and exercise moderately.

Commonly, an upset stomach is caused by gas or bloating from benign causes like poor digestion of certain foods or additives.

Heart palpitations are a sensation felt in your chest as though your heart was beating stronger or faster than usual.

If you experience chest discomfort, shortness of breath, a feeling like you might lose consciousness, or the palpitations seem to be getting worse, you should discuss with a health care provider.

Low back pain may arise from an issue with the spine itself or may less commonly be a symptom of other underlying diseases.

Absolutely. The classic symptoms of a herniated disc include low back pain that extends down the buttocks and into the legs.

Yes. Prior studies suggest up to 4050% of women experience low back pain (LBP) during a period.

Consider going to the emergency room (ER) for back pain if it is extremely intense, accompanied by difficultly walking or standing, or a loss of bowel or bladder control.

If you have persistent worsening back pain you should see your healthcare provider particularly if accompanied by difficultly walking or standing, or a loss of bowel or bladder control.

Most definitely. There are few back conditions that do NOT benefit back pain.

General diet recommendations for kidney stones include drinking plenty of water, eating foods with enough calcium and avoiding certain foods.

If you haven't had a bowel movement for more than 57 days and also have pain, nausea or even vomiting, please seek further medical attention.

Symptoms of congestive heart failure include shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, swelling in the stomach, swelling in the legs and overall decreased energy.

It seems that the large majority of people (>80%) will completely recover their sense of taste or smell in about one month after COVID infection.

Foods that are good for your body are the same ones that are good for your liver. These include wholefoods that are high in fiber and unprocessed.

Fractures and stress fractures, bacterial infections such as cellulitis, and gout should be considered.

Diabetes and gout are common diseases that can lead to pain in the soles of the feet.

When only parts of the toes or between the toes feel numb, there may be some nerve compression.

Tense neck muscles, whiplash, and a pinched nerve are possible considerations.

Stomach pain in the back when lying down facing up can be a result of stomach gas/bloating, positional discomfort or less commonly a disease of the pancreas and surrounding organs.

Injuries from sports, nerve damage in the lower back, blood clots, varicose veins and skin diseases can cause calf pain in just one leg.

Bug bites may get swollen, red or hardened due to an allergic reaction or infection.

Pain in the shoulder is often due to issues in the joints of the shoulder or neck. Less commonly, left shoulder pain may be caused by diseases of internal organs such as the heart or gallbladder.

Causes of abdominal pain run the gamut from benign to lifethreatening. It may be a pulled or strained abdominal wall muscle, damaged nerve, broken bone or issues with internal organs.

Early symptoms of COVID infection often include fever, sore throat, cough, fatigue, and headache.

The toxic range of acetaminophen (7,500 15,000mg) is much higher than the recommended one time dose range for an adult (1000mg). Most people do not have symptoms in the first 24 hours. If you are concerned you took too much acetaminophen, seek further medical evaluation.

One week after your period ends is the time of ovulation or release of an egg. You may get some lighter bleeding due to hormonal shifts that happen after your period.

The "normal range" for blood pressure is defined as a systolic blood pressure below 120 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure below 80 mmHg.

If you have COVID, you should seek medical attention when experiencing severe symptoms like trouble breathing, trouble maintaining consciousness, or concerns for dehydration. You should also seek medical attention for COVID if you fall into a group at high risk for severe COVID illness so you can discuss antiviral treatment.

Sore throat, or pharyngitis, without a fever can be caused by a variety of things like infections, seasonal allergies and acid reflux.

Muscle soreness in the arms is most often due to strenuous exertion, overuse or injuries. Effective treatments include rest, massage, icing, graded return to activity and the use of antiinflammatory medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Pain in the shoulder is often due to issues in the joints of the shoulder or neck. Less commonly, right shoulder pain may be caused by diseases of internal organs such as the heart, lungs or gallbladder.

While general dosing guidelines are on packaging, it is important to remember that dosing varies on weight, indication and other underlying diseases.

Infectious gastroenteritis caused by bacteria and viruses is a likely and common cause of those symptoms.

Pain in the chest can occur from COVID infection for a variety of reasons like musculoskeletal pain associated with fever and cough, pneumonia or inflammation of the heart.

Numbness in one leg can be caused by a variety of conditions ranging from benign (your leg falling asleep) to serious (stroke).

Muscle and spine pain in the back is now considered a lingering after effect of COVID19 infection.

Infectious diseases, cancer, autoimmune or inflammatory diseases are the main disease categories to consider with those symptoms in isolation.

Pain in the middle of the back is mostly commonly due to a bone or muscle issue, but less commonly can be an issue with the stomach, pancreas, kidneys or aorta.

Absolutely, it is effective for sore throat pain caused by pharyngitis.

Both depression and anxiety are characterized by changes in appetite, declines in energy and motivation, as well as changes in work performance.

Suicidal thoughts can be caused by a variety of mental health conditions like that includes grief, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and substance use disorders.

Daytime sleepiness in women can be caused by a variety of things like iron deficiency, diabetes, menopause, depression, pregnancy, sleep apnea syndrome or simply overexertion and stress.

Yes, a respiratory virus like COVID19 can cause inflammation in the throat that then leads to hoarseness.

You want to avoid foods high in purines because they get broken down into uric acid which can then lead to a gout flare as the uric acid crystals build up in your joints.

It is not uncommon for the lower back to hurt during a fever due to the body’s inflammatory response to infection and sometimes due to infection in the back itself.

Fever alone is not necessarily harmful. However, taking a medication like TylenolⓇ (acetaminophen) is a good option if you aren’t feeling well due to the fever.

A wide ranges of diseases can cause leftsided abdominal pain that often involve the underlying organs in that area.

A whole variety of conditions can make you feel sluggish or even feverish without actually measuring a fever.

Headache and fever at the same time can be from a wide range of things: the benign (common cold) to the more serious (bacterial meningitis, brain tumor).

Methods such as holding one's breath or drinking cold water are considered effective. For persistent or refractory conditions, oral medication may be used for treatment as well as a search for other underlying causes of the hiccups.

Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease (HFMD) is generally a minor illness. However, consider seeking further guidance for those younger than 6 months of age, a weakened immune system, fever persisting beyond 5 days or inability to take fluids due to sore throat.

Both medications are good options for symptom relief from a sore throat.

Diseases such as gallbladder and bile duct diseases, gastric and duodenal ulcers, urinary tract stones, pyelonephritis and musculoskeletal causes are all some potential causes.

There are many causes of back pain that come from issues with the muscle, bone, overlying skin or nearby organs like the lung, kidney, or gallbladder.

Following COVID infection, it is common for a fever of 38℃/100.4°F or higher to last for anywhere from 210 days.

The cause of foot pain in the soles often times varies depending on the location of the pain.