I had a blood test 8 months ago showing high cholesterol (289) and triglycerides (288). After losing 18 pounds, exercising 4 times a week, and improving my diet by avoiding white bread, sugar, margarine, and bad oils, my cholesterol decreased by 50 points, but my triglycerides increased to 372. My fasting blood sugar was normal. What could be causing the elevated triglycerides despite my lifestyle changes?

August 17th, 2024

If I have microhematuria, would my hemoglobin be low if I had bladder cancer, and what are the chances of microhematuria being cancer for a 60-year-old non-smoking woman with a family history of bladder cancer?

January 13th, 2023

My 97-year-old mother's middle finger turned deep purple and then returned to normal, now it's dark purple again. She has arthritis, chronic fatigue, and takes blood pressure meds and vitamins. What could cause this color change in her finger, and should she see a doctor?

August 29th, 2024

I have been really sick for 4 days. This morning, I drank about 3-4 glasses of water but haven't peed yet. It's been about 3.5 hours. Should I be worried?

January 20th, 2023

I have been diagnosed with effusive constrictive pericarditis. I have several questions: Will surgery to remove the pericardium be necessary? Can prednisone resolve the inflammation or will it become a chronic condition? My CRP level dropped significantly after starting steroids, is this a good sign? How serious is the concern of malignancy based on my CT scan results? Can restrictive pericarditis be diagnosed on scans, or is it only after repeated events? How can fibrosis and calcification be identified from an echo?

June 26th, 2024