Your Health Questions
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Yellow, greasy, floating stool often means fat is not being absorbed properly, a pattern called steatorrhea; common causes include problems with bile flow from the gallbladder or liver, pancreatic enzyme insufficiency, celiac disease, small intestinal conditions, certain medications, or a brief reaction to very high fat meals. There are several factors to consider, including red flags like symptoms lasting more than a week, weight loss, abdominal pain, jaundice with pale stools or dark urine, or signs of vitamin A D E K deficiency; see below for important details on diagnosis and treatments and when to speak to a doctor.

Yellow, greasy stool usually signals steatorrhea, or fat malabsorption, commonly from pancreatic enzyme deficiency, reduced or blocked bile flow from gallbladder or liver problems, intestinal disorders like celiac disease or Crohn’s, infections such as giardia, or diet and medications. There are several factors to consider, including how long it lasts and red flags like weight loss, significant pain, very pale or clay-colored stool, or dehydration; see below for the full list of causes, tests doctors use, and the specific next steps and treatments that could impact your care.

Mucus in stool can be normal in small amounts, but frequent or visible mucus is most often linked to IBS, infections, constipation, food sensitivities, hemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel disease, and female factors like menstrual shifts, pregnancy, endometriosis, or pelvic floor issues. There are several factors to consider. See below for red flags that need urgent care such as blood, black stools, fever, severe pain, weight loss, or persistent diarrhea, plus female-specific patterns, how doctors evaluate this, and practical next steps.

Silent pneumonia can masquerade as a lingering cold. You may need a chest X-ray now if your cough and fatigue are not improving after 10 to 14 days, you notice subtle shortness of breath or chest tightness with routine activities, or you develop atypical symptoms like low-grade fever, night sweats, loss of appetite, or confusion. There are several factors to consider, and you can see below who is at higher risk, when to seek urgent or emergency care, how imaging guides treatment, and what recovery and lung care entail, details that could change your next steps.

There are several factors to consider. Rings that feel tight in the morning are usually due to morning edema from overnight fluid shifts, amplified by menstrual cycle hormones in the luteal phase that promote sodium and water retention, with added influence from salt intake, sleep position, hydration or alcohol, and conditions like arthritis. This is often harmless and fades after you get moving, but new or persistent, one-sided, painful, rapidly worsening swelling or swelling with shortness of breath, chest pain, or severe fatigue warrants medical care. See the complete explanation, practical steps to reduce swelling, and when to seek help below, as these details could affect your next steps.

Yellow, urgent, or loose stools are common after gallbladder removal because bile drips continuously into the intestines, speeding transit and sometimes causing bile acid diarrhea or fat malabsorption; most people improve over weeks to a few months. There are several factors to consider, including food triggers, simple treatments like fiber or bile acid binders, and red flags such as persistent pale or clay-colored stool, severe pain, fever, blood, dehydration, or lasting diarrhea that warrant medical care; see the complete guidance below for what to do next.

The 5 early warning signs women in their 20s should know are: persistent, unexplained fatigue; symmetric joint pain and morning stiffness; rashes or sun sensitivity such as a butterfly rash; frequent illness or low-grade fevers; and scattered symptoms like brain fog, tingling, or chest pain with deep breaths. There are several factors to consider, and the next steps can differ: see below for key details on flare triggers, which red flags need urgent care, how lupus is diagnosed, and early SLE management tips to guide your appointment and treatment planning.

Common nonpregnancy causes of after-lunch nausea include food intolerance, gastroparesis, silent reflux, blood sugar swings, and stress or anxiety affecting the gut. There are several factors to consider; see below for timing clues, common triggers, simple fixes, and the urgent red flags that should prompt medical care so you can choose the right next step.

If your skin feels sunburned without any redness, this is a recognized nerve-related problem often tied to neurogenic inflammation and conditions like small fiber neuropathy or central sensitization, and it can worsen with stress, heat, or touch. There are several factors to consider and important next steps for diagnosis, treatment, and when to seek urgent care; see below for details that could meaningfully guide your healthcare decisions.

Three signs your tonsillitis may be a warning from your immune system include a fever that stays high or lasts more than 3 to 4 days or returns, repeated or lingering episodes that do not fully resolve, and uncertainty about contagiousness with new or worsening symptoms like unusual weakness or shortness of breath. There are several factors to consider, and they can influence whether you rest at home or speak to a doctor for issues like persistent fever, trouble breathing or swallowing, or symptoms that are getting worse; see the complete details below.

A burnt rubber or chemical stool odor is most often linked to three gut issues: malabsorption of fats, sulfur-related digestion from diet or sulfur-producing bacteria, and microbiome imbalance such as dysbiosis or SIBO. There are several factors to consider, and this symptom is often manageable once the cause is identified, but persistent changes or any red flags should be evaluated by a clinician. For key warning signs, what to try now, and which tests and treatments might guide your next steps, see the complete details below.

Burning skin without a rash is usually a sign of nerve pain that anxiety can amplify, often linked to small-fiber neuropathy, but it can also stem from other issues like vitamin B12 deficiency, thyroid or blood sugar problems, medications, or infections. There are several factors to consider, including red flags that need prompt care; see below for specific causes, how anxiety and the nervous system interact, what tests to ask about, and treatments that calm nerves and address anxiety.

Skin that stings or burns with no redness is usually nerve driven allodynia, fibromyalgia, or neuropathic pain, often intensified by stress and poor sleep rather than a skin problem. There are several factors to consider; see below for causes, red flags that need urgent care, practical relief steps, and how clinicians evaluate triggers like migraines, vitamin B deficiencies, diabetes, or nerve compression to guide treatments that calm nerve signaling.

A strong rotten-egg or sewer odor usually comes from hydrogen sulfide gas made when gut bacteria ferment poorly digested protein or sulfur-rich foods, and it can also signal bacterial imbalance like SIBO or slowed gut motility. There are several factors to consider. See the complete guidance below for specific relief steps, what to track, and when to see a doctor if symptoms persist or appear with red flags like weight loss, blood, or greasy floating stools.

Seven everyday "healthy" foods and habits can reduce calcium availability for your bones: high-oxalate greens like spinach, excess salt, caffeine, cola sodas, high-phytate bran and unsoaked grains, very high protein without enough calcium, and added sugars. This matters in your 20s, when peak bone mass is built, so small daily choices can quietly weaken or protect your skeleton. There are several factors to consider; see below for the science, practical swaps, balancing tips with calcium and vitamin D, exercise guidance, and when to seek medical advice based on your risks and symptoms.

A hard lump near the anus is most often a hemorrhoid or a perianal cyst, while a very painful, red, fast‑worsening lump with possible fever suggests an abscess; hemorrhoids feel soft to firm and may itch or bleed bright red, cysts are round, smooth, and usually firm and painless at first, and skin tags are soft flaps. There are several factors to consider, and some require urgent care, including severe or worsening pain, fever or chills, pus, persistent bleeding, rapid growth, or no improvement in 1 to 2 weeks. See below for more details on what to do next and safe home care.

Anhedonia is the loss or reduction of pleasure, linked to changes in the brain’s reward system, and it is a common symptom in conditions like depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, PTSD, schizophrenia, chronic medical illness, medication effects, prolonged stress, and substance use. Effective care depends on the cause and may include treating underlying illnesses, evidence based therapy such as behavioral activation or CBT, medication adjustments, and supportive habits; there are several factors to consider, and important details that can shape your next steps are outlined below. Seek urgent help for thoughts of self harm, extreme withdrawal, severe weight loss, or hallucinations.

Apple cider vinegar may offer modest relief for cycle-related bloating by supporting stomach acid and gut motility, blunting post-meal blood sugar spikes, and gently modulating inflammation, but it is not a cure and can also worsen symptoms for some. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more, including correct dilution and timing, potential risks if you have reflux, kidney issues, or take certain medications, the lifestyle steps that matter more, and the red-flag symptoms that mean you should speak with a clinician.

Ankylosing spondylitis in women is often delayed or mistaken for fibromyalgia because symptoms are less classic, early X rays may look normal, and under recognition of female pain can steer diagnosis away from inflammatory disease. There are several factors to consider, including pain that improves with movement, prolonged morning stiffness, night pain, and possible MRI or blood test signs of inflammation; the complete details, with red flags, tests to request, and when to see a rheumatologist that could impact your next steps, are outlined below.

Asthma in adults 65 and older is often mistaken for heart disease because shortness of breath, chest tightness, and fatigue overlap, and clinicians may rely on age-based assumptions while underusing spirometry amid multiple chronic conditions. Accurate diagnosis, including lung function testing and a tailored treatment plan, can prevent delays, unnecessary cardiac medications, and hospitalizations; there are several factors to consider, and the complete answer below includes symptom red flags, what to ask your doctor, and steps that could guide your next healthcare decisions.

Atherosclerosis is the gradual buildup of cholesterol-rich plaque that narrows and stiffens arteries, quietly reducing blood flow and raising the risk of heart attack, stroke, peripheral artery disease, and kidney problems; the condition is often preventable, detectable, and manageable. Doctors assess risk and plaque with blood tests, blood pressure checks, ECG, stress testing, ultrasound, coronary calcium scoring, CT angiography, and ABI, and protect arterial health with lifestyle changes and proven medicines like statins and therapies for blood pressure and diabetes. There are several factors to consider, including your symptoms, risk factors, and which tests are right for you; see the complete details below to guide your next steps and when to seek urgent care.

AFib raises stroke risk about fivefold, so preventing clots with appropriate anticoagulation is often crucial, while symptom control may use either rate control or rhythm control strategies such as antiarrhythmic drugs, cardioversion, or catheter ablation. Ablation can reduce AFib episodes and improve quality of life, but it is not a cure and many people still need blood thinners. There are several factors to consider, including personal stroke risk, suitability for early rhythm control, and lifestyle changes, so see the complete details below to decide on the right next steps with your doctor.

Vitiligo is an autoimmune condition where your immune system attacks melanocytes, shaped by genetics and triggered by sunburn, skin injury, stress, or chemicals, and it can occur with other autoimmune diseases like thyroid disease, type 1 diabetes, pernicious anemia, and alopecia areata. There are several factors to consider about screening, sun protection, evidence based treatments like topical medicines and UVB light, and mental health; see below for the complete answer and important details that could guide your next steps.

There are several factors to consider. After menopause, breast cancer risk rises with age; combined estrogen plus progestin HRT adds a small, duration-related increase that declines after stopping, while estrogen-only HRT generally does not raise risk and is appropriate only if you do not have a uterus. HRT can significantly ease hot flashes, sleep and vaginal symptoms and help protect bone, but the safest plan depends on your personal risks, timing, dose, and screening; see the complete guidance below for risk-reduction steps and when to contact a clinician, as these details can change your next steps.

This page explains breast cancer types and symptoms, staging, when to get mammograms, and breakthrough treatments like precision medicine, HER2 targeted therapies, CDK4/6 inhibitors, and immunotherapy. There are several factors to consider that may change your next steps including age, family history, receptor status, and surgical or medical options along with tradeoffs like false positives; see the complete details below.

Brown discharge without a period is usually old blood and often signals progesterone shifts, most commonly low progesterone in the luteal phase or brief mid-cycle ovulation spotting. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand how timing, stress, life transitions, and recent birth control changes can affect this. Because pregnancy, thyroid issues, or infections can also be involved, and certain warning signs warrant prompt care, review the complete guidance below for when to test, what your doctor may check, and safe options to support healthy progesterone.

Safe redosing depends on the drug and spacing: Tylenol’s half-life is 2-3 hours, typically 500-1,000 mg every 4-6 hours with a max of 3,000 mg/day; ibuprofen is usually every 6-8 hours and naproxen every 8-12 hours. Alternating Tylenol with one NSAID can help, but do not combine NSAIDs or exceed daily totals. Triptans are usually limited to 1-2 doses in 24 hours, frequent use of any acute meds can trigger medication-overuse headache, and red flags like thunderclap or unusual pain, chest pain, jaundice, or severe vomiting mean do not take more and seek care. There are several factors to consider and important exceptions that can change what is safest for you; see complete guidance below.

Caregivers can recognize respiratory distress in emphysema by noticing worsening shortness of breath, faster breathing at rest, use of neck or chest muscles, fatigue or sleep trouble, and changes in cough or mucus, and can help by sitting the person upright, coaching slow pursed-lip breathing, and ensuring prescribed inhalers or oxygen are used correctly. Seek emergency care for blue or gray lips or fingertips, inability to speak full sentences, severe chest pain, confusion, loss of consciousness, or rapidly worsening breathlessness, and talk to a clinician if new or worse symptoms persist beyond a day or two; there are several factors to consider, with more details on triggers, tracking, prevention, and mental health support below.

Cholesterol after 70 still matters, but your targets become individualized based on overall cardiovascular risk, quality of life, and medication tolerance; common guideposts are LDL under 100 mg/dL, or under 70 mg/dL if you have heart disease or diabetes, with attention to HDL, triglycerides, and lifestyle changes. There are several factors to consider. See the complete details below on when cholesterol matters more or less, whether a statin trial makes sense, and which symptoms need urgent care, as these nuances can change your next best steps.

There are several factors to consider. Common triggers include fatty or spicy foods, caffeine, alcohol, large or late meals, lying down after eating, smoking, excess weight, pregnancy, hiatal hernia, and certain medications; core lifestyle fixes are smaller meals, no food 2 to 3 hours before bed, staying upright, head-of-bed elevation, left-side sleeping, gradual weight loss, gentle activity, and stress management, with antacids, H2 blockers, alginates, and doctor-guided PPIs as medical options. Important details that can affect your next steps are outlined below, including when to seek care for alarm symptoms like trouble swallowing, weight loss, persistent vomiting, black stools, chest pain, or symptoms that do not improve, and when procedures may be considered if lifestyle changes and medicines are not enough. See below for the complete guidance.