Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

When you are sick, deciding whether to visit primary care or urgent care depends on the severity and nature of your symptoms. For non-emergency conditions that require ongoing management, primary care is typically the best choice. However, if you have acute symptoms that need immediate attention, urgent care may be more appropriate.

If you can barely walk, consult your healthcare provider to determine the cause and create a treatment plan.

Difficulty walking in a straight line often occurs alongside other symptoms such as dizziness and frequent falls.

Sleeping on your side puts pressure on your elbow, which can irritate tendons and nerves and cause pain.

Pregnant individuals develop a waddling gait as their bodies adapt to maintain balance with added weight and a shifted center of gravity.

Pain when gripping objects typically comes from inflamed or injured tendons in the elbow.

When you make a fist, your elbow may hurt because the muscles and tendons in your forearm pull on it. If these tissues become strained or inflamed—as in medial epicondylitis—they can cause pain.

Pain when straightening your arm after sleeping often occurs from stiffness or nerve compression caused by your arm's position during sleep.

Itching around your urethra can occur for several reasons, including irritation, infection, or allergies. While keeping the area clean and avoiding harsh products may help, you should see a doctor for evaluation.

Itching at the tip of the urethra may be caused by infection or contact with irritants. If the discomfort persists, it's important to seek evaluation from a healthcare provider.

A lump in the abdomen can sometimes be associated with colon cancer, especially if it’s an advanced case, but many abdominal lumps are caused by benign conditions as well.

Chest pain when taking a deep breath can be due to problems in the lungs or chest wall, such as inflammation of the lung lining, muscle or cartilage irritation, or even rare conditions like shrinking lung syndrome.

A lump in the abdomen may be related to stomach cancer if the cancer has grown large enough or spread to nearby tissues such as lymph nodes or the abdominal wall.

It’s relatively common to notice a hard lump under the belly button after a C-section, often due to scar tissue formation, incisional hernia, or sometimes endometriosis involving the scar.

Yes, it is normal for your navel to protrude during pregnancy as your abdomen expands, though significant or painful changes should be evaluated.

Some swelling and irregular shapes are common right after a tummy tuck, but a noticeable upper abdominal protrusion lasting long after surgery is worth checking with your doctor.

A hard lump under the belly button after laparoscopy can occur, often as a part of the healing process. However, it is important to have it checked by a doctor if it causes concern.

A small lump in the belly button after laparoscopy can sometimes be a sign of a normal healing process, but it can also indicate complications like a hernia or other issues, so it is important to get it checked by your doctor.

It can be normal to notice a lump in your stomach during pregnancy, but any new lump should be checked by your doctor to make sure it’s harmless.

A lump in the lower abdomen for females is commonly due to ovarian cysts, developmental issues like hematocolpos from an imperforate hymen, or other benign cysts, though rare causes like pancreatic lymphangioma can occur.

Lumps in the abdomen are most commonly caused by benign issues such as lipomas, hernias, and cysts, though sometimes they may also be due to less common conditions like lymphangioma.

The most common causes of chest pain include non-cardiac issues such as musculoskeletal problems (like muscle strain or costochondritis), gastrointestinal disorders (such as acid reflux), and pulmonary conditions, although heart-related causes also need to be considered.

Sharp chest pain can have many causes, ranging from chest wall issues like costochondritis and pleuritic pain from lung inflammation to more serious conditions like an acute aortic dissection.

A hard lump in the epigastric region might mean there is a growth or an inflamed area, and it is important to have it checked. It could be something benign, like a fatty deposit, or a sign of a different condition that needs attention.

A lump in the left hypochondriac region may represent a tumor or tumor-like lesion. Possibilities include lipomas which are benign fat deposits, gastrointestinal stromal tumors which are lesions arising in the abdominal wall, or even liver masses like a pedunculated giant hemangioma. Even severe constipation causing stool back up may cause a sensation of a lump in this area.

A lump in the right hypochondriac region can be related to several conditions, such as an abscess due to gallbladder inflammation (cholecystitis), a tumor like a gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST), liver lesions, or other benign growths.

A lump in the stomach during pregnancy can sometimes be a benign growth like a fibrous “desmoid tumor” in the mother's abdominal wall or a cyst, but it could also be a sign of a fetal tumor or another condition that needs careful monitoring.

A red lump on the stomach could mean there is inflammation, infection, or even a small collection of blood (hematoma) under the skin, but other causes are possible as well.

A bulge in the epigastric region can be caused by several conditions, including hernias, infections such as vascular anomalies, or benign masses like lipomas or cysts. In rare case, it could be caused by tuberculosis affecting the xiphisternum.

A hard lump under the belly button in males may be caused by an umbilical hernia, a benign skin lesion such as a lipoma or epidermal inclusion cyst, or other less common umbilical abnormalities.