Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

Nurtec (rimegepant) is used in adults to treat acute migraine attacks with or without aura and, on a different dosing schedule, to prevent episodic migraine by reducing monthly migraine days. There are several factors to consider, including how and when to take it, who should avoid it, potential side effects, and drug interactions; see below for the complete answer and details that could shape your next steps.

Psyllium husk is a natural, plant-based soluble fiber from Plantago ovata seeds that absorbs water to form a gentle gel in the gut, helping regulate bowel movements in both constipation and diarrhea. It is widely used to support digestive health, lower LDL cholesterol, help control blood sugar after meals, and increase fullness, but dosing, hydration, medication timing, and potential side effects are important. There are several factors to consider that could influence your next steps; see complete details below.

Squirting is a real, normal fluid release from the urethral area that can occur with arousal or orgasm; the fluid often contains diluted urine plus secretions from the Skene’s glands, and it is not the same as orgasm. There are several factors to consider, including that not everyone can or will squirt and that pressure to perform can harm sexual well-being; see important details below. If you notice burning, blood, persistent pelvic or bladder pain, or urinary changes, consider medical advice and use the quick symptom check linked below for next steps, while healthy exploration can include communication, relaxation, hydration, positioning, and pelvic floor exercises.

For most sore throats, start with acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain and fever, and consider numbing lozenges or sprays; if pain is severe enough to prevent swallowing, a clinician may use a single dose of dexamethasone, while antibiotics are only appropriate for confirmed strep. There are several factors to consider, including correct dosing, child specific guidance such as avoiding aspirin, pregnancy and liver or kidney problems, and red flag symptoms that require urgent care. See below for doses, cautions, and when to seek testing or medical help.

Keto sweets you can enjoy include very dark chocolate 90 percent cocoa or higher, fat bombs, almond or coconut flour cookies or brownies, sugar-free jello or pudding, cheesecake, and keto ice creams made with low carb sweeteners like erythritol, stevia, or monk fruit. There are several factors to consider to stay in ketosis and feel well, including reading labels for net carbs, portion control, and tolerance to sugar alcohols that may cause bloating or diarrhea, plus appetite effects and when to seek care; see complete details and tips below.

Side effects commonly begin within the first few days after your first Zepbound injection and within 2 to 7 days of each dose increase; injection site reactions can start within hours. GI symptoms usually peak early and often improve within 1 to 2 weeks, with far fewer new symptoms once the dose has been stable for 8 to 12 weeks. There are several factors to consider, including timing around dose escalations and when to seek care for severe or persistent symptoms, so see below for important details that may influence next steps like meal strategies, hydration, OTC options, dose adjustments, and contacting your clinician.

There are several factors to consider. Upper back pain with coughing is often from muscle strain or intercostal inflammation, but infections like bronchitis or pneumonia and pleurisy, thoracic spine problems, and rare heart or abdominal causes can also be involved. See below to understand more, including red flags like fever, shortness of breath, chest tightness, or neurological symptoms that mean you should seek care promptly, plus practical steps you can try at home such as posture changes, OTC anti-inflammatories, heat, gentle exercises, and cough control.

Puffy nipples are often harmless and usually caused by normal breast development, hormonal shifts, weight or anatomy differences, and in males can be benign gynecomastia. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more. Get medical care sooner if you have a hard or fixed lump, nipple discharge, skin changes, rapid one-sided swelling, fever with redness, or severe pain, as serious causes like infection, medication effects, endocrine or liver disease, or rarely cancer are possible; below you will find home checks, when to see a clinician, what tests to expect, and treatment options that can guide your next steps.

Zepbound side effects most often include short-term gastrointestinal issues like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, or constipation, with added risks of low blood sugar when combined with insulin or sulfonylureas and gallbladder problems linked to rapid weight loss. Less common but important risks are pancreatitis, dehydration-related kidney injury, and thyroid C-cell concerns in people with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2, along with usually mild injection-site irritation; dose titration, hydration, and monitoring can reduce problems and help you know when to seek urgent care. There are several factors to consider; see below for complete details and practical next steps that could influence your care plan.

The baking soda trick for ED is unproven and can be dangerous, with risks such as metabolic alkalosis, electrolyte disturbances, blood pressure spikes from high sodium, kidney strain, and interactions with common medications; relying on it can also delay diagnosis of underlying heart disease, diabetes, or hormonal issues. Safer next steps include lifestyle changes, proven treatments like PDE5 inhibitors under medical guidance, and evaluation for root causes; see below for who is at higher risk, red flag symptoms that need urgent care, and a simple symptom check tool to help you plan what to do next.

The three biggest misconceptions about tonsillitis outbreaks are that most cases are bacterial, that antibiotics or tonsillectomy are routinely needed, and that it spreads to everyone instantly. In reality, most cases are viral and self-limited, antibiotics are reserved for confirmed strep after testing, surgery is only for strict recurrent-episode criteria, and contagiousness depends on the germ and exposure with simple hygiene lowering risk. There are several factors to consider, and important testing, red-flag symptoms, and prevention details that can affect your next steps are explained below.

The top three reasons to avoid the baking soda trick are clear: it can trigger metabolic alkalosis and electrolyte shifts, flood you with sodium that drives fluid retention and high blood pressure while straining kidneys and the heart, and cause GI upset that may also worsen liver problems like ascites or encephalopathy. There are several factors to consider, especially if you have hypertension, kidney disease, or any signs of liver trouble, and certain warning symptoms need urgent care; see below for the complete explanation, red flags, and safer next steps to discuss with your clinician.

Bad-smelling stool after certain meals is usually from how gut bacteria ferment specific foods, with common culprits including sulfur-rich vegetables and eggs, high-protein meats, beans and legumes, dairy if lactose intolerant, high-fat or fried foods, and sometimes spicy seasonings. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more. Odors can also signal issues like malabsorption, infections such as C. diff or Giardia, medication effects, or bile duct and inflammatory conditions; seek care if smells persist with greasy stools, weight loss, blood, severe pain, or jaundice. For practical fixes and next steps, the complete guidance below covers food diaries, gradual diet changes, hydration, probiotics or enzymes, and when to talk with a clinician.

BDSM is consensual and, with proper safety, is not abuse, not linked to poorer mental health, and usually results only in minor, temporary injuries. Doctors worry most about preventable harms like nerve compression, skin injuries, bloodborne infections from unsterilized tools, delayed care due to stigma, trauma triggers, and substance-impaired consent. There are several factors to consider. See below for practical risk-reduction steps on negotiation, hygiene, first aid, safer equipment, aftercare, and when to seek medical help.

BDSM can be safe when done with care, but major risks include bruising from impact, nerve injury from tight or prolonged pressure, and choking, which carries the highest risk of brain damage or death even with brief oxygen restriction. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more. Safety steps include warm-ups, avoiding bony areas, wide padded restraints with frequent checks, never leaving someone restrained, and treating breath play with extreme caution and never doing it solo. Know red flags that need medical care like rapidly expanding bruises, persistent numbness or weakness, or any loss of consciousness or breathing trouble after breath play; full prevention tips and next-step guidance are detailed below.

There are several factors to consider; brown discharge without a period is usually old blood and can stem from implantation or early pregnancy, ovulation spotting, recent birth control changes, perimenopause, infections, or less commonly fibroids, polyps, or other uterine or cervical conditions. Watch for red flags like heavy bleeding, severe pain, fever or foul odor, dizziness or fainting, or one sided pelvic pain with pregnancy, and see below for exact timelines, when to test for pregnancy or STIs, how to track symptoms, and other details that can guide your next steps.

Brown discharge without a period often reflects old blood and is commonly related to ovulation, early pregnancy implantation, changes in hormonal contraception, perimenopause, or fibroids and polyps. It can also signal infections, PCOS, thyroid or liver and clotting disorders, and less often pregnancy complications or endometrial hyperplasia or cancer; watch for red flags like heavy bleeding, severe pain, fever, dizziness, foul odor, or suspected pregnancy issues and seek care. There are several factors to consider; see the complete guidance below for key patterns, timing, and next steps that could change what you do.

Pregnancy symptoms often follow a timeline: little to nothing DPO 1 to 7, possible light spotting or cramps at DPO 8 to 10, early fatigue and breast changes between DPO 10 to 14 as hCG rises, and clearer signs after a missed period, with nausea commonly starting around weeks 5 to 6 and peaking near week 9. Some home tests can turn positive by DPO 10 to 12 and standard tests by about DPO 13 to 14, but timing varies; there are several factors to consider, including when to seek care for heavy bleeding or severe symptoms, so see below for the complete day by day guide and next steps.

Vagal, or vasovagal, syncope is a common and usually normal cause of brief fainting in otherwise healthy people, often triggered by stress, pain, dehydration, or prolonged standing, and it typically comes with warning signs and a rapid recovery. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more, including simple steps to stop an episode, prevention strategies, how doctors diagnose it, and the red flags that mean you should seek care, such as fainting during exercise, no warning signs, chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, head injury, or frequent episodes.

Hormonal fluctuations in PMS, pregnancy, and perimenopause can trigger benign left eyelid twitching by increasing nerve and muscle irritability, often compounded by stress, poor sleep, caffeine, eye strain, dehydration, and low magnesium, potassium, or iron. There are several factors to consider, including targeted self-care and red flags that warrant medical review; see below for step-by-step relief strategies, when to see a doctor, and life-stage tips that could change your next health steps.

Most first-time moms notice early pregnancy symptoms between 4 and 6 weeks of pregnancy, about 2 to 4 weeks after conception, though some feel subtle changes sooner such as implantation spotting or breast tenderness at 6 to 12 days and nausea typically intensifies around 6 to 8 weeks; there are several factors to consider, see below to understand more. For next steps, home tests are most reliable on or after the first missed period and you should seek urgent care for heavy bleeding, severe pain, fainting, high fever, or other red flags, while the complete guidance on timelines, variability, and self-care appears below.

Most older adults can take 500 mg every 4 to 6 hours as needed, leaving at least 4 hours between doses, no more than 1,000 mg at once, and no more than 3,000 mg in 24 hours unless your clinician specifically says otherwise. There are several factors to consider: many should cap at 2,000 mg a day if they have liver disease, drink alcohol, use interacting medicines like warfarin or certain seizure drugs, are low weight or frail, and they must add up acetaminophen from all sources. See below for early warning signs that require urgent care, when higher doses might be allowed with monitoring, and other safety tips that could change your next steps.

It is usually normal and simply old menstrual blood, especially in the first years of periods; common causes include anovulatory cycles, normal hormone shifts, birth control changes, implantation spotting if sexually active, mild infections, and less commonly PCOS or thyroid issues. There are several factors to consider, and warning signs like heavy bleeding, severe pain, fever, strong odor, or spotting over 7 days should prompt care. See complete details below for what to track, possible tests and treatments, and how to choose the right next steps.

For teens, nipple tenderness when touched is usually from puberty hormones, friction from clothing or exercise, or mild skin irritation, and boys may also have temporary gynecomastia tenderness. Rarer causes include cysts, benign lumps, or infection, and there are several factors to consider; see below to understand more. Try a well fitted sports bra, gentle skin care, and over the counter pain relievers, but seek care urgently for severe pain, fever, spreading redness, discharge, a hard or fixed lump, skin changes, or if symptoms last beyond two cycles or two months.

To stop a vagal response fast, act at the first warning signs. Lie flat with legs elevated, use counterpressure maneuvers, try a brief Valsalva, breathe slowly, and sip cold water or cool down; there are several factors to consider, and the complete step by step guidance is below. For prevention and safety, see below for hydration and salt strategies, compression garments, tilt training, optional medications, and clear signs that mean you should seek medical care, such as recurrent episodes, injury, chest pain, irregular heartbeat, or neurological symptoms.

Avoid taking aspirin for right testicle or lower abdominal pain, because it can hide emergencies like testicular torsion, appendicitis, kidney stones, or infection and raises bleeding risk, especially with liver disease, alcohol use, blood thinners, ulcers, or clotting disorders. There are several factors to consider. See below for red flags, medication interactions and side effects, and what to do instead, including when to seek urgent or emergency care.

BDSM is not inherently bad for your health; research shows practitioners often have similar or better mental health than nonparticipants, and physical effects are usually minor when play is consensual, well prepared, and uses proper technique, communication, and aftercare. There are several factors to consider, including STI prevention, avoiding substances that impair consent, accounting for medical conditions, and knowing when symptoms like persistent pain, numbness, heavy bleeding, infection, or severe distress require medical care; see below for detailed safety guidance and next steps that could influence your healthcare decisions.

Seven easily ruled-out causes of left eye twitching in women include stress and anxiety, fatigue and poor sleep, caffeine and other stimulants, dry eyes, eye strain, hormonal fluctuations, and nutritional imbalances; most twitches are harmless and resolve on their own. There are several factors to consider, and important details with simple fixes are below. See below for when to seek care, especially if twitching lasts longer than two weeks or comes with involuntary eye closure, spread to the cheek or mouth, redness or discharge, vision changes, or facial weakness, as these warrant prompt medical evaluation.

Usually normal and harmless, most left eyelid twitches in women stem from stress, caffeine, poor sleep, eye strain, dry eyes, dehydration, or hormonal shifts, and they often settle with rest, less caffeine, hydration, warm compresses, and lubricating drops. Seek care if it lasts over 3 to 4 weeks, spreads to other facial muscles, completely closes the eye, or comes with vision changes, redness, facial weakness, or other neurological symptoms, since rare causes like blepharospasm, hemifacial spasm, thyroid problems, medication effects, or electrolyte issues can be involved; there are several factors to consider. For female-specific triggers, tracking tips, and treatment options including when botulinum injections help, see the complete details below.

Left eye twitching in women is usually harmless and most often linked to stress, excess caffeine, poor sleep, eye strain, or minor nutrition and hormonal shifts; quick fixes include stress management, cutting caffeine to about 1 to 2 cups daily, better sleep hygiene, 20-20-20 breaks with lubricating drops, hydration, magnesium rich foods, and gentle eyelid massage. There are several factors to consider, and red flags like twitching over 2 weeks, complete eyelid closure, vision changes, pain, facial weakness, spread to the face, or other neurological signs should prompt a doctor's visit; see below for fuller details, personalized next steps, and when to seek care.