Understanding Submandibular Triangle Lymph Nodes: Pain and Cancer Concerns
Submandibular lymph nodes I would like to ask the doctor: Occasionally, I experience a sharp pain in the submandibular lymphatic area. It is soft and elastic to the touch and does not hurt when pressed. This has been happening intermittently for about six months. Could this be a ...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Miss Lin: There are many differential diagnoses for lymphadenopathy in the neck; most are benign, but a small portion may indeed raise suspicion for lymphadenoma (whether primary or metastatic) or chronic infections such as tuberculosis. In medicine, it is also important t...[Read More] Understanding Submandibular Triangle Lymph Nodes: Pain and Cancer Concerns
Which Medical Specialty Should I See After Smoke Exposure?
Which department should I see? Hello Doctor: Yesterday, a nearby residential building experienced an electrical fire that smoldered for over five hours. During that time, while I was at home, I kept smelling a strange odor, and as it got later into the night, I started experienci...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Ms. Chao: 1. Please visit the pulmonology outpatient department at a regional hospital or higher. 2. Kindly inform the pulmonologist about your history and symptoms; they will provide appropriate management.[Read More] Which Medical Specialty Should I See After Smoke Exposure?
Understanding Pain in the Right Pinky Finger: When to Seek Medical Help
right little finger Hello, recently my right little finger occasionally experiences unexplained pain throughout the day. Although it doesn't hurt much while I'm awake, it wakes me up at night. The pain occurs whether at rest or during movement, and it is a sharp pain. A...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Miss 123: Intermittent pain in the right little finger throughout the day can have many potential causes, including trauma, muscle or ligament inflammation, neuropathic pain, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and peripheral vascular disease. It is advisable to discuss th...[Read More] Understanding Pain in the Right Pinky Finger: When to Seek Medical Help
Understanding Blood Test Results: What Your Numbers Really Mean
Blood test report examination? Hello Dr. Hsiao, I am currently studying abroad, and my school recently required me to undergo a health check locally. I visited the hospital last week and returned today to review my report. My lab results show: Hb 16.0, Ht 45.6, RBC 5.20, WBC 4....
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Mr. Hs: 1. All examinations or tests, including Complete Blood Counts (CBC), must be interpreted in conjunction with clinical symptoms. Clinical teaching focuses on critical thinking, utilizing clinical symptoms, chief complaints, physical examinations, laboratory data, and...[Read More] Understanding Blood Test Results: What Your Numbers Really Mean
Chest Pain When Lying Down: Understanding Causes and Solutions
Chest pain in specific positions? Hello, doctor. I have had trouble sleeping easily since my student days. In the past three to four years, I have noticed that sleeping in a position where my body is flat, my arms are raised, and my head is resting on the pillow helps me fall asl...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Ms. H: 1. When a clinician addresses the issue of chest pain, the first four critical conditions to rule out are myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, and aortic dissection. If none of these conditions are present, differential diagnoses should be conside...[Read More] Chest Pain When Lying Down: Understanding Causes and Solutions
Intermittent Pain in the Center of the Clavicle: Which Specialist to Consult?
Intermittent sharp pain in the central area of the clavicle (depression)? Based on the symptoms described, you should consider seeing a specialist in orthopedics or a physician specializing in musculoskeletal disorders. They can evaluate your condition and determine the underlyin...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Miss Ping: 1. When a clinician addresses the issue of chest pain, the first four critical conditions to rule out are myocardial infarction, pulmonary embolism, pneumothorax, and aortic dissection. If none of these conditions are present, differential diagnoses should be mad...[Read More] Intermittent Pain in the Center of the Clavicle: Which Specialist to Consult?
Rabies Concerns After Cat Scratch: What You Need to Know
Rabies Consultation Hello Doctor: About a week ago, while I was feeding stray cats near my home (in the Taoyuan District), I was scratched on the back of my hand near the webbing between my thumb and index finger. At the time, there were only superficial scratch marks and no blee...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Mr. Wang: 1. The risk of rabies in Taiwan is currently limited to wild animals in the central, southern, and eastern mountainous regions, with the main infected species being the ferret badger, along with a few cases involving the white-nosed coati. According to the rabies ...[Read More] Rabies Concerns After Cat Scratch: What You Need to Know
Understanding Dizziness and Blurred Vision After Sudden Movements
Please ask your question? Hello, doctor. I was lying down using my phone and suddenly got up to help grab something, and I experienced sudden dizziness, unsteadiness, and slightly blurred vision. I would like to ask what kind of condition this might indicate. I was also a bit hun...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Mr. Hsin: 1. It may be postural hypotension, which commonly occurs in individuals who sit or lie down for prolonged periods and lack physical activity. 2. Theoretically, it is not due to a vascular rupture; if there were a rupture of an intracranial vessel, whether arteri...[Read More] Understanding Dizziness and Blurred Vision After Sudden Movements
Understanding Cholesterol and Liver Enzymes: Risks and Recommendations
Cholesterol issues? Hello Dr. Hsiao, about a year ago, I had blood tests done at the family medicine department of the hospital and found that my ALT liver enzyme levels were around 40-60, and my cholesterol levels were 217, 207, and 224. During my last school health check, my li...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Mr. Cc: 1. If total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels are elevated over the long term, the risk of cardiovascular diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and peripheral artery diseases increases. Clinical management primarily involves lifestyle mo...[Read More] Understanding Cholesterol and Liver Enzymes: Risks and Recommendations
Do You Need Rabies Vaccine After a Mouse Bite? Understanding Risks and Myths
Mice, rabies 1. Do I need to get a rabies vaccine if bitten by a mouse? (The wound has healed, but I'm concerned because there have been many dead mice in my house recently.) 2. Even if bitten by an animal that is infected with rabies, is it possible not to contract the di...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Mr. Han: 1. The risk of rabies in Taiwan is currently limited to wild animals in the central, southern, and eastern mountainous regions, with the main infected species being the ferret badger, and a few cases involving the white-nosed coati. The current regulation states th...[Read More] Do You Need Rabies Vaccine After a Mouse Bite? Understanding Risks and Myths
Excessive Thirst: Understanding Potential Health Issues and Testing Options
Drinking Water Issues I have been drinking much more water than others since middle school. After high school, I started drinking at least 5,000 milliliters a day, and now as a college freshman, it has been 7 years. I'm wondering if I might have some underlying health issues...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Mr. Mama's Boy: 1. Medically speaking, "drinking too much water" is not considered a risk factor for diseases such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, or anemia. Unless there are specific underlying conditions, physicians typically do not restrict patients'...[Read More] Excessive Thirst: Understanding Potential Health Issues and Testing Options
Understanding Pain and Swelling in the Lower Jaw Area
Swelling and pain in the area of the mandible and cheekbone? Hello Doctor, I have been experiencing pain in my lower right jaw (the area below my cheekbone feels like there is a rounded prominence when touched). Additionally, the right side feels more prominent compared to the le...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Ms. Chen: Regarding the lesion in the right mandible, possible causes may include folliculitis, sebaceous gland inflammation, cellulitis, lymphadenitis, mandibular hyperplasia or dysplastic changes, lymphatic tuberculosis, metastatic cancer in the head and neck, lymphoma, am...[Read More] Understanding Pain and Swelling in the Lower Jaw Area
Understanding Antibiotics: Risks, Resistance, and Proper Use
Antibiotic Issues Last night, I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with bronchitis. I took a packet of medication home. This morning, I had to wake up early for work and didn't have time to take the medication again. It wasn't until now that I realized the doctor pres...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Ms. Chen: 1. The use of antibiotics is generally recommended to follow a complete course, which varies depending on the disease, typically ranging from 5 to 7 days. However, certain conditions may require treatment for two weeks or even four weeks. Clinicians must prescribe...[Read More] Understanding Antibiotics: Risks, Resistance, and Proper Use
How Long Can Rabies Virus Survive in Saliva Under Different Conditions?
Rabies virus activity issues? Hello, Doctor. I would like to ask how long saliva containing the rabies virus remains infectious in a typical air-dry environment at room temperature. Does saliva with the rabies virus lose its infectivity within a few minutes (not exceeding one hou...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Sir/Madam, 1. The rabies virus (Rabies virus) is an RNA virus belonging to the Lyssavirus genus and is the causative agent of rabies. The complete rabies virus has a bullet-shaped morphology, measuring approximately 200 nm in length and about 70 nm in diameter. It is an env...[Read More] How Long Can Rabies Virus Survive in Saliva Under Different Conditions?
Is There a Link Between Proteinuria and Birth Control Pills?
Is there a relationship between proteinuria and medication? Recently, a routine check-up showed 1+ protein in my urine. I started taking pre-exposure prophylaxis two months ago. Is there a connection?
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Ms. Rona: 1. There are various pharmacological mechanisms available to reduce the chances of conception, such as preventing ovulation, interfering with egg development or maturation, or disrupting pregnancy. Currently, the most commonly used pharmacological method to preven...[Read More] Is There a Link Between Proteinuria and Birth Control Pills?
Swollen Face Upon Waking: Causes and When to Seek Help
Swollen face? In recent days, I have been waking up with a swollen face. I feel tightness in the upper half of the right side of my face, and sometimes I can noticeably feel the swelling, although it is not painful; rather, it feels tight when I move it. My gums and teeth do not ...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Sir: 1. In clinical medicine, edema is classified into localized edema and generalized edema. The causes of edema are numerous; some are due to liver dysfunction leading to insufficient albumin production, which can cause edema. Others may result from heart failure, where i...[Read More] Swollen Face Upon Waking: Causes and When to Seek Help
Understanding Heart Rate: Optimal Levels and Health Implications
Rapid pulse issue Hello, doctor. I have been measuring my blood pressure and pulse rate myself. My systolic blood pressure is usually around 120, and my pulse rate is between 80 and 90. What is the ideal pulse rate? I've heard that a pulse rate above 70 may be associated wit...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Mr. Jfkdjk: 1. The factors affecting heart rate are quite complex, with autonomic nervous system control being the most significant. The autonomic nervous system regulates heart rate primarily through the "cardioacceleratory center (CAC)" and the "cardioinhib...[Read More] Understanding Heart Rate: Optimal Levels and Health Implications
Essential Health Checks While Taking Boska: What to Focus On?
When taking Posaconazole, the following physical examinations should be prioritized: I have been taking Bicalutamide for a year, following the doctor's recommended dosage: one pill cut into four pieces, taking one piece daily. I have not experienced any physical discomfort, ...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Mr. K: 1. PROSCAR® (finasteride) is a specific inhibitor of Type II 5α-reductase. Type II 5α-reductase is an intracellular enzyme that metabolizes testosterone into a more potent androgen: dihydrotestosterone (DHT). The phenomenon of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is in...[Read More] Essential Health Checks While Taking Boska: What to Focus On?
Understanding Right Lower Rib Pain: Causes and When to Seek Help
Tenderness upon palpation of the lower edge of the right rib cage? Hello Dr. Hsiao, I have been experiencing pain when pressing on the lower right rib and the junction with the abdominal cavity for almost a month. I hardly feel anything when not pressing. Could you please advise ...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Mr. Cyl: 1. There are many causes of right upper abdominal pain. Common causes include liver tumors, intrahepatic bile duct diseases, chronic cholecystitis, gallstones, right kidney stones, right lower lobe pneumonia or pleuritis, angina pectoris, peptic ulcers, lesions in ...[Read More] Understanding Right Lower Rib Pain: Causes and When to Seek Help
Understanding Eosinophil Levels in Type 2 Diabetes: What You Need to Know
Eosinophils Type 2 diabetes diagnosed for 8 years. Blood test report shows Eosinophil count at 9.5% (normal range: 1-6%). Previous results include: 8.0% on May 28, 2020; 7.2% on December 26, 2019; 9.2% on May 25, 2019; and 7.6% on October 24, 2017. Other lab results: - AC: 115...
Dr. Xiao Yongxun reply Family Medicine
Dear Mr. AC: 1. The main causes of eosinophilia (eosinophilic leukocytosis) include allergic diseases, parasitic infections, and certain cancers (such as Hodgkin's lymphoma). Your eosinophil count is indeed slightly elevated, but not significantly so; it may be a normal var...[Read More] Understanding Eosinophil Levels in Type 2 Diabetes: What You Need to Know