Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

A strong 504 Plan for a student with Type 1 Diabetes is a legally protected roadmap for safe, timely care at school. It should cover blood glucose checks, insulin dosing, meal and snack timing, rapid treatment of lows and highs, testing and attendance accommodations, and full participation in sports and field trips with supplies and emergency response. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more about team roles guided by a Diabetes Medical Management Plan, staff training including glucagon, access to CGM data, privacy and self-management, and how regular plan updates can affect the next steps you take.

Stinging or an inner itch when you pee is not always a UTI; common non-UTI causes include urethritis from STIs or irritation, yeast infections that make inflamed tissue sting with urine, and vulvar skin irritation from products, moisture, or friction. There are several factors to consider, including look-alike symptoms, negative urine tests, and red flags that mean you should see a clinician; see below for specific clues, relief tips, and the right next steps for your situation.

No, there is no credible evidence that baking soda improves pelvic blood flow or relieves menstrual cramps, and it is not a recommended treatment. Safer, proven options include heat therapy, gentle movement, NSAIDs, certain hormonal methods, magnesium, and hydration, while baking soda can cause side effects and may be risky for some conditions or medications. There are several factors to consider; see the full guidance below for key details and when to seek medical care.

Early ankylosing spondylitis signs to watch for include inflammatory back pain lasting over 3 months that is worse after rest and better with movement, morning stiffness, deep buttock or hip pain, reduced flexibility, fatigue, and extra symptoms like eye redness and light sensitivity; the bamboo spine look happens only in late disease. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more. Early evaluation with a rheumatologist using history, exam, CRP or ESR, HLA-B27 when appropriate, and MRI can change outcomes, and urgent care is needed for severe back pain, new eye symptoms, chest pain, or neurologic changes. For the complete guidance on next steps, including treatment and self care tips, see below.

Shoulder and armpit aching after a long workday is often due to bra strap syndrome, where strap pressure plus slouched posture overloads shoulder muscles and irritates nearby nerves, causing referred pain. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more, including self-care steps like posture and bra fit adjustments, movement breaks and strengthening, and the warning signs that mean you should see a doctor.

A coronary artery calcium score is a quick, noninvasive CT that detects silent atherosclerosis by measuring calcified plaque, helping estimate future heart risk before symptoms. There are several factors to consider, including who should be tested, what score ranges mean, and how results can change prevention plans. See below for key thresholds, when the test adds value or is not needed, its limits like missing soft plaque, and next steps from lifestyle to medications and when symptoms need urgent care, since these details can shape the right plan with your clinician.

An irregular heartbeat often feels like a flutter, racing, skipped or heavy thumps, or an uneven rhythm, with atrial fibrillation being a common cause even when there are no obvious symptoms. There are several factors to consider, like how long it lasts, what triggers it, and accompanying signs such as fatigue or shortness of breath; see below to understand more. Because AFib can raise the risk of blood clots, stroke, and heart failure, know the red flags that need urgent care chest pain, severe shortness of breath, fainting, or stroke symptoms and find the full guidance below on diagnosis, treatment options, and the right next steps with your doctor.

This warm, 4 ingredient golden morning tonic is an anti-inflammatory drink inspired by golden milk, made with 1 cup warm milk or plant milk, 1/2 teaspoon turmeric, 1/4 teaspoon ginger, and a pinch of black pepper to boost curcumin absorption; used consistently, many people notice gentler digestion and less stiffness or bloat over 2 to 4 weeks. There are several factors to consider, including that it is not a cure and some people should use caution such as those who are pregnant or breastfeeding, on blood thinners, or with gallbladder disease, ulcers, or severe reflux. For important details that can guide your next steps, see below.

MS fatigue is a real, invisible, neurological exhaustion that can strike early, feels out of proportion to effort, is often worsened by heat, and can cloud thinking, so it is not just being tired or depressed. There are several factors to consider; causes range from demyelination and inflammation to sleep problems, medications, or infections, and management includes pacing, cooling, and appropriately guided exercise while seeking medical review for sudden changes or safety issues, so see below for specific strategies, red flags, and how to plan your next steps.

In older adults, a 99°F temperature can be an emergency because many seniors have a lower normal baseline and a weaker fever response, so even a small rise may signal a serious infection or sepsis. There are several factors to consider. Seek urgent medical advice if a 99°F reading or a 2°F rise from baseline occurs with new confusion, weakness or falls, breathing trouble, chest pain, shaking chills, low urine, or refusal to eat or drink. See the complete details below, including how certain medications can mask fever and the specific steps to take.

A normal A1C with high morning fasting glucose is often due to the dawn phenomenon and because A1C is a 2 to 3 month average that can hide short early morning spikes. There are several factors to consider, including Somogyi rebound, late-night eating, poor sleep, stress, and medication timing, plus simple fixes and when to call your doctor; see below for the complete details that can shape your next steps.

Pins and needles when you are not moving is usually paresthesia, most often from anxiety-related skin crawling, mild nerve irritation, or vitamin B12, B6, or B1 deficiencies. Other contributors include circulation changes, blood sugar imbalance, hormonal shifts, and some skin conditions, and many cases are manageable once the cause is identified. There are several factors and red flags to consider that may change your next steps, such as symptoms that persist or worsen, are one sided, occur with weakness, vision or speech changes, bladder or bowel issues, or sudden severe neurological symptoms; see the complete guidance below for what to do next.

Total body tingling is often caused by B vitamin issues, especially B12 deficiency, and sometimes too little or too much B6 or low B1, which are frequently reversible when treated. But tingling can also stem from diabetes, thyroid problems, nerve compression, medications, autoimmune disease, or less commonly early MS; seek urgent care for sudden weakness, speech or vision trouble, or loss of bladder or bowel control. There are several factors to consider, and the complete details and next steps are outlined below.

Your body has a biologically defended weight set point, so when you lose weight it often increases hunger, lowers fullness signals, and slows metabolism, which can drive regain even with strong effort. There are several factors to consider, including how sleep, stress, medications, hormones, and crash dieting can raise set point, and how steady habits like protein rich meals, strength training, consistent sleep, stress management, and sometimes medical care can help lower it over time; see below to understand more and choose next steps.

Three strep red flags to know: sudden severe sore throat without cough or congestion, fever often 101 F or higher with tender neck lymph nodes, and white patches or very red swollen tonsils or a fine sandpaper-like rash. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more. Because strep needs testing and antibiotics to prevent complications, review the guidance below on when to seek care, what to do while you wait, and urgent warning signs that need immediate medical attention.

Aura is a common stroke mimic: it typically builds gradually over 5 to 20 minutes, migrates or shimmers, and fully reverses, while stroke usually starts suddenly with fixed, negative losses of vision, strength, or speech. There are several factors to consider, and certain red flags mean call emergency services now, including first-ever or sudden symptoms, one-sided weakness or facial droop, vision loss in one eye, symptoms lasting over an hour, or high-risk conditions. See below for critical details and next-step guidance that could change what you do.

Atrial fibrillation causes the upper heart chambers to quiver, letting blood pool in the left atrial appendage and form clots that can travel to the brain. This raises stroke risk about fivefold and makes AFib the leading cause of preventable strokes. Many of these strokes can be avoided with blood thinners, rate or rhythm control, and lifestyle changes, but AFib is often silent, so knowing your risk factors and when to seek care matters; important details that can affect your next steps are explained below.

Artificial sweeteners in sugar-free products can still raise insulin in some people through brain and gut signaling, microbiome shifts, and appetite effects, even though they do not spike blood glucose like sugar. Effects differ by sweetener and context, with sucralose especially when combined with carbs and sometimes aspartame more likely to stimulate insulin, while stevia and monk fruit may be better tolerated. There are several factors to consider, including your symptoms, overall diet, and Type 2 Diabetes risk; see below for the nuanced evidence, which sweeteners to trial or limit, practical use tips, and when to speak with a clinician about next steps.

Using your rescue inhaler every day is a warning sign that asthma isn’t well controlled, because it treats symptoms but not the underlying airway inflammation and is linked to a higher risk of severe attacks. There are several factors to consider and important next steps, including what counts as too much use, side effects to watch for, and when to seek urgent care. See below for complete details that could affect your treatment plan and what to do next.

Drinking baking soda for an alkaline cleanse is dangerous, with women increasingly hospitalized from severe sodium overload and metabolic alkalosis that can trigger blood pressure spikes, heart rhythm problems, seizures, and other emergencies. There are several factors to consider, including hidden sodium doses, who is most at risk, warning symptoms, and safer alternatives. See below for the complete details and guidance on what to do now and when to seek urgent care.

There are several factors to consider. Headaches that recur or start with reading, driving, or screen use and improve with visual rest rather than water are more often due to eye strain or uncorrected vision, while dehydration headaches follow fluid loss and usually ease within 30 to 60 minutes after rehydration. See below for key signs to tell the difference, simple fixes like the 20-20-20 rule and lighting adjustments, when to schedule an eye exam, and urgent warning symptoms that need medical care, as these details can shape your next steps.

Quick dopamine hits like endless scrolling can briefly lift emotional flatness but, over time, they desensitize the brain’s reward system, deepen numbness, lower motivation, and disrupt sleep and stress, which can worsen anhedonia. There are several factors to consider; see below for how this cycle works and why it matters for your recovery choices. Improvement comes from gradual rebalancing rather than quitting everything: lower the intensity of digital use, rebuild effort-based rewards like movement and routine, and address underlying causes such as depression, anxiety, medications, or substance use, with medical support when symptoms persist or safety is a concern. Key warning signs, practical steps, and a symptom checker link are outlined below.

Extreme fasting and crash diets often lead to rebound weight gain because the body defends against starvation by slowing metabolism, increasing hunger hormones, breaking down muscle, and raising stress hormones, so early losses are mostly water and muscle and the weight often returns quickly. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand who should avoid fasting, warning symptoms, sustainable strategies like moderate calories, adequate protein, regular meals, strength training, sleep and stress support, and when to talk with a clinician so you can choose the safest next steps.

Moisturize within 3 to 5 minutes of a short, lukewarm bath while skin is still damp to lock in hydration and reduce flares; use thick, fragrance-free ointments or creams, apply generously head to toe, and repeat at least twice daily. There are several factors to consider. See below for key bathing steps, what ingredients to choose or avoid, how to adjust during flares vs calm periods, and red flags that mean you should contact a doctor, which could change your next steps.

Heat sensitivity in MS explains why symptoms can suddenly worsen in summer or after a hot shower, as even small rises in body temperature temporarily slow nerve signals in damaged pathways; this is usually Uhthoff’s phenomenon rather than a true relapse and often improves with cooling. There are several factors to consider, including how to distinguish a heat flare from a relapse, practical cooling and exercise tactics, medication effects, and when to seek urgent care, all of which can affect your next steps in care; see complete guidance below.

Early recognition of Tardive Dyskinesia is critical because the involuntary movements can become long-lasting or permanent if missed, whereas timely medication review and treatment options can reduce the risk of irreversibility. There are several factors to consider, including subtle early signs, who is at higher risk, and how monitoring and clinician-guided changes can protect quality of life and safety, which could shape your next steps. See below for the key symptoms to watch, when to contact a doctor, and practical, safer actions to discuss with your care team.

In Type 1, very low carb and keto diets can trigger DKA because cutting carbs often leads to reduced insulin, which removes the brake on ketone production; DKA can develop quickly and even with normal blood sugar. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more about warning signs, high risk triggers like illness, vomiting, dehydration or pump failure, safer nutrition alternatives, and when to seek urgent care or make medically supervised changes.

Loneliness in adults 65+ can lead to depletion, a draining of emotional, physical, and social reserves, and can progress to depression that often looks like fatigue, sleep or appetite changes, pain, withdrawal, or hopelessness rather than sadness. There are several factors to consider; see below for specific warning signs, how to tell depletion from depression, and when to seek urgent help. Early steps include talking with someone, scheduling a medical review including medications, gentle movement, and building small social connections, while treatments may involve therapy, carefully selected medications, community supports, and addressing medical conditions. See complete guidance below, including caregiver tips and red flags that could change your next steps.

Morning acid reflux often stems from overnight reflux, and sleep position is a major driver: lying flat or on your right side worsens it, while sleeping on your left side and elevating the head of the bed can significantly reduce symptoms. There are several factors to consider that could change your next steps, including evening meal timing and size, trigger foods, alcohol, tight clothing, and warning signs like symptoms more than 2 to 3 times weekly or trouble swallowing; see below for specific position tips, habits to adopt, treatment options, and when to seek medical care.

Balance problems are often mislabeled as dizziness or motion sickness, but persistent imbalance or episodes that happen off motion can stem from inner ear disorders, visual or proprioceptive mismatch, neurological conditions, circulation changes, or medication effects, and certain symptoms require urgent care. There are several factors to consider; see below for complete details on red flags, common causes, and practical next steps like tracking triggers, reviewing medicines, and asking about vestibular evaluation and rehab that could change your care plan.