Understanding Throat Irritation and Blood in Mucus: Causes and Solutions
Nasal and throat issues? Hello doctor, sometimes when I stay up late at night working on design assignments, I suddenly feel an itch in my throat before going to sleep, so I take throat lozenges and go to bed. The next morning, when I wake up and touch the area at the back of my ...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, it is indeed difficult for the tongue to reach the back of the throat; what you are likely touching is the gums. Typically, the gums can become more swollen during late nights or periods of high stress. If you frequently press your tongue against them, it can lead to sligh...[Read More] Understanding Throat Irritation and Blood in Mucus: Causes and Solutions
Understanding Normal Variations in Genital Appearance: A Medical Perspective
What are the issues related to the reproductive organs? Hello doctor, I visited a urologist at the end of 2019 because I noticed a yellowish-white spot on the surface of my glans. Sometimes, when I shower, it appears less noticeable, and I feel like it varies between being obviou...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, based on the image, it appears to be some glands on the glans rather than an infectious disease. If there have been no significant changes over the past two years, it is advisable to simply monitor the situation unless there are any notable changes that would require a fol...[Read More] Understanding Normal Variations in Genital Appearance: A Medical Perspective
Understanding HIV Infection Risks in Hair Salons: Key Questions Answered
Infection risk consultation? Hello, doctor. I have a question that I would like to ask, and I really appreciate your time in answering it. Today, I went for a haircut, and before finishing, the barber used a folding razor to shave the fine hairs on my face and the back of my neck...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, 1. This cannot be generalized; it can only be said that under normal circumstances, it will lose its activity within a few hours. 2. The chances are very low. 3. Typically, a large volume of blood transfusion is required for a higher risk. 4. Based on your description, the...[Read More] Understanding HIV Infection Risks in Hair Salons: Key Questions Answered
Concerns About Infection Risks During Blood Draw: What You Need to Know
I am concerned about the risk of infection since the blood collection tube fell on the table? Hello Doctor, I went to the lab today for a blood draw. They said my veins are too small, so they used a thin long needle (like a long thin tube). As the blood was slowly flowing out, th...
Dr. Lin Wufu Reply:
Hello: No, that's not the case! There is pressure within the blood vessels, so blood does not flow backward. The speed at which bacteria move is not fast enough to enter the body during the blood draw, so the scenario you mentioned poses minimal risk.[Read More] Concerns About Infection Risks During Blood Draw: What You Need to Know
Understanding Cushing's Syndrome: Symptoms and Diagnosis Insights
Cushing's syndrome endocrine disorder Hello, doctor. For the past month, I have not had my period. My face appears round, and I have what seems to be "buffalo hump" at my collarbone. My mood has become depressed and irritable. My hands have become dry and even crac...
Dr. Lin Jianliang Reply:
Hello: It is recommended to visit a hospital for evaluation and examination by a physician. A diagnosis can only be made after a thorough consultation and examination; one should not rely solely on personal subjective feelings to make a diagnosis.[Read More] Understanding Cushing's Syndrome: Symptoms and Diagnosis Insights
Understanding Prolonged Pain After BNT Vaccination: A Patient's Journey
Discomfort after receiving the BNT vaccine? Hello Dr. Hong, I received my first dose of the BNT vaccine on June 20 at 15:58, and I began experiencing pain under my left clavicle at 16:08. Twelve hours after the first dose, I developed a fever and redness and swelling at the injec...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, muscle and joint pain after vaccination is quite common. However, if you have been experiencing pain for two months and it is getting worse, it may be necessary to consider that it might not be solely caused by the vaccine and that other underlying conditions could be invo...[Read More] Understanding Prolonged Pain After BNT Vaccination: A Patient's Journey
Understanding Antinuclear Antibodies and Lupus: A Patient's Guide
Antinuclear antibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus? ANA: Speckled 1:640 HLA-B27: Negative E.S.R: 61 Basophils: 1.0 Eosinophils: 1.0 Hemoglobin (Hb): 11.9 Hematocrit (Hct): 36.1 Lymphocytes: 28.2 Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH): 25.3 Mean Corpuscular Hemogl...
Dr. Gao Jiankai Reply:
Hello, thank you for your inquiry. Your question regarding elevated ANA and ESR levels indicates that it is essential to further investigate the cause of the elevated ANA. Additional tests may be necessary to confirm your diagnosis, and I recommend consulting a rheumatologist for...[Read More] Understanding Antinuclear Antibodies and Lupus: A Patient's Guide
Understanding Chest Pain: Causes and When to Seek Help
Chest pain in the center? For the past 3.4 months, I have been experiencing sudden sharp pain in the center of my chest (the area where CPR compressions are performed). Sometimes the pain radiates to the back at the same point. During these episodes, I also feel a sensation of so...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Based on your description, there are two possible scenarios. If pressing down causes pain in the bony area, it may indicate inflammation of the costal cartilage. In this case, it is recommended to apply some anti-inflammatory ointment on the outer side of the pain, which may help...[Read More] Understanding Chest Pain: Causes and When to Seek Help
Understanding the Causes of Ankylosing Spondylitis: Is It Genetic or Lifestyle?
I would like to inquire about the causes of ankylosing spondylitis? Dear Doctor, Three years ago, I experienced tightness and discomfort in my upper back, and after being evaluated by two physicians, I was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis (AS). X-rays were taken, and I test...
Dr. Gao Jiankai Reply:
Hello, thank you for your message. Here are my responses to your questions: 1. Could multiple sexual partners and risky behaviors be the main causes of ankylosing spondylitis? --> I believe the physician who is concerned about your private life may suspect that your symptoms...[Read More] Understanding the Causes of Ankylosing Spondylitis: Is It Genetic or Lifestyle?
Understanding Left Chest Pain and Its Possible Causes: When to Seek Help
Chronic pain in the left chest area and underarm? Hello Dr. Hong, about a week ago I suddenly experienced pain in the upper left back, specifically in the area of the scapula. Subsequently, I began to feel sharp pain in the corresponding left anterior chest. Over the past two day...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, based on your description, there are two likely possibilities. The first is a muscle strain, which is characterized by increased pain during movement. The second possibility is pleuritis, which may have resulted from a previous respiratory infection, and is characterized b...[Read More] Understanding Left Chest Pain and Its Possible Causes: When to Seek Help
Understanding Rapid Heartbeat and Kidney Health: Do You Need Dialysis?
Sought medical attention due to rapid heartbeat? Due to experiencing a rapid heartbeat and occasional lower back pain, a series of tests were conducted. Initially, it was thought to be a heart issue, but later it was found that the blood CR(B) level is 1.04, uric acid is 7.8, cho...
Dr. Wu Jiyu Reply:
Based on the data you provided, a serum creatinine level of 1.04 corresponds to an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) greater than 60, which falls within the normal range, and there is no need to worry about dialysis. As for your elevated uric acid and cholesterol levels...[Read More] Understanding Rapid Heartbeat and Kidney Health: Do You Need Dialysis?
Understanding Urination Issues: When to See a Doctor?
Urinary problems I would like to ask if it is necessary to see a doctor or to pay for an abdominal X-ray or ultrasound? Blood and urine tests have all come back normal, but I feel that there is a significant difference between the amount of water I drink and the amount I urinate....
Dr. Wu Jiyu Reply:
According to the data you provided, a serum creatinine level of 0.9 corresponds to an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) greater than 60, which falls within the normal range. Regarding your input/output from 9/18 to 9/21, with an intake of 8700 cc and an output of 3750 c...[Read More] Understanding Urination Issues: When to See a Doctor?
Joint Pain and Stiffness: When to Seek Further Medical Evaluation
The finger joints are swollen and painful, but the doctor said it is not rheumatoid arthritis? Hello Doctor, since late last year, I have noticed stiffness in my finger joints upon waking up, which was mild at first. Recently, the frequency has increased, and almost every day my ...
Dr. Gao Jiankai Reply:
Hello, thank you for your message. An ANA value of 1:80 falls into a gray area. However, if you continue to experience joint pain and stiffness, along with occasional nighttime pain that disrupts your sleep, I recommend that you visit a rheumatology clinic to discuss your concern...[Read More] Joint Pain and Stiffness: When to Seek Further Medical Evaluation
Concerns About STDs After Potential Exposure: What You Need to Know
Concerned about sexually transmitted infections (STIs)? Hello, Doctor: About four months ago, I met a male friend online and during our encounter, he inserted his finger into my anus while he masturbated and ejaculated (he was wearing a condom; I asked him afterward, and he said ...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, based on your description, acne is usually caused by hot and humid weather leading to folliculitis, which should not be related to sexually transmitted infections. However, the process you described may indeed indicate unsafe sexual behavior. It would be advisable to consi...[Read More] Concerns About STDs After Potential Exposure: What You Need to Know
Understanding Vaccine Side Effects: Is Your Discomfort Normal After AZ Shot?
Vaccine side effects Hello Doctor, this morning my family took me to get the AZ vaccine, and there happened to be some leftover doses. After noon, I suddenly felt very cold and then developed a fever. I took a pill and slept until around 5 PM, waking up sweating. My body temperat...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, a low-grade fever and back pain are very common side effects of the AZ vaccine, so there is no need to worry unless the fever or pain becomes unbearable. In that case, you may consider taking acetaminophen. The vitamin supplements will not have any impact, so you can conti...[Read More] Understanding Vaccine Side Effects: Is Your Discomfort Normal After AZ Shot?
Post-Vaccine Concerns: Understanding Blood Clots and Skin Changes
Post-vaccination issues? Hello doctor, I would like to ask about something. I just received my vaccine around 8 PM, and when I got home, I saw the information they sent back regarding possible symptoms, which mentioned blood clots. I happened to notice two dark spots on my calf, ...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, based on the photos you provided, it appears to be a mole. The blood clots associated with the AZ vaccine refer to thrombosis within blood vessels, which commonly presents with symptoms such as headaches, dizziness, and chest pain, rather than skin lesions like black spots...[Read More] Post-Vaccine Concerns: Understanding Blood Clots and Skin Changes
Can I Get Vaccinated with a Cold? Expert Advice on Vaccine Safety
Pre-vaccination inquiry The doctor would like to ask you a few questions. A few days ago, I had a cold, and I went back for a consultation today. This morning, I was fortunate enough to secure a vaccine appointment for next Friday. I consulted with an ENT specialist today, and he...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, according to current research, as long as there is no fever and no significant discomfort, vaccination is recommended. If you feel well on the day of vaccination, you can inform the administering physician about your condition over the past few days, and the physician will...[Read More] Can I Get Vaccinated with a Cold? Expert Advice on Vaccine Safety
Can I Get Vaccinated with Mild Cold Symptoms? Expert Advice
Pre-vaccination inquiries The doctor would like to ask you a few questions. A few days ago, I had a cold, and I went back for a check-up today. This morning, I was fortunate enough to secure a vaccine appointment for next Friday. I consulted with an ENT specialist today, and he m...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, according to current research, as long as there is no fever and no significant discomfort, vaccination can be administered. It is recommended that if you feel well on the day of vaccination, you should inform the administering physician about your condition over the past f...[Read More] Can I Get Vaccinated with Mild Cold Symptoms? Expert Advice
Why Do Sweets Trigger Stomach Acid Production?
Why do sweets stimulate gastric acid? I recall that carbohydrates are digested and absorbed by saliva and the intestines, with no relation to the stomach. So why do sweet foods easily stimulate gastric acid? Sweet foods should also be considered carbohydrates, right? Thank you.
Dr. Li Jian Reply:
In clinical practice, patients who consume a lot of sweets are more prone to experiencing reflux phenomena. There are various possible reasons for this, such as high carbohydrate/sugar intake leading to feedback to the central nervous system, which inhibits gastric motility and r...[Read More] Why Do Sweets Trigger Stomach Acid Production?
Understanding Irregular Moles: When to Seek Medical Advice
The shape of a mole? Hello Doctor, in June of this year, I suddenly noticed an irregular mole on my back, approximately 0.6 cm in size and flat to the touch. I hadn't paid much attention to it before, so I'm not sure how long it has been there. I visited a doctor in Aug...
Dr. Hong Yuanbin Reply:
Hello, based on the current image, this mole does appear to be a typical mole. It is recommended to monitor it, primarily paying attention to its size, shape, surface elevation, and any discharge. If there are any unusual changes, then medical attention would be necessary. Thank ...[Read More] Understanding Irregular Moles: When to Seek Medical Advice