Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

For quick home relief, try gentle vulvar hygiene (plain water, no douching), warm sitz baths or cold compresses, probiotic yogurt/oral probiotics, and soothing topicals like coconut oil or pure aloe (use tea tree or apple cider vinegar only well-diluted); OTC antifungal creams may help if a simple yeast infection is likely. There are several factors to consider—identify triggers (irritants, tight clothing), limit sugar, stop anything that stings, and seek care if symptoms last over 7 days or include abnormal discharge, sores, fever, pain, or swelling; full step-by-step instructions, precautions, and next-step guidance are below.

Appendicitis is typically caused by blockage of the appendix—most often from hardened stool (appendicolith), swelling of lymphoid tissue after an infection, or rarely a foreign body—leading to bacterial overgrowth, inflammation, and possible rupture. Risk factors include ages 10–30, male sex, low-fiber diets, family history, smoking, and recent gastrointestinal infections. There are several factors to consider; see the complete details below for symptoms to watch, how it’s diagnosed and treated, and when to seek urgent care.

Saggy breasts mostly occur when skin collagen/elastin and Cooper’s ligaments weaken—accelerated by aging, pregnancy/breastfeeding, weight changes, gravity, hormonal shifts (including menopause), and lifestyle factors like smoking and sun. You can regain some lift with the right bra, chest-strengthening exercises, targeted skincare (retinoids/antioxidants), protein and vitamin C-rich nutrition, posture work, and—if needed—medical treatments (radiofrequency/laser/fillers) or surgery (breast lift, implants, fat transfer); seek care for new lumps, discharge, redness, or sudden swelling. There are several factors and trade-offs to consider—see below for practical steps, expected results, and how to choose the right next move.

A nitrogen test—most often the blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test—measures urea nitrogen in your blood to help assess kidney and liver function, protein metabolism, and hydration status. Ask your doctor about it if you have kidney or liver risk factors or symptoms (changes in urination, swelling, jaundice, confusion), dehydration concerns, take meds that affect these organs, or after major illness/surgery or high-protein intake, since results are interpreted with other labs like creatinine. There are several factors to consider; see the complete guidance below for what high or low results can mean and when to seek urgent care.

BDSM is a consensual umbrella for power exchange, intense sensations, and roleplay (bondage/discipline, dominance/submission, sadism/masochism) that many enjoy for pleasure, trust, and emotional bonding. To see if it’s for you, reflect on your fantasies and limits, learn reputable basics, communicate and set safewords with a trusted partner, start slow with low‑risk activities and aftercare, and monitor your physical/emotional responses—consult a clinician first if you have health conditions or distress. There are several factors to consider, plus key safety tips, community resources, and when to seek medical or mental health support; see the complete guidance below.

Rough patches on skin are usually due to common conditions like dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, keratosis pilaris, contact dermatitis, or sun damage (actinic keratosis), but they can also reflect systemic issues such as diabetes, hypothyroidism, nutritional deficiencies, or cholestatic liver disease that causes intense itching. Watch for red flags—rapid change, bleeding, infection, or systemic symptoms (like jaundice)—which warrant medical evaluation. There are several factors to consider; see below for detailed causes, home care versus professional treatments, diagnostic steps, and when to seek care.

Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) is a common, treatable condition marked by persistent, excessive worry most days for months that’s hard to control and often causes restlessness, muscle tension, sleep problems, and impaired daily functioning. If these patterns fit you, tools like the GAD-7 (a score of 10 or higher suggests higher likelihood) can guide you to seek a professional diagnosis and care—there are several factors to consider, so see below for key symptoms, risks, self-checks, effective therapies and medications, self-help steps, and urgent warning signs that can shape your next steps.

The cheapest options are free or low‑cost community clinics and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) with sliding‑scale fees; for minor issues, telemedicine ($20–$50) and retail clinics ($50–$100) are often next most affordable, with urgent care ($100–$200) still cheaper than the ER. Use the NAFC, HRSA “Find a Health Center,” or 2‑1‑1 to locate care and always ask for self‑pay discounts. There are several factors to consider—eligibility paperwork, prescription help, and bill negotiation can further cut costs—see the complete details below to choose the best next step and know when emergency care is needed.

A typical headache causes dull, pressing pain (often on both sides) and rarely nausea or light/sound sensitivity, while a migraine is a neurological attack with moderate–severe throbbing pain (often one-sided) lasting 4–72 hours, commonly with nausea, light/sound sensitivity, and sometimes aura. Because treatments and next steps differ—OTC measures often help tension headaches, whereas migraines may need prescription therapy, prevention, and trigger management—there are several factors to consider; see below for detailed differences, red flags, and when to seek care.

Effective at-home treatments include strict hand hygiene and not sharing towels, warm compresses for viral/bacterial cases or cool compresses for allergic cases, lubricating or antihistamine drops (avoid prolonged use of redness‑relief drops), removing contact lenses, and gentle eyelid cleaning; most cases improve within 1–2 weeks, and mild bacterial conjunctivitis often gets better without antibiotics after a short watch‑and‑wait period. There are several factors to consider—pinkeye type, which drops and compresses to use, and red flags like severe pain, vision changes, swelling, fever, or no improvement by 7–10 days—see the complete guidance below to decide your next steps.

Over-the-counter options include artificial tears/lubricants, ketotifen antihistamine/mast‑cell stabilizer drops for allergies, short‑term redness relievers like naphazoline or tetrahydrozoline (limit to 3–4 days), sterile saline eyewash, bedtime lubricating gels/ointments, oral pain relievers, plus warm/cool compresses and gentle eyelid hygiene. There are several factors to consider—antibiotic drops require a prescription and often aren’t necessary, and you should seek care for severe pain, vision changes, or persistent thick discharge; see the complete guidance below to choose the safest next step.

Build a healthy breakfast by combining 25–35 g protein (eggs, Greek yogurt, tofu or a protein smoothie), 5–10 g fiber from whole grains, fruits and vegetables, a small amount of unsaturated fat (nuts, seeds, avocado or olive oil), and fluids. Easy examples include a veggie omelet with whole-grain toast and fruit, oatmeal with nuts and berries, or Greek yogurt with berries and chia. There are several factors to consider—including blood sugar control, heart health, weight goals, digestive comfort, and cirrhosis—plus foods to limit and portion targets; see the complete guidance below.

There are several factors to consider—see below for full guidance. Seek urgent care now for severe breathing difficulty, chest pain, high fever (over 102°F/39°C), confusion or fainting, swelling of the face/lips/tongue, signs of dehydration, or coughing up blood; make a routine appointment if the cough lasts more than 3 weeks (especially >8 weeks), is worsening, causes wheeze or noisy breathing, wakes you at night, recurs, or comes with weight loss or night sweats, or if you smoke or have harmful exposures. Mild, short‑lived coughs can be managed at home, but if you’re not improving after 1–2 weeks or have any red flags, see a clinician—complete details and age‑specific warnings are below.

See a doctor if spotting is heavy (soaking a pad/tampon in under 2 hours), lasts longer than 7–10 days, recurs for more than two cycles or is continuous/after sex, or comes with anemia symptoms, severe pelvic pain/cramps, fever or foul discharge, large clots, a sudden pattern change, a new pelvic/abdominal mass, or a positive pregnancy test. Seek emergency care for heavy bleeding with dizziness/fainting or chest pain, severe abdominal pain with vomiting or high fever, or signs of shock—there are several factors to consider; key causes, red flags, and what to expect at an evaluation are explained below.

Mild hemorrhoids often improve with home care, but see a doctor if you have heavy or recurrent bleeding, severe pain that doesn’t respond to treatment, a non‑reducible or very tender lump, fever or pus, dizziness/shortness of breath, a change in bowel habits, or symptoms lasting more than 7–10 days. People over 40–50 or with anemia, unexplained weight loss, a family history of colon cancer, liver disease, use of blood thinners, or immunosuppression should be evaluated sooner—there are several factors to consider; see details below to guide your next steps.

The appendix is a small, finger-like pouch attached to the cecum (the first part of the large intestine) in the right lower abdomen. Because its position can vary—often behind the cecum or hanging into the pelvis—the location of pain and the best tests or treatments can differ; there are several factors to consider, and important details that may guide your next steps are explained below.

Bloodshot eyes have many causes—from minor dryness, allergies, irritants, eye strain, contact lens issues, or a small subconjunctival bleed to infections and urgent problems like uveitis, corneal ulcers, or acute glaucoma, and sometimes even systemic conditions such as high blood pressure or autoimmune disease. There are several factors to consider; see below for the full list of causes, home relief tips, and key red flags (severe pain, vision changes, light sensitivity, discharge, injury) that guide whether to self-care or seek urgent medical attention.

A white tongue is common and often harmless—there are several factors to consider, and key details are below. Common causes include debris buildup from poor oral hygiene or dryness (mouth breathing, dehydration, tobacco/coffee/alcohol, “hairy tongue”); other causes include thrush, inflammatory conditions (oral lichen planus/geographic tongue), nutritional deficiencies, and less commonly precancerous leukoplakia. Start with hydration and gentle tongue cleaning and cut irritants, but see a dentist/doctor if patches can’t be wiped off, pain/ulcers last >2 weeks, you have trouble swallowing, weight loss/bleeding, or a weakened immune system—full guidance on treatments and next steps is provided below.

There are several factors to consider: infections (yeast, bacterial vaginosis, STIs), irritants/allergies, skin conditions, hormonal dryness, tight or damp clothing/douching, parasites, and systemic illnesses like diabetes or liver disease. Seek prompt care for new or foul discharge, sores, severe pain or swelling, fever, blood, or STI risk; otherwise, targeted OTC options and avoiding triggers may help until you’re seen. See the complete guidance below for key signs to tell causes apart, evidence-based treatments, and the right next steps.

People with alopecia areata are more likely to develop other autoimmune conditions: about 10–25% (up to 28% in some studies) will develop another autoimmune disease versus roughly 3–5% in the general population, most commonly autoimmune thyroid disease and vitiligo. There are several factors to consider—genetics, immune dysregulation, and shared triggers—so see below for key warning symptoms, recommended screening (e.g., thyroid tests), and next steps to discuss with your doctor.

There are specific considerations: overall cancer risk with alopecia areata isn’t higher than average, but studies show a small increase in thyroid cancer (especially in women) and a modest, less consistent uptick in non-Hodgkin lymphoma; absolute risks remain low. No clear links have been found with breast, lung, colon, prostate, or skin cancers. You usually don’t need extra screening beyond standard guidelines, but know the warning signs and discuss personal/family history with your doctor—see the important details below to guide next steps.

Yes, alopecia areata can affect beards differently than scalp hair: beard follicles are more androgen sensitive and have a shorter growth phase, so facial patches may appear and regrow unpredictably, look different on exam (e.g., broken hairs close to the skin), and carry unique psychosocial impacts. Evaluation and treatment can also differ (e.g., steroid injections are often preferred on the face and topical immunotherapy is used less), and there are important diagnostic clues and prognosis considerations—see the complete details below to understand options and the right next steps.

Yes—alopecia areata can affect nails even when hair loss is mild; up to 30–50% of people develop nail changes like pitting, Beau’s lines, trachyonychia, onycholysis, or discoloration due to autoimmune attack on the nail matrix. There are several factors to consider, including look‑alike conditions (psoriasis, fungus, nutritional deficiencies) and when to seek care—see below for specific signs, diagnostic tips, and treatment options that could shape your next steps.

Yes—individual alopecia areata patches can expand and connect into larger areas; while most people have only a few small patches that regrow, about 10–20% see coalescence and ~5% progress to extensive scalp or body hair loss. Merging is more likely with early-age onset, multiple tiny patches, nail changes, family/autoimmune history, or recent stress/illness; early dermatology care, active treatment (e.g., corticosteroids, topical immunotherapy, minoxidil, and in select cases JAK inhibitors), and regular monitoring may increase regrowth and help limit spread. There are several important factors, timelines, patterns, and red flags to consider—see below for details and guidance on next steps and when to seek urgent care.

Yes—while alopecia areata is autoimmune, emotional trauma and major life stressors can trigger episodes and, in at-risk people, contribute to a chronic or recurrent course by disrupting neuroendocrine and immune balance. There are several factors to consider (genetics, age of onset, severity, other autoimmune disease), and combining medical treatment with stress-management often helps; see below for mechanisms, risk factors, and practical next steps.

Yes—scalp injuries and chronic irritation (tight hairstyles/pressure, harsh chemicals or heat, burns, radiation, infections, or inflammatory skin conditions) can increase hair-loss risk, which may be reversible if addressed early or permanent if scarring destroys follicles. There are several factors and prevention steps to consider—including who’s at higher risk and when to seek care—see details below to guide your next steps.

Yes—after alopecia areata, regrown hair often starts finer, lighter, and sometimes curlier/straighter or drier, and the scalp can feel itchy, tender, dry, or more reactive; these changes usually improve over months but can occasionally persist. There are several factors and important next steps to consider (gentle care, nutrition, treatments like topical steroids or minoxidil, and red flags for seeing a doctor)—see the complete details below.

Current evidence shows alopecia areata itself does not increase overall cancer risk, and most topical treatments are not linked to cancer. There are several factors to consider—some systemic immunosuppressants (e.g., methotrexate, cyclosporine, JAK inhibitors) may carry a small increased risk in certain settings and need monitoring, and coexisting autoimmune conditions (especially thyroid disease) can affect screening needs. For guidance on safe treatment options, routine screenings, and when to seek care, see the complete details below.

Current evidence does not show that Rick Simpson Oil cures or reliably treats cancer in humans; while cannabinoids in RSO have anti-cancer activity in lab and animal studies, there are no robust clinical trials and most reported benefits are symptom relief. There are several important risks and caveats—including variable dosing and purity, psychoactive effects, liver strain, and serious drug interactions—so it should never replace proven treatments; discuss any use with your oncologist. See the complete details below to understand potential benefits, risks, quality-control steps, and how these factors could affect your next steps.

Current evidence shows that neither the severity nor the duration of alopecia areata increases cancer risk, even in extensive or long‑standing cases. The bigger consideration is treatment: systemic steroids, immunosuppressants (like methotrexate or cyclosporine), and newer JAK inhibitors can carry small or still‑uncertain cancer risks with long‑term use. There are several factors to consider—see below for details on which medicines matter, what monitoring and screenings are recommended, and how to discuss benefits versus risks with your clinician.