Family Medicine

For teens, nipple tenderness when touched is usually from puberty hormones, friction from clothing or exercise, or mild skin irritation, and boys may also have temporary gynecomastia tenderness. Rarer causes include cysts, benign lumps, or infection, and there are several factors to consider; see below to understand more. Try a well fitted sports bra, gentle skin care, and over the counter pain relievers, but seek care urgently for severe pain, fever, spreading redness, discharge, a hard or fixed lump, skin changes, or if symptoms last beyond two cycles or two months.

Seven easily ruled-out causes of left eye twitching in women include stress and anxiety, fatigue and poor sleep, caffeine and other stimulants, dry eyes, eye strain, hormonal fluctuations, and nutritional imbalances; most twitches are harmless and resolve on their own. There are several factors to consider, and important details with simple fixes are below. See below for when to seek care, especially if twitching lasts longer than two weeks or comes with involuntary eye closure, spread to the cheek or mouth, redness or discharge, vision changes, or facial weakness, as these warrant prompt medical evaluation.

Nipple tenderness without pregnancy is most often from hormone fluctuations around your menstrual cycle, puberty or perimenopause, or from medicines, and very commonly from irritation such as friction, ill-fitting bras, harsh fabrics, or fragranced soaps and detergents. Less common causes include skin conditions or infections, benign cysts, or nerve and referred pain; seek care promptly for red flags like pain lasting beyond two cycles, a new lump, discharge, fever, or skin changes. There are several factors to consider and simple self care steps that may help, so see the fuller checklist and next-step guidance below.

Nipple pain when you are not pregnant is usually benign and most often tied to hormonal shifts, mastalgia, friction or skin irritation, though medications, infections, and rare issues like Paget’s disease can be causes too; there are several factors to consider, and key details are outlined below. Start by tracking your cycle, checking bra fit and skin products, trying supportive bras, compresses, and OTC pain relievers, and limiting caffeine and tobacco, but seek care promptly for pain lasting more than 2 to 3 weeks, any new lump, discharge, fever, or skin changes; for fuller guidance and next steps, see below.

Nipple soreness when touched, even when not pregnant, is usually benign and most often tied to hormonal shifts, friction from clothing or exercise, skin conditions, infections or allergies, nipple vasospasm from cold, minor trauma or piercings, inverted or flat nipples, and rarely Paget’s disease or breast cancer. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand more. Most cases improve with simple self care, but see below for specific relief tips and the red flags that mean you should seek care right away, such as persistent pain, new inversion, discharge, a lump, spreading redness, or fever, so you can choose the right next steps in your healthcare journey.

Nipple pain when touched, even if you’re not pregnant, is most often from benign causes such as hormonal shifts around your period, skin irritation or friction from bras or workouts, infections, benign breast changes, or medication effects. Get prompt medical attention if it is one sided or comes with spontaneous bloody, green, or pus-like discharge, a new lump or thickening, nipple inversion, a persistent rash that does not improve, severe focal pain, or fever. There are several factors to consider and practical self care steps, decision points, and rare but serious causes to know about, all detailed below.

Start by ruling out medical causes with your clinician, then create a modest daily calorie surplus while prioritizing protein around 1.0–1.2 g/kg/day, healthy fats, small frequent meals, and resistance training so added weight is mostly muscle. Options like leucine enriched whey plus vitamin D, calorie dense snacks and drinks, and weekly monitoring can help you gain about 0.5–1 lb per week while supporting bones and immunity. There are several factors to consider, including red flag symptoms and how to personalize calories and supplements, so see the complete guidance below.

Gaining after 60 with a fast metabolism is achievable by eating 300 to 500 extra calories per day from nutrient-dense foods, targeting about 1.0 to 1.2 g/kg protein, using calorie boosters and supplements, and eating 5 to 6 times daily. Pair this with resistance training 2 to 3 days a week, brief appetite-stimulating cardio, and good sleep and recovery. There are several factors to consider, including tracking progress and seeing a clinician for unexplained weight loss or digestive issues; important details, options, and safety tips that could change your next steps are outlined below.

To gain weight after 60, aim for a modest daily calorie surplus, eat small frequent meals that prioritize 1.0 to 1.5 g protein per kg, add healthy fats and quality carbs for extra calories, and do strength training 2 to 3 times weekly. There are several factors to consider, including appetite changes, dental or digestive issues, medication effects, hydration and fiber balance, and when to use nutrition shakes. See the complete step by step targets, food ideas, and red flags for when to contact a clinician below.

Weight can rebound after stopping semaglutide because metabolism slows, appetite hormones surge, and routines slip; to counter this after 60, focus on a protein and fiber rich diet with smart portions and fewer liquid calories, do strength training 2 to 3 times weekly plus about 150 minutes of moderate cardio and daily movement, and use self weighing, food logs, good sleep, and stress control. There are several factors to consider, including balance and flexibility work, social support, medical monitoring of weight, blood pressure, and blood sugar, and when to ask your clinician about maintenance options if needed; see below for practical steps and safety notes that could shape your next decisions.

Top options include smartwatches and other wearables with ECG, fall detection and SOS alerts; wearable or in-home fall detectors; smart medication dispensers; at-home vital sign monitors like blood pressure cuffs, pulse oximeters and portable ECGs; remote monitoring hubs or telehealth apps; and GPS trackers for those at risk of wandering. Choosing the right setup depends on ease of use, clinical accuracy, privacy and data sharing, battery life and maintenance, cost or insurance coverage, and integration with caregivers or clinicians. There are several factors to consider, and the complete details below on trials, setup support, and when to involve your doctor can influence your best next steps.

Early pneumonia signs in adults 65 and older include rapid breathing, a new or worsening cough that may produce yellow, green, or rusty phlegm, chest discomfort with deep breaths or coughing, and sometimes only a low or absent fever. Subtle early clues in this age group include sudden confusion or delirium, unusual fatigue or weakness, poor appetite or dehydration, new unsteadiness or near-falls, dizziness from low blood pressure, and general malaise. There are several factors to consider; see below for key red flags, personal risk factors, when to contact a clinician or get a chest X-ray, and prevention steps that can guide your next steps.

Newest COVID symptoms in adults 65+ often resemble a mild cold: runny or stuffy nose, sore or scratchy throat, sneezing, headache, muscle or back aches, fatigue, gastrointestinal upset, night sweats, and usually a mild fever or chills. Also watch for older-adult specific signs like new confusion or delirium, sudden weakness or falls, loss of appetite or weight, shortness of breath, or chest pain. Important details in the complete answer below about red flags, when to test or retest, and treatment options could change your next steps.

Most painless belly fluttering at age 65+ is usually due to benign muscle fasciculations linked to mild electrolyte imbalances or dehydration, caffeine or other stimulants, medications, or stress; less often it stems from nerve irritation or thyroid or liver disease. There are several factors to consider, and red flags like persistent or worsening twitching, new weakness, chest pain, shortness of breath, fever, unexplained weight loss, jaundice, or bowel changes should prompt medical care; see below for specific self-care steps, when to seek help, and the evaluations a doctor may recommend.

A vibrating or buzzing feeling in the leg after age 65 is usually nerve-related paresthesia, most often from peripheral neuropathy or restless legs syndrome, but circulation problems, spinal nerve compression, and medication effects are also common causes. There are several factors to consider. Evaluation may include blood tests, nerve studies, Doppler or spine imaging, and you should seek urgent care for new weakness, severe pain, swelling, warmth or redness that could suggest a clot. See below to understand more about specific causes, red flags, and treatment options to discuss with your doctor.

There are several factors to consider; older adults are at higher risk from new COVID symptoms, especially with heart, lung, diabetes, kidney, or liver disease; see below to understand more. Seek urgent care now for trouble breathing or oxygen under 94 percent, chest pain or pressure, new confusion or severe drowsiness, bluish lips or nails, persistent high fever, severe dehydration, or sudden severe headache, vision changes, or one sided weakness. Call 911 for seizures, fainting, slurred speech, stroke symptoms, or severe injury, and see below for home monitoring steps, online symptom checkers, and when to contact your doctor.

In adults age 65 and older, mucus leakage without stool often reflects irritation or inflammation of the lower bowel from IBS, IBD, infection, diverticular disease, hemorrhoids or anal fissures, fecal incontinence, medication or diet changes, or reduced blood flow to the colon; less commonly it can be from colorectal polyps or cancer. Seek prompt care if there is blood, fever, severe or persistent abdominal pain, weight loss, dehydration, or a new change in bowel habits lasting more than a week. Key red flags, what to track, and which tests and next steps to consider are outlined below.

After age 65, fainting commonly results from an exaggerated vagus nerve reflex that widens blood vessels and slows the heart; age-related changes in blood pressure control, dehydration, multiple medications, and conditions like diabetes or Parkinson’s raise the risk and make triggers like heat, prolonged standing, or sudden standing more likely. Prevention often includes good hydration, clinician-approved salt, slow position changes, avoiding known triggers, compression stockings, and counterpressure maneuvers at early warning signs. There are several factors to consider; see below for key diagnostic steps and when to seek urgent care.

A vagal response is an overactivation of the vagus nerve that abruptly slows the heart and widens blood vessels, dropping blood pressure and sometimes causing dizziness or fainting. In adults 65 and older it happens more easily due to age-related changes in blood pressure control, dehydration or lower blood volume, and medications, and it can be triggered by pain, emotional stress, heat, straining, or standing up quickly. There are several factors to consider; see below for complete details on warning signs, prevention, testing, and when to seek care that could guide your next steps.

Defecation syncope in adults 65+ is a brief fainting episode triggered by straining during a bowel movement, more likely with constipation, dehydration, certain medicines, and heart or autonomic nerve problems. If you feel faint on the toilet, stop straining, sit and lean forward with your head down, breathe slowly, call for help, and if you pass out lie on your side and call 911 if you do not wake quickly, hit your head, or have chest pain or shortness of breath. There are several warning signs, prevention steps, and reasons to see a doctor that could change your next steps; see below for important details.