Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

At home, you can care for an infected ingrown fingernail by soaking it in warm, soapy water, gently cleaning it, and using over-the-counter antibiotic cream, but if the infection worsens, seeing a doctor is important.

For an ingrown finger nail, you can start with gentle home care like warm soaks, careful nail trimming, and keeping the area clean. However, if the pain or swelling gets worse, it's important to see a doctor.

Incomplete bowel movements can be managed by making changes to diet, exercise, bathroom habits, and sometimes using medications or techniques to help the muscles work better.

When kidneys are not working well, waste can build up in your body and disturb the balance of minerals, which can harm your nerves and cause numbness. It's important to talk to you doctor if you have numbness in multiple body parts or chronic kidney disease of any kind.

Kidneys are a common cause of flank pain. Staying well hydrated, eating a balanced diet, and managing any underlying health conditions are likely beneficial no matter the cause of the pain.

Managing mental exhaustion during pregnancy can include getting enough rest, ensuring adequate nutrition and exercise, talking to someone you trust, and using simple relaxation techniques to help you feel better.

Tailbone pain during pregnancy can be eased by using supportive cushions when sitting, shifting positions often, doing gentle stretches, and applying warm or cold packs. If the pain continues, it's important to talk with a healthcare provider for safe advice.

Tailbone pain from sitting long hours at a desk can be eased by using proper cushioning, changing positions often, and doing gentle stretches to relieve pressure.

Heat exhaustion is less severe and usually comes with heavy sweating and weakness, while heat stroke is more serious with high body temperature, confusion, and sometimes little or no sweating.

Cryptic pregnancy is quite rare and occurs when a person is unaware they are pregnant until very late, often until delivery. Its signs are subtle, sometimes including minimal weight gain, few typical pregnancy symptoms, or irregular menstrual-like bleeding.

Upper left abdominal pain is common and often due to stomach issues. However, there are other causes to consider.

You might have an infected fingernail if it is red, swollen, painful, or producing pus, and treatment options vary from home care like warm soaks and creams to prescription medications for more severe infections.

A warm soak helps by softening both the skin and nail, which reduces pain and swelling and makes it easier to gently manage an ingrown toenail. It is done by soaking your toe in warm water for about 15 minutes a few times a day.

IBS can change how your gut works, making it harder to fully empty your bowels. This happens because the muscles and nerves in your intestines don’t always work the way they should.

Morning sickness can start as early as around 4 weeks after your last menstrual period, but most women begin to notice it between 4 and 6 weeks. However, the timing can vary from one pregnancy to another.

Fungal nail infections are diagnosed by looking closely at the nail and doing tests on nail scrapings. They are usually treated with creams or pills that fight the fungus.

An abdominal hematoma lump is diagnosed using a physical exam and imaging tests like an ultrasound or CT scan. Treatment varies based on severity—it may involve rest and pain relief or, in more serious cases, surgery.

Ingrown toenail removal is a minor surgical procedure where the problematic part of the nail, and sometimes a bit of the tissue around it, is removed under local anesthesia. After the procedure, you can expect some soreness and should focus on careful wound care until your toe heals.

Heat exhaustion symptoms usually improve within a few hours once you cool down and rehydrate, but in some cases, they might last for up to a day or two.

Tylenol, or acetaminophen, is a commonly used over-the-counter medication for pain relief and fever reduction. It takes about 30-60 minutes to start working after taking it.

Morning sickness is most common in the first trimester and typically lasts from several weeks up to about 12 to 16 weeks of pregnancy.

For a mild infected cuticle, home care treatments include gentle warm soaks and using over-the-counter antiseptic creams, but if the infection worsens, you should see a doctor.

Treat an infection next to your fingernail by keeping the area clean with warm soaks and applying antibiotic cream, and if the infection worsens, see a doctor for possible drainage or oral antibiotics.

Some early pregnancy signs may show up about a week after conception, but most reliable detection happens around the time of a missed period.

A painless lump between the scrotum and anus is often not a sign of a serious problem, but it is still wise to have it checked by a doctor if it changes size, shape, or is accompanied by other symptoms.

Stomach aches during early pregnancy can be normal, but it's important to recognize when pain requires medical attention.

It is common to have some discomfort two weeks after toenail removal as your toe is still healing, but if the pain gets worse or is very severe, you should check in with your doctor.

Numbness in the lower abdomen is not very common and can be a sign of a nerve or spinal cord problem that may need further evaluation. It is important to talk to a doctor if you experience numbness along with other symptoms.

Yes, if you purposely scratch yourself to cope with strong feelings, it can be considered a form of self-harm. It happens when scratching is used to manage emotional pain rather than as an accidental injury.

While self-harm may feel like an addiction due to strong, recurring urges to self-injure, it differs fundamentally from drug or alcohol addiction. Though both involve cravings and habitual behaviors, the underlying reasons for these behaviors are distinct.