Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

Hot flashes and night sweats happen when estrogen shifts make the brain’s thermostat in the hypothalamus overly sensitive, narrowing the temperature comfort zone and altering serotonin and norepinephrine so small changes trigger rapid skin vasodilation, sweating, palpitations, and sometimes chills afterward. There are several factors to consider, including personal triggers, body composition, medications, sleep impact, how long symptoms last, and red flags like unexplained weight loss, persistent fever, chest pain, fainting, or severe palpitations that need prompt medical care. For treatment options and how to choose next steps, including when lifestyle changes, nonhormonal medicines, or hormone therapy may be appropriate, see the complete answer below.

VO2 Max is the strongest single predictor of longevity and overall health; low levels are linked to a 2 to 5 times higher risk of early death, while consistent activities like brisk walking, cycling, and short intervals can raise it at nearly any age. There are several factors to consider, including how to measure your level, which targets matter for your age, safe ways to progress, and when symptoms mean you should talk to a clinician. See below for complete guidance and practical steps that could shape your next healthcare decisions.

There are several factors to consider: VO2 Max often drops with menopause but is highly trainable, and the most effective plan blends sufficient moderate or vigorous cardio with 1 to 2 HIIT sessions and 2 to 3 days of strength training to slow or even reverse the decline. Recovery, sleep, and nutrition including adequate protein, iron, carbs, and hydration are crucial, and any red flag symptoms or medical conditions should prompt a doctor consult before ramping up exercise; see below for precise weekly targets, sample workouts, and when to seek care.

Being skinny in midlife can be risky because sarcopenic obesity combines low muscle quality with hidden visceral fat, raising the risk of diabetes, heart and liver disease, bone loss, falls, functional decline, and even early mortality despite a normal BMI. There are several factors to consider, including hormonal shifts, inactivity, chronic dieting, and poor sleep, and proven steps like strength training, adequate protein, daily movement, and medical review can improve muscle quality and health; see complete details below to guide the right next steps in your care.

Zone 2 training is steady, conversational aerobic work at roughly 60 to 70 percent of your max heart rate that boosts fat oxidation, expands and strengthens mitochondria, and improves cardiovascular, metabolic, brain, and inflammation markers tied to healthy longevity. There are several factors to consider, including how to find your zone, session length and frequency, activity choices, common mistakes, special populations, and safety red flags; see below for complete guidance that can shape your next steps and when to speak with a clinician.

Zone 2 low intensity cardio at about 60–70% of max heart rate supports women’s hormonal balance by keeping cortisol lower, improving insulin sensitivity and fat metabolism, and supporting thyroid, adrenal, and mitochondrial function across reproductive years, perimenopause, and after menopause, with most benefits seen from 150–300 minutes per week in 30–60 minute sessions. There are several factors to consider, including how to find your zone, how to pair with strength and occasional intensity, signs you are pacing correctly, and important safety symptoms that mean you should speak to a doctor; see below to understand more.

What feels like everyday stress can actually be a medical anxiety condition that affects the whole body and may be triggered by treatable issues like thyroid disease, heart rhythm problems, low blood sugar, asthma, nutrient deficiencies, or hormone shifts. There are several factors to consider, and the right next step depends on clarifying the cause and pattern; see below for the complete details that can shape your care plan. Anxiety is highly manageable with evaluation, therapy, medication, and lifestyle tools, but seek urgent care for red flags such as chest pain, fainting, sudden shortness of breath, new confusion or weakness, or thoughts of self-harm.

Clear skin with psoriasis is achievable for many with the right plan, but it is a chronic immune condition that affects more than skin, often tied to triggers, stress, and risks like psoriatic arthritis and heart disease, so the goal is long-term control rather than a cure. Doctors advise pinpointing your personal triggers, using the right mix of treatments from moisturizers to light therapy and biologics, and having focused doctor visits to tailor care and know when urgent symptoms need attention; there are several factors to consider, and key details that could change your next steps are explained below.

There are several factors to consider when supporting a child or teen with early-onset schizophrenia: it is serious but treatable, and the best outcomes come from early recognition, ongoing evaluation to rule out other conditions, and a coordinated plan that blends antipsychotic medication, therapy, and school supports. See below for practical caregiver tools, signs that need urgent medical attention, ways to prevent burnout, and other key details that can shape your next steps and conversations with healthcare providers.

There are several factors to consider. Calm, honest, age-appropriate talks help kids delay sex and make safer choices, and the focus should be on readiness, consent, values, and typical developmental patterns rather than a single right age. Address risks like pregnancy and STIs without fear, watch for warning signs that need professional help, and use doctors as partners in ongoing conversations. See below for specific age-by-stage guidance, phrases to use, safety planning, and next steps that could change what you do next.

There is no single normal age for first intercourse; population averages are in the mid to late teens, and many people wait until late adolescence or adulthood. Readiness, consent, and safety matter more than age, and intercourse before 13 is uncommon and warrants careful assessment for coercion, while anyone who feels pressured or has concerns about pregnancy or STIs should seek confidential care. There are several factors to consider, including emotional maturity, education, and access to contraception and STI prevention; see below for important details that may shape your next steps.

Gooning, internet subcultures, and healthy teen sexuality: focus on open, nonjudgmental conversations that separate normal curiosity from red flags like secrecy, sleep loss, withdrawal, or compulsive use, while setting clear, respectful digital boundaries. There are several factors to consider, including consent online, unrealistic messages from porn, trauma signals, and when to seek professional help; see below for practical questions to ask, boundary options, a symptom check, and steps that can guide your next move.

Learn the basics of pelvic anatomy, the difference between vulva and vagina, and where sensation is often felt, including the G-spot typically 1 to 3 inches inside on the front vaginal wall, while noting that sensitivity varies and no one must find it to be healthy. There are several factors to consider, from gentle, safe self-exploration and emotional wellbeing to common myths, warning symptoms, and how to talk with a clinician; see below for complete details that may shape your next steps in care.

There are several factors to consider when high stress, worry, confusion, or forgetfulness appear in adults 65+, since anxiety usually causes fluctuating memory and concentration that improve when calm with preserved daily function and insight, while early dementia brings consistent decline, trouble managing tasks, and reduced awareness. Because other reversible issues and red-flag emergencies can mimic both, and treatments differ, prompt medical evaluation matters; see below for the key distinctions, what to rule out, when to seek urgent care, and next-step care options.

Reduced natural lubrication on GLP-1s is common and usually manageable, most often driven by rapid weight loss effects on estrogen, hydration, blood flow, side effects, and mood rather than the medication itself; there are several factors to consider, with key details below. Most people improve with steady hydration, unhurried arousal, balanced nutrition, early lubricant use, and a review of other medicines, but persistent dryness, pain, bleeding, or infections should prompt a doctor visit and treatments like localized vaginal estrogen, moisturizers, or pelvic PT, so see below for specifics and next steps that could guide your care.

Most people are surprised to learn that the average duration of penetrative sex is about 5 to 6 minutes, with a typical range of 3 to 13 minutes; under 2 minutes is often considered very short, 3 to 7 adequate, 7 to 13 desirable, and over 15 can be uncomfortable for some. There are several factors to consider beyond the clock, and longer does not automatically mean better; see below for what influences satisfaction, how expectations differ from reality, practical ways to improve pleasure without focusing on time, and when to talk with a clinician if pain, distress, or sudden changes occur.

The pill is excellent at preventing pregnancy, but it does not protect against STIs; condoms remain essential because they block bodily fluids and reduce some skin-to-skin exposure, lowering risks for chlamydia, gonorrhea, HIV, trichomoniasis, hepatitis B, and partly HPV and herpes. There are several factors to consider, including hidden risk even in stable relationships, the health impact of untreated STIs, and practical steps for dual protection and correct condom use; see below for myths to avoid, screening advice, and when to speak with a clinician.

Modern long-acting contraceptives like IUDs and implants are over 99% effective, low maintenance, and can lighten periods, reduce cramps and mental load, and offer quick return to fertility, including a hormone-free copper option. There are several factors to consider. Key side effects, who these methods are best for, and when to talk to a clinician are outlined below to guide your next steps.

Psoriasis is more than a skin condition; it is a chronic immune disease whose ongoing inflammation can raise the risk of psoriatic arthritis, heart and blood vessel disease, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, mental health challenges, and eye, kidney, or liver problems. There are several factors to consider, and early diagnosis, treatment, and lifestyle choices can lower these risks and guide when to seek care; see the complete details below to understand key warning signs, monitoring steps, and next actions.

BMI is a simple screening tool that estimates weight status from height and weight; adult ranges are underweight under 18.5, healthy 18.5 to 24.9, overweight 25 to 29.9, and obesity 30 or higher, and values outside the healthy range are linked to higher risks of conditions like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, sleep apnea, and nutrient or bone problems. Accuracy varies because BMI does not measure body fat percentage, muscle mass, bone density, or where fat is carried, so results must be interpreted with other factors like waist size, labs, age, symptoms, and life stage. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more, including when to seek care and which next steps could be most appropriate for your health.

For most seniors, regular sex is a safe, low-impact activity that functions like light-to-moderate aerobic exercise, supporting circulation, lowering stress, and typically burning about 3 to 5 calories per minute or 50 to 150 per session, similar to an easy walk. There are several factors to consider, including how to adapt for comfort and when to talk to a doctor if symptoms like chest pain or shortness of breath occur; see below for realistic calorie ranges, safety guidance, and next steps.

G-spot sensitivity often changes with age due to hormone shifts, pelvic floor health, blood flow and nerve signaling, along with medications and emotional factors. Most changes are common and can improve with lubrication, treatment for dryness or hormones, and pelvic floor therapy, but seek care for persistent pain, bleeding, sudden or severe loss of sensation, or new numbness; there are several factors to consider, see below to understand more and decide next steps.

There are several factors to consider: acute diarrhea starts suddenly and lasts under 14 days, chronic lasts 4 weeks or more, and rehydration with oral rehydration solutions is the foundation while gentle foods can help and OTC options are for mild, short-term cases only. Seek medical care for persistent diarrhea, dehydration, fever, blood, severe pain, weight loss, or in infants, older adults, or during pregnancy; see below for full causes, prevention tips, red flags, and treatments that may affect your next steps.

Clinical anxiety disorders are common, real, and treatable; persistent worry, physical symptoms like palpitations or shortness of breath, and impact on work or sleep help distinguish them, and diagnosis is made by a clinician who also rules out medical causes. Proven treatments include CBT and exposure therapies, medications such as SSRIs or SNRIs, and supportive lifestyle changes, with urgent symptoms like chest pain or suicidal thoughts requiring immediate care; there are several factors to consider, and important details that could shape your next steps are explained below.

Low libido has clinical causes spanning hormonal, psychological, and physical factors, including low testosterone or estrogen and thyroid disorders; depression, anxiety, or past trauma; and chronic illness, medications, sleep problems, alcohol or substance use, and poor nutrition or inactivity. There are several factors to consider, as well as warning signs that may need urgent care; treatment depends on the cause and can include hormone management, medication changes, condition management, therapy, stress and sleep support, and lifestyle changes. See complete details below to guide next steps and decide when to contact a clinician.

Low sexual desire is common and treatable; effective care usually blends therapy such as sex therapy or CBT, medical evaluation with targeted treatment when appropriate, and lifestyle strategies like better sleep, stress reduction, movement, and nutrition. There are several factors to consider, including hormones, current medications, relationship and emotional health, and trauma, plus red flags that warrant prompt medical attention; see the complete guidance below for step-by-step options, specific treatments, and how to choose the right next steps for you.

Comfort and flexibility for seniors with mobility issues are achievable by adapting oral intimacy with supportive positions like side-lying or seated with pillows, slower pacing, combining hands with mouth to reduce strain, and clear communication, while using condoms or dental dams when appropriate. There are several factors to consider, including when to pause due to pain, shortness of breath, heart conditions, mouth sores, or recent surgery, and when to speak with a clinician about safer positions, pain control, and medications; see the complete guidance below to decide your next steps.

Coming out after 60 is more common than many realize and often reflects evolving self-understanding or sexual fluidity, not a disorder, with sexual orientation being a natural pattern of attraction. There are several factors to consider, from navigating complex emotions and family conversations at your own pace to building affirming support, practicing safe dating, and speaking with a trusted clinician about mood, sleep, trauma, and sexual health; see below for complete guidance and resources that can shape your next steps.

IUDs are the most effective at over 99% with typical and perfect use, pills are about 93% effective with typical use and over 99% with perfect use, condoms and other barriers are less effective and depend heavily on correct use, and natural methods like fertility awareness or withdrawal are least effective at roughly 75 to 80% with typical use. There are several factors to consider, including STI protection, side effects, medical suitability, and how consistently you can use a method; see below for perfect vs typical rates, key pros and cons, and guidance on next steps like combining methods and when to talk with a clinician.

Regular monthly self skin checks and annual professional exams help older adults catch melanoma and other skin cancers early. Use mirrors and good light for a head to toe exam, apply the ABCDE rule and the ugly duckling sign, and do not skip the scalp, nails, soles, or between toes. See a doctor promptly for ABCDE features, nonhealing or bleeding spots, or rapid change, and keep reducing risk with sunscreen, protective clothing, and shade. There are several factors to consider, and the complete guidance below includes step by step instructions, high risk considerations, and tools to help decide next steps.