Aldosterone raises blood pressure by telling the kidneys to hold on to sodium and release potassium. Sodium pulls water with it, so the blood holds more fluid and pressure rises. That is the short version. The full picture involves a hormone cascade, a specific pump inside kidney cells, and a feedback loop that can go … Read more
Most ingrown hairs do go away on their own. A single ingrown hair usually clears within a few days to a couple of weeks as the trapped hair works its way out or the body breaks it down. The ones that linger are often the result of continued hair removal, infection, or a hair that … Read more
Most people use “mental health” and “psychological wellness” as if they mean the same thing. They don’t. Mental health usually refers to the absence of disorder — whether you meet criteria for depression, anxiety, or another condition. Psychological wellness is broader. It describes how well your mind is functioning across your whole life: how you … Read more
A menstrual cycle lasts about 28 days on average, but a normal cycle can run anywhere from 21 to 35 days in adults. Within that cycle, bleeding typically lasts 3 to 7 days, the follicular phase varies most from person to person, ovulation happens roughly midway, and the luteal phase is the most consistent at … Read more
Freon is a trade name for a family of refrigerants, and the name covers chemicals with very different safety profiles. Some are mildly hazardous, some can cause serious harm in enclosed spaces, and the older types damage the ozone layer. The short answer: yes, Freon can be harmful, but the risk depends heavily on which … Read more
Color blindness is usually caused by mutations in genes on the X chromosome that build the light-sensitive cone cells in your eyes. The most common form, red-green color blindness, comes from changes in the OPN1LW and OPN1MW genes, which carry the instructions for the red and green cones. Because these genes sit on the X … Read more
Working with autistic people is not a job most clinicians picture when they start training. It is also the work that has taught me more about communication, patience, and the limits of my own assumptions than any other part of my career. The real reasons I love it are not sentimental. They are specific, practical, … Read more
There is no single diastolic number that is “too low” for everyone. For most adults, a diastolic reading below 60 mm Hg is the point where doctors start paying close attention, especially if it comes with symptoms or a very low systolic pressure. A diastolic of 50 mm Hg might be harmless in a fit … Read more
Hemp gummies are chewable candies that usually contain cannabidiol (CBD) and sometimes other hemp extracts. They are not the same as marijuana edibles. Most hemp gummies sold online and in stores contain little or no THC, the compound that causes a high. Whether they are safe depends on what is actually in the product, how … Read more
A woman should see an endocrinologist when she has symptoms or test results that point to a hormone or metabolic problem her primary care doctor cannot clearly diagnose or manage. That includes thyroid lumps or abnormal thyroid tests, irregular periods with signs of excess male hormones, blood sugar that stays high despite treatment, and bone … Read more