Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

People often ignore early signs like mild rectal bleeding, frequent urgent bowel movements, persistent diarrhea, cramping, unexplained fatigue, and gradual weight loss, sometimes along with joint, skin, or eye inflammation. There are several factors to consider, including red-flag symptoms such as escalating bloody diarrhea, severe abdominal pain, fever, dehydration, or anemia that need urgent care. See below for full details, what to do next, and how to talk to your doctor.

Vivid dreams right as you fall asleep usually mean REM sleep is arriving unusually early, signaling a shift in sleep architecture from causes like sleep deprivation or REM rebound, stress, circadian disruption, medications or alcohol, and less commonly narcolepsy or other medical issues. This is often harmless, but if you also have severe daytime sleepiness, cataplexy, frequent sleep paralysis or hallucinations, or mood and memory changes, talk to a doctor; consistent sleep habits, limiting caffeine and alcohol, managing stress, and medication review can help, and more specific next steps are outlined below.

There are several factors to consider. All-day sleepiness most often stems from poor sleep habits or sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea or insomnia, but medical conditions like hypothyroidism, anemia or diabetes, mental health issues, certain medications or substances, and lifestyle choices can also play a role. See below for a step-by-step guide to evaluating your symptoms with tools like the Epworth Sleepiness Scale and a sleep diary, what tests and sleep studies might be needed, urgent red flags, and evidence-based treatments and self-care so you can choose the right next steps.

There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more. Feeling worse after a nap is usually due to sleep inertia from waking during deep sleep and from nap timing or length, with brief 10 to 20 minute naps in the early afternoon typically helping more than 30 to 60 minute or late-day naps. If even short, well-timed naps leave you unrefreshed, a sleep disorder such as obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, or narcolepsy could be involved, and the details below include specific nap strategies and warning signs that indicate you should talk to a clinician.

There are two key patterns to consider. Full awareness with a brief whole‑body freeze lasting seconds usually points to benign sleep paralysis, while confusion, one‑sided weakness, or risks like cirrhosis or low potassium suggest urgent issues such as stroke, hepatic encephalopathy, or hypokalemic periodic paralysis. Triggers and next steps differ, from improving sleep habits to calling emergency services or checking potassium depending on the pattern. See below for important details, red flags, and guidance that could change what you do next.

For men over 65 with erectile dysfunction, the safest joint-friendly plan pairs low-impact cardio (brisk walking, stationary cycling, swimming, or an elliptical) with twice-weekly light resistance training, daily pelvic floor Kegels, and gentle flexibility or mind-body work like yoga or tai chi; regular exercise boosts blood flow and nitric oxide and is linked to up to 40% lower ED risk. There are several factors to consider, including how to start and progress, intensity targets, a simple weekly plan, and when to consult a doctor or stop for warning symptoms; see the complete guidance and key precautions below.

The best exercises for ED combine cardio, strength training, and pelvic floor work: aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate cardio each week, 2 to 3 resistance sessions, and daily Kegels, with yoga or stretching to reduce stress. There are several factors to consider. See the complete details below to tailor a safe plan to your health, maximize results with diet, weight goals, smoking cessation and alcohol limits, and know which red flags warrant prompt medical care.

Go to the ER now if you have heavy or frequent bleeding or clots, severe abdominal pain, fever of 101 F or higher, signs of dehydration, dizziness or fainting, confusion, a rapid heartbeat or low blood pressure, you are pregnant or immunocompromised, have major conditions like heart, kidney, or liver disease, or you have a sudden severe IBD flare. If symptoms are mild, with fewer than 3 bloody stools a day, no or low grade fever, and you can drink and urinate, you can monitor closely, hydrate, and see a doctor within 24 to 48 hours. There are several factors to consider, and key causes, red flags, safe home care, and what to expect in the ER are explained below.

There are several conditions that commonly present together with brain fog and sleepiness: obstructive sleep apnea and chronic liver disease with hepatic encephalopathy are leading causes, because disrupted sleep and toxin buildup can impair attention, memory, and alertness. Other frequent contributors include hypothyroidism, anemia, depression or anxiety, vitamin B12, D, or folate deficiency, medication side effects, chronic fatigue syndrome, and long COVID. There are important warning signs, tests, and treatment options that could shape your next steps; see below for the complete answer.

Doctors take persistent diarrhea seriously when key red flags are present: blood or pus, high fever, severe abdominal pain, signs of dehydration, unintentional weight loss, symptoms lasting more than 48 hours, recent antibiotics or travel, older age, or immunocompromise; see below for the full list and what to do next. These signs may point to infections like C. difficile, inflammatory bowel disease, malabsorption, or dangerous complications such as severe dehydration or acute kidney injury, so seek urgent care if any occur. There are several factors to consider, and the detailed guidance below explains self-care, when to see a doctor, and the tests doctors use.

There are several factors to consider. Chronic diarrhea lasting 4 or more weeks can reflect true gut inflammation rather than a sensitive gut, often from inflammatory bowel disease, microscopic colitis, or bile acid malabsorption; see below for specifics that could change your next steps. Red flags and tests that help distinguish causes include blood in stool, weight loss, anemia or fever, fecal calprotectin or lactoferrin and, if elevated, colonoscopy with biopsies, with treatments that differ from IBS such as anti-inflammatory drugs, bile acid binders and targeted nutrition; find the full checklist and when to seek urgent care below.

For men over 65, culinary Ceylon cinnamon is the safer choice: up to 1 teaspoon daily, while Cassia should be kept under 1/2 teaspoon to stay within coumarin limits and lower liver risk; cinnamon may support circulation and blood sugar, but human evidence for ED improvement is limited. Supplements can deliver higher, uncertain coumarin doses and may interact with blood thinners or diabetes medicines. There are several factors to consider; see below for complete details on risks, monitoring, and when to talk to your doctor.

Cinnamon may offer an indirect boost for erectile function by improving blood sugar and cholesterol, lowering inflammation, and possibly supporting nitric oxide, but there are no definitive human trials proving it treats ED. If you try it, choose Ceylon and keep to about 1 teaspoon daily, limit Cassia to 1/2 teaspoon, and pair it with healthy lifestyle steps; key safety tips, supplement cautions, and when to see a clinician for persistent symptoms are explained below.

Cold showers are not a proven fix for ED after 65 and can spike heart rate and blood pressure, so heart safety comes first. There are several factors to consider; see below for who should avoid cold exposure, how to try it more safely if you choose, why ED can signal cardiovascular disease, and the more effective next steps like medical evaluation, lifestyle changes, pelvic floor work, and medications to discuss with your doctor.

Cold showers are mostly bro science for ED: there is no good evidence they improve erections, penile blood flow, or testosterone levels. They can briefly lift mood and lower stress, which may help psychogenic ED, but they also raise heart rate and blood pressure and are not in treatment guidelines; see below for proven options, risks, and the right next steps to discuss with a clinician.

When diarrhea lasts weeks, look beyond a virus: common causes include postinfectious IBS, inflammatory or microscopic colitis, malabsorption such as celiac, pancreatic insufficiency or bile acid diarrhea, chronic infections or parasites, medication effects including C. difficile, endocrine issues like hyperthyroidism or diabetic neuropathy, and liver disease; there are several factors to consider, and key nuances that can change your next steps are outlined below. Useful tests include blood work for anemia, inflammation, electrolytes, liver and thyroid function; stool studies for culture, ova and parasites, C. difficile, fecal calprotectin and fat or elastase; celiac antibodies and breath tests for lactose or SIBO; and, when indicated, colonoscopy with biopsies or imaging. Seek prompt care for red flags like bleeding, fever, severe pain, dehydration or weight loss, and see below for full details and step-by-step guidance.

Mucus in diarrhea usually signals irritation or inflammation of the colon lining, as goblet cells ramp up mucin to protect an inflamed gut; mucus with blood, fever, or severe abdominal pain is more suggestive of an inflammatory or invasive process than a simple viral upset. There are several factors to consider, and mucus can also occur in IBS without true inflammation; see below for key causes, red flags that warrant medical care, and the diagnostic and treatment options that could shape your next steps.

Pelvic floor training can improve erections without pills by strengthening the muscles that trap blood in the penis and reducing venous leakage; clinical studies show meaningful gains, often within 6 to 12 weeks for men with mild to moderate ED. There are several factors to consider, including which exercises to do and how to progress, how to avoid using the wrong muscles, added benefits like better continence, and when to combine with other treatments or seek medical advice; see the complete guidance below to choose the right next steps.

The most common medical causes are sleep disorders such as obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, restless legs or periodic limb movements, and insomnia; too little or irregular sleep and circadian rhythm problems; sedating medications or alcohol; depression and anxiety; and systemic illnesses like hypothyroidism, anemia, diabetes, kidney or liver disease, and heart or lung disease. There are several factors to consider. See below for important details on warning signs, when to seek care, and how evaluation and treatments like sleep studies, medication review, and targeted therapies can guide your next steps.

Sudden weakness or collapse with excitement is usually caused by a vasovagal response, orthostatic blood pressure drops, heart rhythm problems, hyperventilation, or metabolic issues like dehydration or low blood sugar, and it can be worsened by underlying conditions such as anemia or liver disease. Seek urgent care for fainting, chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, one-sided weakness, vision or speech changes, or confusion especially with known liver disease, and discuss recurrent episodes with a clinician since tests like an ECG, blood work, or a tilt table test may be needed. There are several factors to consider. See below for important details that can guide your next steps.

Fatigue with diarrhea often points to a gut cause, driven by inflammation, nutrient and fluid losses, or microbiome imbalance, with common culprits including IBD, bile acid diarrhea, infections, liver disease, and malabsorption issues like celiac disease or SIBO. There are several factors to consider, including urgent red flags, the tests doctors use, and proven treatments from medications and diet to supplements, probiotics, and self care; see below for the details that can shape your next steps.

A fecal calprotectin stool test can rapidly indicate whether gut symptoms are due to intestinal inflammation, helping tell IBD from IBS and sometimes sparing you an immediate colonoscopy. Low values make significant inflammation unlikely, while higher results point to active inflammation and the need for further evaluation. There are several factors to consider, including infections, medicines like NSAIDs, and how to act on borderline results. See complete details below, including result ranges, when to repeat testing, red flags that need urgent care, and how this test fits into your next steps.

Garlic may modestly support erections in men over 65 by improving blood flow, but it is not a proven ED treatment and should be used only after discussing it with your doctor. Because garlic thins the blood, it can raise bleeding risk and interact with warfarin, DOACs, aspirin or clopidogrel, and can also add effects with nitrates, blood pressure drugs, diabetes medicines, and certain antivirals; see the important details below on who should avoid it, signs of bleeding, and when dietary garlic may be safer than supplements.

Garlic may help erectile function by improving blood vessel health, but there are several factors to consider; see below for how it affects nitric oxide, inflammation, cholesterol, and blood pressure, and what the research actually shows, including that human ED evidence is still limited and benefits are likely modest as part of a broader lifestyle plan. It is generally safe but can increase bleeding risk and interact with anticoagulants, some statins, and HIV drugs, and may cause stomach upset, so talk to your clinician, especially if you have liver disease or take prescriptions; see below for dosing, who might benefit, and when to seek care.

Garlic may modestly help erectile dysfunction by improving blood vessel function and lowering blood pressure, with the strongest data for aged garlic extract alongside standard ED treatments. Typical doses are 1,200 to 2,400 mg per day of aged garlic extract or 1 to 2 crushed cloves, but benefits take 8 to 12 weeks and there are risks like stomach upset and increased bleeding, especially with blood thinners, BP or diabetes drugs; there are several factors to consider, so see the complete guidance below, including who should avoid garlic and when to see a doctor.

Ginger for ED after 65 can offer modest circulation and anti inflammatory support, but evidence is limited and it may lower blood pressure and increase bleeding risk, especially if you take antihypertensives or blood thinners. Start low, monitor blood pressure and any bruising or bleeding, and talk with your doctor; key details on safe dosing, product quality, interactions, and red flags are outlined below.

Ginger for ED may support erections by promoting nitric oxide related blood flow, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, and possibly boosting testosterone, but human evidence is still limited. There are several factors to consider. See below for practical dosing and forms, timing, side effects and interactions such as with blood thinners, and guidance on when persistent ED warrants medical evaluation for heart or metabolic disease.

Hypersomnia and narcolepsy both cause excessive daytime sleepiness and cognitive fog, and even overlap on sleep studies with SOREMs. The clearest separators are cataplexy and often low hypocretin in narcolepsy type 1, versus severe sleep inertia and longer total sleep with fewer SOREMs in idiopathic hypersomnia. Because the boundary is blurry but treatment choices differ, a careful evaluation with sleep history, PSG and MSLT matters; there are several factors to consider, so see the complete details below to guide your next steps.

Idiopathic hypersomnia can feel like being stuck in sleep glue, with severe, prolonged sleep inertia that leaves you heavy, foggy, and irresistibly sleepy even after very long, unrefreshing nights. It is a neurological sleep disorder marked by excessive daytime sleepiness despite adequate sleep, often diagnosed after ruling out other causes with tests like overnight polysomnography and the MSLT, and treated with wake-promoting medications, structured sleep schedules, and strategic naps. There are several factors to consider. See below for symptoms to track, safety risks, and step-by-step next moves to discuss with your doctor.

Nighttime diarrhea usually points to an organic cause rather than typical daytime IBS; key suspects include infections, inflammatory bowel disease, malabsorption such as celiac or bile acid diarrhea, hormonal issues like hyperthyroidism, medication effects, and complications of advanced liver disease. There are several factors to consider, and red flags like blood in the stool, fever, weight loss, severe abdominal pain, dehydration, or jaundice need prompt care; see below for the full list of causes, alarm signs, and how doctors evaluate and treat this.