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General Medical FAQS

• Should I worry about bumps on my tongue after being treated for strep throat?
• What tests should be included in a routine physical exam?
• I have moderate emphysema. If I quit smoking now, do I have a chance at a longer life?
• What is Sjögren's Syndrome?
• Why has my 14 month old daughter got white stains on her teeth?
• What's the best treatment for bronchopneumonia?
• What is primary generalized seizure disorder?
• What are the side effects taking colchicine and lodine for gout?
• Could you tell me more about Prinzmetal's angina and how dangerous it is?
• Why do I get bad hives all over my body whenever cold air blows on me?
• Why do the shadows under my eyes get darker? Can cosmetic surgery help?
• How long do I have to wait and how much (or how little) alcohol is it safe to drink after having Hepatitis A?
• What causes bone density to weaken throughout the body?
• How does a heart surgeon determine whether or not a person has had a heart attack when he does an open heart bypass procedure?
• Is there any documented evidence of the benefits of ozone therapy in the treatment of cancer?
• Is there any effective bee sting antidote spray I could carry on the golf course, and do the allergy shots work?
• Why can I hear my heart beating in my ear all the time?
• Does my friend's 13 year old daughter have leukemia? She has lost weight and gets black and blue marks on her legs a lot.
• I have minor feelings of tightness around the heart area and can feel it pumping abnormally. Should I be concerned?
• What is urticaria pigmentosa?
• After I had mono, a large node came up on my neck. Should I have it biopsied?
• What is scleroderma?
• What are the effects of being bitten by a brown recluse spider?
• Recently, I a migraine, followed by three more bad headaches. Is there a chance this is a tumor?
• Can you tell me what is involved with a dermatologist's general examination?
• Do you have any information about an illness/disease called osteonecrosis?
• What happens in the long term to a person who has too much copper in their blood?
• I have severe abdominal pain caused by adhesions. Will surgery only make it worse?
• Is there a specific diet for a peptic ulcer or an ulcer of the esophagus?
• I have trouble with excessive bruising. Could I have Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome?
• My grandfather has lower limb vascular disease and his doctor wants to replace his hip, but do nothing about his swollen legs. Are these two conditions related?
• My daughter had salmonella and passed it to another family member. What is the best treatment and can they both become carriers?
• Even wearing 45 SPF sunscreen, I get red, tichy bumps. Do I have an allergy?
• How do you get rid of fluid in the lungs?
• Sometimes when I walk I get a pain in my stomach, and it stops if I sit down. What's causing this?
• My wife died of diabetes mellitus, and I'm confused. I thought people didn't die from diabetes.
• How do I ease pain from a sunburn?
• My daughter has type 1 diabetes, and she's not getting the care she needs. Help!
• Why do I still need to take antibiotics even after an infection is gone?
• How do I know if I have narcolepsy?
• What is subdural bleeding?
• How will pregnancy affect my restless legs syndrome?
• I'm 30 years old. What should my normal blood pressure be?
• What, in layman's terms, is PSVT?
• If atenolol is for high blood pressure, why did my doctor prescribe it for migraines?
• Why is there blood in my urine?
• I busted my nose. Do I need to see a plastic surgeon?
• Should I be worried about my jet-black stools?
• What would happen if I took too much Aleve?
• When should I become concerned about bruising very easily?
• What are the symptoms of a blood clot in the leg?
• I'm losing hair in patches on the back of my head and in my beard. What's going on?
• Can I get an MRI if I have a metal plate in my leg?
• What are the cause and cure for a hernia around the navel?
• Can you bleed internally without the blood leaving through some orifice?
• What is ultrasound with Doppler and how is it used in testing for carotid stenosis?
• Can a wart be passed from a finger to the genitals?
• Can you get herpes from wrestling?
• Why do we get injections where we get them?
• Which poses less risk when combined with alcohol: Tylenol or ibuprofen?
• What is metabolic acidosis and what causes it?
• I've had difficulty breathing for two years now, and nothing seems to work. Help!
• Can a natural substance, known as coenzyme Q10, protect me against side-effects from cholesterol-lowering statin drugs?
• Do those new tape thingies that yank the blackheads off my nose do more harm than good?
• How do I maintain a healthy potassium level, and how important is this?
• Can the flu cause a permanent loss of taste?
• Is it safe to stop severe sweating of the hands and feet with surgery?
• What is an MRSA infection and how can it be cured?
• What's the difference between the new baldness drugs?
• Can you have low blood pressure but a high heart rate?
• My sella turcica is partially empty. Is that bad?
• Can someone be prone to pneumonia?
• What's the spleen and what does it do?
• What is Schatzki's ring and how do I cope with it?
• What is sideroblastic anemia and how is it caused?
• Is there a connection between stress and high cholesterol?
• Why does donating blood leave me with such an unsightly bruise?
• Does getting vaccinated for pneumonia pose a risk to a 76-year-old woman?
• What does it mean if your urine has bubbles in it?
• What's a keloid and can it be cured?
• Can antibiotics be used for too long?
• How can cold weather cause hives?
• Is alcoholic hepatitis transmissible?
• What is a compression fracture?
• How long can a self-destructive diabetic live?
• Can I get a flu shot if I'm already sick?
• Will estrogen supplements prevent heart disease in men?
• What is adequate blood sugar control for a diabetic?
• What are the symptoms of diabetes?
• What are the side effects of the pain medication Ultram?
• Does hepatitis C ever go away once you have it?
• Does gastric reflux cause asthma?
• How can I avoid migraines?
• What are the symptoms of anemia?
• What are the side effects of Rezulin, the new drug for diabetes?
• How does an MRI scan work?
• What is celiac disease?
• What are the benefits of quitting smoking besides a lower risk of cancer?
• How often do people have extra ribs?
• Is colonoscopy the best way to check for internal bleeding?
• Can you get asthma as an adult?
• Can a person who is not breathing and unconscious be revived by chest compressions?
• What is Barrett's esophagus?
• What's the best way to get rid of an unsightly mole?
• What are the yellow, fatty skin patches under my eye?
• What is a coxsackie B infection, and is there a cure?
• What are the consequences of a very low white blood cell count?
• How do you know if you need thyroid supplements?
• Will glucosamine sulfate slow arthritis symptoms?
• How can I best recover from sunstroke?
• What is the growth plate of a bone, and is a break there dangerous?
• Is diabetes hereditary?
• Do I need surgery for diverticulitis?
• What causes Dupuytren's contracture disease, and what are possible treatments?
• Can hot tubs cause or spread infection?
• I've been tired for years. Could it be mono?
• Why do our eyes glow in the dark?
• How can I help protect myself from cancer?
• Do gall stones always have to be removed?
• I feel like there's a butterfly trapped in my chest...
• How can I deal with the pain of spondylitis?
• What is Excimer eye laser treatment, and how safe is it?
• What is malignant hyperthermia? Can you get it well after a surgery is over?
• What happens if you swallow a penny?
• How do I know if I have abnormal bowel movements?
• What is the difference between asthma and emphysema?
• Are contacts or glasses better for a lazy eye?
• How do you know if you have a brain tumor?
• What does extra protein in my urine mean?
• How can I be sure my moles aren't malignant?
• Can the white blood count help distinguish a viral infection from a bacterial one?
• If you eat healthily, will clogged arteries become unclogged?
• What human diseases are transmitted by birds?
• What are the requirements for giving blood?
• Can fingernails predict illness?
• Could you tell me about glaucoma (high eye pressure)?
• Why does my husband pass out when he urinates?
• What is sepsis and how long does it take to die from it?
• How do I pick the right doctor, and what if I'm in an HMO?
• What is polycythemia vera and is it hereditary?
• I recently had a tooth pulled and now I suffer from lethargy, weight loss, fever and shortness of breath. What's wrong with me?
• A doctor rushed my brother into heart surgery without letting us get a second opinion.
• How soon after mono is it safe to drink?
• How long is the incubation period for scarlet fever?
• Does carbon monoxide exposure have long-term effects?
• What causes anemia, and how can I cure it without eating beef?
• What causes gray hair, and is it bad for a young person to get gray hair?
• My husband gets severe redness when he scratches his skin. Could this be medication-related?
• Can low blood pressure cause fatigue, and can mitral valve prolapse affect blood pressure?
• What causes iron overload in the blood?
• Can AIDS be transmitted by mosquitoes?
• Lately my feet and ankles have been swelling up and take days to subside. I'm male.
• What are the risks of sleeping in disposable contact lenses?
• How "normal" should my blood pressure be?
• I get occasional heartache -- should I get tested?
• What gland is in the center, lower part of neck, and why would it swell?
• I just had some hair removed from my back (I'm male). Is body waxing harmful?
• What are the side-effects of melatonin?
• How easy is it to catch hepatitis, and once you have it, how do you get rid of it?
• I'm 22 and I have a hair-loss problem. Can you suggest anything?
• I have just noticed the mole in my right underarm is swelling and sensitive to the touch. Should I have it looked at?
• What does it mean if I have a low blood glucose count and what should I do about it?
• I am suffering from gastric ulcers. Can I can get rid of the acidity by controlling my diet?
• What do you think about the new chickenpox vaccine?
• I quit smoking one year ago, and I since gained almost 20 lb. How significant is the change in metabolism?
• What is a blood vessel tumor and how is it caused?
• What are my chances of contracting mono through casual contact, and how long will mono stay in the body after initial infection?
• I'm a 29 year old computer professional and have been experiencing numbness and pain in my arms, hands and fingers.
• Can diabetics donate blood?
• What do you know about the skin disease pityriasis rosea?
• How serious is mitral valve regurgitation?
• How long till my neuropathy subsides?
• Is there any cure for acute sinusitis?
• What about air bubbles in blood flow during donation?
• My hands and fingers are always cold during the winter. What's wrong with me?
• How long do the residual effects of shingles last after all the lesions have disappeared?
• What is the percentage of people who will contract Guillain-Barre syndrome after receiving the flu vaccine?
• What causes a thyroid gland to cease its function in the body?
• What's the easiest way to get my wisdom teeth removed?
• I would like information on meralgia paresthetica...
• Should I worry about my heart fluttering occasionally?
• Can the flu vaccine make me sick?
• What exactly is Tourette Syndrome?
• I've been plagued with central cirrus retinopathy ...
• What is Fibromyalgia?
• Zantac alternatives in treating reflux ...
• My mouth and gums are inflamed ...
• How long do shingles last?
• About post traumatic stress disorder ...
• My skin is sensitive to jewelry ...
• Tell me about multiple sclerosis ...
• How serious is obstructive sleep apnea?
• Two questions about the eye's macula...
• Can watching television cause cataracts?
• What is iritis?
• Tell me about the rare disease "Kikuchi" ...
• What is thalassemia?
• My lymph nodes and a tonsil are swollen ...
• Could arachnoid cysts be causing my migraines?
• I'm considering dental implants ...
• Using a cortisone inhaler for asthma ...
• Long-term effects of a burned tongue ...
• Effects of taking an antibiotic for kidney stones ...
• What can you do about persistent body odor?
• How dangerous is bulimia?
• About cholesterol medication ...
• How do you keep your eyes safe?
• How does strep affect my kidneys and blood pressure?
• General diabetes information.

Other Ask the Doctor Subject Areas: Alternative Medicine | Common Ailments | Drug & Alcohol-Related | Fitness/Sports Injuries | Men's Health | Food/Nutrition | Sexuality/Sexual Health | Stress/Mental health | Women's Health

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