Your Health Questions
Answered by Professionals

There are several factors to consider beyond sleep quantity, including sleep apnea, narcolepsy or idiopathic hypersomnia, circadian rhythm disorders, liver and electrolyte problems, thyroid dysfunction, anemia or nutrient deficiencies, mental health conditions, and medication side effects. See below for the key symptoms, tests, and treatments that can narrow the cause, plus red flags for when to call a doctor and practical next steps like keeping a sleep diary, trying light or melatonin at the right times, ordering blood work, and reviewing medications.

There are several factors to consider: infections, food intolerances, medications, and chronic conditions like IBS, celiac disease, IBD, or bile acid diarrhea can all push the gut into overdrive; see below for what counts as diarrhea, quick at home relief, and the tests and treatments that match the cause. Seek care promptly for dehydration, blood in stool, high fever, severe abdominal pain, or symptoms lasting beyond two weeks, and review the important details below that could change your next steps.

Nighttime dry cough often stems from postnasal drip, asthma, or GERD; dry air, bedroom irritants or allergens, and medications such as ACE inhibitors can contribute, and less commonly infections or heart failure are involved. See below for key red flags, targeted home remedies, and what testing and treatments to expect so you can decide when self care is reasonable and when to see a clinician.

Cinnamon may support erectile health by improving blood sugar, inflammation, and blood vessel function, but the evidence is indirect and no clinical trials show it directly treats ED. There are several factors to consider, including who might benefit most, safe dosing with Ceylon vs Cassia, potential side effects and drug interactions, and when to seek medical care. See below for complete guidance that could affect your next steps.

Cold exposure typically constricts blood vessels and activates the sympathetic system, which impairs penile blood flow, so current evidence does not support cold showers as a treatment for ED. In practice, avoid cold right before sexual activity. There are several factors to consider, including timing, safer stress relief options, and proven cardiovascular and medical approaches; see the complete guidance below for key details that could influence your next steps.

Insomnia is common, but when it persists or appears with red flags it can signal depression, cardiometabolic disease, dementia risk, thyroid issues, sleep apnea, chronic pain, or other mood and neurological conditions; there are several factors to consider, and full details are below. Seek care urgently if it lasts more than 3 months or causes daytime impairment, breathing problems at night, unexplained weight change, morning headaches, painful or uncontrollable leg movements, cognitive decline, or suicidal thoughts, and see below for practical sleep tips, when to get tests or CBT-I, and which next steps to take with your clinician.

There are several factors to consider, because cramping that eases after a bowel movement is common in IBS yet not specific, and can also stem from constipation, infections, inflammatory bowel disease, partial obstruction, motility problems, or extraintestinal issues like gallbladder, kidney, or gynecologic conditions. Watch for red flags such as weight loss, bleeding, fever, anemia, severe or persistent pain, onset after 50, or a family history, and know that proper diagnosis may require symptom tracking, labs, stool tests, imaging and endoscopy with tailored treatment, so for key details that can guide your next steps see the complete explanation below.

Cramps that peak right before a bowel movement and ease quickly afterward most often indicate an intestinal spasm; pain that begins well before you need to go and does not fully improve after can point to inflammation. There are several factors to consider, and important red flags, triggers, self-care options, and when to seek medical care are outlined below.

Short, early power naps of about 10 to 20 minutes can be healthy. Needing daily naps over 30 minutes or feeling unrefreshed, dangerously drowsy, or noticing signs like loud snoring, headaches, mood or memory changes, weight or skin changes, swelling, or jaundice is a red flag for sleep disorders or medical issues such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, anemia, thyroid disease, diabetes, heart or liver disease, as well as medication or mental health factors. There are several factors to consider. The complete guidance below covers what to track, when to see a doctor or sleep specialist, basic tests to request, sleep and lifestyle fixes, medication reviews, and urgent red flags that need immediate care.

Diarrhea right after eating is often a normal gastrocolic reflex, especially if mild and linked to triggers like high fat or spicy foods, caffeine, artificial sweeteners, stress, or an exaggerated response in IBS-D. There are several factors to consider: persistent or severe diarrhea, or red flags like weight loss, blood, fever, severe pain, dehydration, or symptoms lasting more than 48 hours can indicate malabsorption, IBD, microscopic colitis, bile acid problems, infections, thyroid or liver disease, or medication effects; see below for important details on when to seek care and what tests and steps may help.

There are several factors to consider: diarrhea lasting 2 weeks is persistent and is most often due to lingering infection like Giardia or C. difficile or post-infectious changes, but also IBS-D, inflammatory bowel disease, malabsorption such as celiac or lactose intolerance, medication effects, bile acid diarrhea, thyroid disease, and microscopic colitis. See below for how clinicians sort this out with targeted stool and blood tests, which at-home steps may help, and the red flags like fever, blood in stool, weight loss, or dehydration that mean you should seek care promptly.

The most commonly considered causes include infectious colitis (such as Campylobacter, Salmonella, Shigella, toxigenic E. coli, C. difficile, or Entamoeba), inflammatory bowel disease (ulcerative colitis or Crohn's), ischemic colitis, and medication or radiation related colitis, with less common but important possibilities like colorectal cancer, vascular malformations, and anorectal sources. There are several factors to consider. See below for key red flags, which exposures and medications matter, and how doctors test and treat these conditions so you can choose the right next steps and know when urgent care is needed.

There are several factors to consider: Crohn’s often causes ongoing abdominal pain, urgent diarrhea, weight loss, fatigue, fevers, mouth sores, or perianal issues; below you’ll find how to recognize patterns, what serious warning signs look like, and exactly how doctors test for Crohn’s. If symptoms persist over 4 weeks or include bleeding, significant weight loss, high fevers, severe pain, dehydration, or joint, skin, or eye inflammation, seek care promptly, since only proper testing with stool, blood, scopes, and imaging can confirm Crohn’s and early treatment prevents complications; see below for a free symptom check, self-care tips, and when to go to the ER.

Ulcerative colitis is more likely if you have blood in your stool, persistent diarrhea with urgency or a feeling of incomplete evacuation, crampy lower left abdominal pain that eases after a bowel movement, mucus in stool, and unintended weight loss or fatigue; joint pain, red painful eyes, or tender skin bumps together with bowel symptoms raise suspicion further. There are several factors to consider. See below for key risk factors like family history and age peaks, conditions that can mimic it, red flags that need urgent care, and the tests doctors use to confirm the diagnosis, plus a free online symptom check to guide next steps.

Yes, warm salt water gargles can temporarily soothe a sore throat by drawing out swelling, loosening mucus, and slightly discouraging germs, but they provide symptom relief rather than curing bacterial infections. There are several factors to consider, including the proper mixture and how often to gargle, other helpful treatments like hydration and pain relievers, and red flags that mean you should see a clinician. See the complete details below to guide your next steps.

Milk can offer brief soothing by neutralizing stomach acid, but it often triggers rebound acid within an hour and, especially if high fat, can slow stomach emptying and relax the lower esophageal sphincter, worsening reflux. There are several factors to consider, including opting for low fat milk or non dairy alternatives and addressing meal timing and other triggers; see below for important details and red flags that can guide your next steps.

In healthy sleep, the first REM period usually starts about 70 to 100 minutes after you fall asleep; REM within 45 to 60 minutes is short, and REM within 15 minutes is especially concerning and may suggest narcolepsy. Early REM can be caused by sleep deprivation, irregular schedules, alcohol or medications, mood disorders, or sleep disorders like narcolepsy; if you often dream right away plus have extreme daytime sleepiness, muscle weakness, paralysis at sleep wake transitions, or hallucinations, speak with a clinician. There are several factors to consider and important red flags and next steps are outlined below.

Dreaming right as you fall asleep can signal a sleep-onset REM period, often from sleep loss or irregular schedules, stress or PTSD, medication effects or withdrawal, and occasionally from narcolepsy or advanced liver disease. There are several factors to consider; see below for specific red flags like severe daytime sleepiness, sudden muscle weakness, confusion, jaundice, or hallucinations, plus the key steps you can take now and when to see a doctor.

There are several common causes of a dry, tickly cough that won’t go away, most often post-viral cough, post-nasal drip, asthma, acid reflux, ACE inhibitor medicines, or cough hypersensitivity, and a cough lasting more than eight weeks is considered chronic. See below for red flags that need urgent care, how doctors diagnose the cause, home measures that help, and the specific over-the-counter and prescription treatments so you can choose the right next steps.

Falling asleep in meetings may be brief microsleeps lasting seconds from fatigue or monotony, or persistent excessive daytime sleepiness that can signal disorders like sleep apnea or narcolepsy. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more. Track how often it happens and any red flags such as loud snoring, cataplexy, or unrefreshing sleep; improve sleep habits, try the Epworth Sleepiness Scale, and seek a sleep specialist if it persists. Complete details and step-by-step next actions are below.

There are several factors to consider; falling asleep on your feet can result from severe sleep deprivation, medication effects, sleep disorders like sleep apnea, idiopathic hypersomnia or narcolepsy with cataplexy, and even look-alikes such as seizures or fainting from heart rhythm issues or blood pressure drops when standing; see below to understand the differences. Urgent warning signs that need immediate medical care include actual loss of consciousness, chest pain, palpitations, severe shortness of breath, seizure-like movements, head injury, or known heart disease; see below for the full list of red flags, what your doctor may check, and practical safety steps that can guide your next steps.

Falling asleep while eating usually signals abnormally high sleep pressure and often an underlying sleep disorder, not just a post-meal slump. There are several factors to consider, including obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, severe sleep deprivation, and sedating medications or alcohol; see below to understand more. Because this can raise choking risk and may require tests like a sleep study, review the details below for warning signs and next-step guidance you can take to your clinician.

The fecal calprotectin test measures calprotectin, a neutrophil protein, in stool to estimate inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. It is most useful to differentiate inflammatory bowel disease from irritable bowel syndrome, to triage chronic GI symptoms, and to monitor known IBD and guide the need for colonoscopy. There are several factors to consider, including result cutoffs, when to repeat testing, and potential false positives from infections or NSAIDs; see the complete answer below for details and next steps.

A noticeable increase from your usual bathroom pattern especially more than three times a day with loose, urgent stools that lasts over four weeks can indicate chronic diarrhea, with causes that range from diet and infections to IBS, IBD, malabsorption, medications, thyroid problems, and bile acid issues. There are several factors to consider. Red flags like blood or black stools, weight loss, fever, severe abdominal pain, dehydration, or symptoms after antibiotics warrant prompt care, and the complete answer below explains which tests, treatments, and special considerations like liver disease can guide your next steps.

Hearing brief voices as you fall asleep is often a normal hypnagogic experience, especially with poor sleep, irregular schedules, stress, or stimulant use. There are several factors to consider. See below for details on what is benign and what can improve with simple sleep-habit changes. It becomes concerning if the voices persist when fully awake, are frequent or distressing, or come with daytime sleepiness, mood or thinking changes, neurologic symptoms, substance or medication issues, or signs of liver disease, which can indicate conditions like narcolepsy, psychiatric illness, seizures, dementia, or metabolic causes. See the full guidance below for specific red flags and when to seek medical care, testing, and specialist evaluation.

IBS is suspected when you have recurrent abdominal pain for at least 3 months that is related to bowel movements or accompanied by changes in stool frequency or form. There are several factors to consider, and red flags like bleeding, unexplained weight loss, fever, anemia, or symptom onset after age 50 mean you should seek prompt medical evaluation. Diagnosis relies mainly on symptom patterns with limited testing, and many people improve with diet changes, stress management, and exercise; see below for the Rome IV criteria, IBS subtypes, what to track, when to see a doctor, and the next steps to confirm your diagnosis.

Crohn’s is diagnosed by combining your medical history and exam with blood and stool tests including fecal calprotectin to rule out infection and gauge inflammation, plus endoscopy with biopsies as the gold standard, and imaging like CT or MR enterography to map disease and complications; capsule endoscopy is used when needed. There are several factors to consider, and results are interpreted together to confirm the diagnosis and plan treatment; see below for important details and next steps, including when to seek care.

Most dry coughs clear within 2 to 3 weeks, often after a viral infection; about 25 percent can persist 3 to 8 weeks as a post-viral cough, and anything over 8 weeks is considered chronic and should be evaluated. There are several factors to consider, including common triggers, simple home care, medicines that can help, and red flags that mean you should seek care. See below for the complete answer and next-step guidance that could change what you do next.

Most sore throats clear within 7 to 10 days, with pain peaking around days 2 to 3 and easing by day 5; untreated strep can last 7 to 10 days, but symptoms often improve within 24 to 48 hours after starting antibiotics. There are several factors to consider. See below to understand more, including red flags that warrant medical care if symptoms persist beyond 10 days or are severe, as well as practical home relief tips and when testing or antibiotics are appropriate.

Most acid reflux episodes last 30 minutes to 2 hours, typically beginning 30 to 60 minutes after a trigger meal, and antacids can ease symptoms within minutes though relief may fade after 1 to 3 hours. If symptoms occur weekly or persist despite 2 to 4 weeks of over-the-counter treatment, it may be GERD that can last months to years without proper care. There are several factors and warning signs to consider, along with lifestyle and medication options that can shorten episodes; see below for complete details to guide your next steps.