Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

Glaucoma is not curable and is typically a lifelong condition; optic nerve damage cannot be reversed, but lowering eye pressure with drops, lasers, or surgery can slow progression and help preserve vision. There are several factors to consider, including early detection, strict treatment adherence, and your personal risk profile. See below for details on monitoring frequency, treatment options, lifestyle steps, and when to seek urgent care.

Yes: nearsightedness is linked to a higher risk of glaucoma, especially primary open-angle glaucoma, and the risk rises with severity (about 1.7x for low myopia, ~2.5x for moderate, ~3.3x for high). There are several factors to consider. See below for why myopic eye structure increases vulnerability and can hide early disease, the key warning signs, and the recommended exam schedule and treatment options that could shape your next steps.

For most healthy adults, Premier Protein can be a convenient, low sugar, moderate calorie way to meet protein needs and support muscle recovery. There are several factors to consider, and the details below can guide your next steps. Key considerations include artificial sweeteners and dairy tolerance, cost compared with whole foods, and extra caution for those with kidney or liver issues; who benefits most and how to use it wisely are outlined below.

Midodrine raises blood pressure by tightening blood vessels and is used for orthostatic hypotension and, in select cases of advanced liver disease, to support kidney function. Doctors emphasize knowing who benefits, watching for side effects including supine hypertension and urinary retention, following three times daily dosing away from bedtime, and monitoring lying and standing blood pressure while staying hydrated and considering compression stockings. There are several factors to consider; see below for complete details that could affect your next steps.

Early symptoms of glaucoma can be subtle, such as patchy blind spots and gradual loss of side vision, halos around lights, slow adaptation to darkness, occasional blurred vision, mild eye aching or brow headaches, and sometimes eye redness. Because many people have no early symptoms at all, your risk factors and the need for timely eye exams are crucial to next steps; there are several factors to consider, so see the complete details below.

Nurtec, or rimegepant, is used for migraines in adults in two ways: it treats an acute migraine attack with or without aura, and it helps prevent episodic migraine when taken on a regular schedule. There are several factors to consider, including who should use it, dosing and how quickly it works, possible side effects, liver or kidney limits, pregnancy and breastfeeding questions, and drug interactions. See the complete answer below to understand more and decide on next steps with your clinician.

If you have a parent, sibling, or child with primary open-angle glaucoma, your risk is about 3 to 4 times higher than average; siblings may face up to around a 10 percent lifetime risk versus about 2 to 3 percent in the general population. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand how age, eye pressure, corneal thickness, optic nerve appearance, and race influence your individual risk and to review screening recommendations and next steps.

Start with cool liquids for the first 24 hours, move to purees and very soft foods on days 2 to 3, then soft solids like mashed potatoes, eggs, oatmeal, and very tender shredded meats on days 4 to 7, and slowly return to regular foods after a week while avoiding straws, hot, hard, crunchy, sticky, or seedy foods. There are several factors to consider, including staying well hydrated, prioritizing protein and healthy fats, keeping foods cool, and recognizing warning signs like worsening pain, fever, pus, or persistent numbness that mean you should contact your surgeon. See the complete guidance below for specific food lists, timing, what to avoid, and when to seek care.

Early detection of glaucoma is crucial because it often has no early symptoms yet can cause irreversible vision loss; catching it early lets your eye doctor lower eye pressure, slow progression by up to 50 percent, preserve vision and independence, and may reduce treatment burden and costs. There are several factors to consider, from personal risk and screening timing to the most useful tests and treatments; see the full guidance below to decide your next steps, including when to book a comprehensive eye exam.

Eye drops are used because they directly lower intraocular pressure by either reducing the eye’s fluid production or increasing its drainage, which protects the optic nerve and slows or prevents vision loss; they are the first-line treatment since they are effective, targeted, and easy to use at home. There are several factors to consider, including which drug class is best, proper drop technique, adherence, side effects, and when laser or surgery might be needed; see below for details that can guide your next steps and follow-up care.

It often advances quietly because early damage targets peripheral vision while central sight stays sharp, the brain fills in missing areas, and there is usually no pain; optic nerve injury can continue from fluctuating or even normal eye pressure. There are several factors to consider, including age, family history, eye-to-eye differences, and missed drops or visits; see below for warning signs, when to get screened, and the next steps that could change your care plan.

Glaucoma is called the silent thief of sight because it causes progressive, irreversible damage to the optic nerve that usually starts without pain or early warning, gradually stealing peripheral vision before noticeable changes occur. There are several factors to consider, including who is at higher risk, how to catch it early with routine eye exams, and which symptoms require urgent care; see below for key tests, treatment options, and the right next steps.

Yes. Glaucoma can affect just one eye at first, and some secondary types or an acute angle-closure attack can be truly confined to one eye, but most forms put both eyes at risk and often start asymmetrically. Important details on which types behave this way, red-flag symptoms, how it is diagnosed, and treatments to protect the other eye are explained below so you can plan the right next steps.

Yes. Comprehensive routine eye exams can detect glaucoma early by measuring eye pressure, examining the optic nerve, and checking visual fields, often before symptoms appear; advanced imaging like OCT may also be used, but no single test confirms it alone. There are several factors to consider, including age and family risk, how often to be screened, limitations like normal tension glaucoma, and urgent symptoms that need immediate care. See below for the complete answer and next steps to protect your vision.

Yes, you can sleep with a lidocaine patch if you keep it on for no more than 12 hours, apply before bed and remove in the morning, and do not use more than three patches at once. There are several factors to consider, like rotating sites and watching for irritation, and special cautions with liver disease, drug interactions, or imaging, so review the important details below to decide your next steps.

Yes, young people can get glaucoma, including juvenile open-angle, congenital, and secondary types, and it can permanently damage vision if not treated early. Family history, certain genes, eye injuries, and long-term steroid use raise risk, and because early glaucoma is often symptom free, regular eye exams and prompt treatment matter; there are several factors to consider, see below for warning signs, tests, and the best next steps.

Colace, or docusate sodium, is an over-the-counter stool softener that draws water into stool to make bowel movements easier without cramping; doctors recommend it for short-term constipation or to prevent straining, typically 50 to 400 mg daily (often 100 mg twice daily) with a full glass of water for no more than 7 days. There are several safety factors and red flags to consider, including diarrhea or cramps at higher doses, dehydration risk in older adults, special guidance in liver disease, avoiding mineral oil near dosing, and seeking care for severe pain, vomiting, blood or black stools, fever, weight loss, or symptoms lasting more than a week; see the complete guidance below for when Colace may not be enough and what to try next.

Five key doctor warnings about enemas: electrolyte imbalances and dehydration, mucosal injury including rare ischemic colitis, bowel perforation, dependency with disrupted bowel function, and infection or microbiome disruption. There are several factors to consider; see below for who is at higher risk, safer use tips, and red flags that need urgent care. People with kidney disease, immune compromise, recent colorectal surgery, active IBD or diverticulitis, or severe hemorrhoids should consult a clinician first, and anyone who develops severe pain, bleeding, fever, dizziness, chest symptoms, or dehydration signs should seek immediate care; full guidance and alternatives like fiber and osmotic laxatives are outlined below.

Glaucoma causes vision loss when fluid buildup raises intraocular pressure and reduces blood flow, damaging the optic nerve and killing retinal ganglion cells; this typically begins with peripheral vision loss and can become permanent if untreated. There are several factors to consider, including the type of glaucoma, your risk factors, early warning signs, and treatments that can slow or prevent further damage. See below for the complete answer with details that could guide your next steps and when to seek care.

Glaucoma without symptoms is detected during a comprehensive eye exam that combines intraocular pressure measurement, optic nerve evaluation, OCT imaging to measure retinal nerve fiber thickness, and visual field testing, often refined by pachymetry and gonioscopy; no single test is definitive, so doctors synthesize results. Because damage can occur before any vision changes, routine screening is advised, especially if you are over 40 or have risk factors like family history or high myopia; there are several factors to consider, and important details that can affect your next steps are explained below.

Most glaucoma tests are not painful; they are quick and designed for comfort, with air-puff or rebound measurements feeling like a brief tap and contact tests made comfortable with numbing drops. There are several factors to consider about what each test feels like, normal mild irritation afterward, options if you have anxiety, and red flags like severe pain or sudden vision changes that need prompt care. See below for complete details and next steps.

Generally safe at low doses for adults over 65, melatonin gummies can help you fall asleep and modestly improve sleep quality when taken 30 to 60 minutes before bed, with typical effective doses around 0.5 to 2 mg. There are several factors to consider; interactions with blood thinners, diabetes and blood pressure medicines, and caution with significant liver disease mean you should start low, monitor side effects, and talk to your clinician if problems persist. See the complete details below to guide your next steps.

Melatonin gummies can support short-term sleep challenges like jet lag or shift work when used correctly; doctors recommend starting low (about 0.5 to 1 mg taken 30 to 60 minutes before bed), using them for a limited time, and combining them with good sleep habits. There are several factors to consider that may change your next steps, including side effects, important drug interactions with medicines like blood thinners and antidepressants, and added caution for children, pregnancy, and chronic conditions; see the complete guidance below, including when to stop and when to talk with a doctor if sleep issues persist.

Both Moderna and Pfizer mRNA vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe COVID-19 and have similar safety profiles; for most people, the best choice is the one available soonest, along with staying current on boosters. There are several factors to consider, including age authorization, dosing interval, availability, and the slightly higher myocarditis risk observed with Moderna in younger males. See the complete details below to understand what may matter for you and your next steps.

MPV reflects the average size of your platelets and, interpreted with your platelet count, can point to inflammation and cardiovascular risk, shifts from liver disease, or bone marrow and vitamin issues, though delays and analyzer differences can falsely raise or lower it. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more, including when an unexpected MPV should be repeated promptly, how to pair it with other labs, and which symptoms or rising trends mean you should contact your clinician to guide your next steps.

Vision loss from glaucoma usually begins with subtle peripheral blind spots that are easy to miss, progresses to a narrowing of the visual field that feels like tunnel vision, and can ultimately affect central vision and lead to permanent blindness if not treated. There are several factors to consider; see below for details on the stages of vision loss, real-life warning signs, urgent symptoms, and the specific tests and treatments that can help protect your sight and guide next steps.

A glaucoma eye exam is a painless, comprehensive visit that typically includes history and vision checks, eye pressure measurement, corneal thickness testing, drainage angle evaluation, optic nerve assessment, visual field testing, and OCT imaging. Your doctor then explains your risk or diagnosis and recommends monitoring, eye drops, laser, or surgery as needed, but there are important details that can affect your next steps; see the complete breakdown below.

Left untreated, glaucoma causes irreversible optic nerve damage and progressive vision loss, usually beginning with peripheral vision, advancing to tunnel vision, and potentially ending in blindness. There are several factors to consider, and timely treatment that lowers eye pressure has been proven to slow progression; risks to safety, independence, and daily tasks are explained in detail. See below for key details and practical next steps for your care.

A coffee enema involves introducing brewed, cooled coffee into the rectum and colon to promote bowel cleansing and purported liver detox; high quality clinical evidence is minimal and major liver guidelines do not endorse it. There are several factors to consider. See below for many important details on risks like electrolyte imbalance, infection, tissue injury, and caffeine side effects, who should be cautious, when to seek care, and evidence-based alternatives that could change your next steps.

An enema is a medical procedure in which liquid is introduced into the rectum and lower intestine to trigger a bowel movement, deliver medication locally, or cleanse the colon before diagnostic tests. There are several factors to consider, including the type of enema, proper technique, and potential risks such as electrolyte shifts or irritation. See below for essential details and safety guidance that may influence your next steps.