Health News Today & Doctor-Reviewed Guides

All Posts
Health News
Diseases & Conditions

Infographic titled What Is a Vascular Ring?, comparing a normal heart, where the aortic arch curves over the windpipe (trachea) and food tube (esophagus) without squeezing them, with a vascular ring such as a double aortic arch, where blood vessels form a ring that narrows the trachea and esophagus; it is a birth defect that can affect breathing and swallowing, and surgery is usually needed

What Is a Vascular Ring? A Plain-Language Guide to the Heart Condition That Wraps a Blood Vessel Around the Windpipe

A vascular ring is a birth defect in which blood vessels loop around a child's windpipe and food tube. Learn the symptoms, causes, how it is diagnosed, how surgery treats it, and why lifelong checkups matter.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago9 min read

Infographic explaining a vertebral tumor: a growth of cells in the vertebrae, the stacked bones that hold the body upright and protect the spinal cord, showing the normal spine, a tumor (benign or malignant) in a vertebra, and how DNA changes can make it cancerous, with most malignant tumors spreading from another organ such as the breasts, lungs or prostate

What Is a Vertebral Tumor? A Plain-Language Guide to Growths in the Bones of the Spine

A vertebral tumor is a growth of cells in the bones of the spine and can be benign or cancerous. Learn the warning signs, causes, complications, how it is diagnosed, and the treatments from monitoring to surgery and radiation.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago15 min read

Infographic explaining vaginal cancer: healthy anatomy of the uterus, cervix, and vagina, how DNA changes make abnormal cells multiply fast and not die at set times, and how the outcome depends on timing, with cancer confined to the vagina having the best chance for a cure and cancer that spreads beyond the vagina being much harder to treat

What Is Vaginal Cancer? A Plain-Language Guide to the Rare Cancer of the Birth Canal

Vaginal cancer is a rare cancer that begins in the vagina and is most often linked to HPV. Learn the warning signs, risk factors, how it is diagnosed and staged, and how radiation, chemotherapy, surgery, and supportive care are used.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago14 min read

Four-panel diagram of the degrees of uterine inversion: 1st degree with the fundus collapsed, 2nd degree with the fundus in the cervix, 3rd degree with the fundus in the vaginal canal, and 4th degree with total inversion outside the body

Uterine Inversion: A Guide to Symptoms, Treatment, and Recovery

Uterine inversion is a rare childbirth emergency in which the uterus turns inside out. Learn the four degrees, symptoms, risk factors, emergency treatment, and what recovery and future pregnancy look like.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago7 min read

Infographic comparing a normal heartbeat, where signals travel in order and the ventricles fill then squeeze at 60 to 100 beats per minute, with ventricular tachycardia, where a faulty signal starts in the lower chambers and the heart races at 100 or more beats per minute, plus what you may feel: chest pain, pounding heartbeat, dizziness, lightheadedness and shortness of breath

What Is Ventricular Tachycardia? A Plain-Language Guide to the Fast Heart Rhythm That Starts in the Heart's Lower Chambers

Ventricular tachycardia (V-tach) is a fast heart rhythm that starts in the heart's lower chambers. Learn the symptoms, the difference between brief and sustained episodes, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago15 min read

Infographic of what vaginal agenesis is, comparing typical reproductive anatomy (uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries, cervix, vagina) with vaginal agenesis, where the ovaries are usually fully developed but there is no uterus or only a partial uterus and no vagina or a very short vagina, with its other names (mullerian agenesis, mullerian aplasia, Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome) and a note that it is present before birth

What Is Vaginal Agenesis? A Plain-Language Guide to the Condition in Which the Vagina Doesn't Develop

Vaginal agenesis is a rare condition present before birth in which the vagina doesn't develop. Learn the signs, causes, how it is diagnosed, and how dilation or surgery can create a functional vagina.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago11 min read

Infographic titled What Are Varicose Veins?, comparing a healthy vein whose tiny valves send blood to the heart and block backflow, a weakened valve that lets blood flow backward and pool, and a varicose vein in the leg where pooled blood stretches the vein so it bulges under the skin; most varicose veins form in the legs and spider veins are a mild form

What Are Varicose Veins? A Plain-Language Guide to the Bulging, Twisted Veins That Most Often Show Up on the Legs

Varicose veins are bulging, enlarged veins caused by weak valves that let blood pool. Learn the symptoms, risk factors, complications, how they are diagnosed, and treatments from compression stockings to procedures.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago12 min read

Side-by-side diagram of a healthy contracted uterus, where placental blood vessels are clamped shut, and a uterine atony (boggy) uterus that is relaxed, where unclamped vessels keep flowing

Uterine Atony: Understanding Postpartum Muscle Tone and Recovery

Uterine atony happens when the uterus stays soft and fails to contract after childbirth, causing heavy bleeding. Learn the symptoms, risk factors, emergency treatments, and what recovery looks like.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago7 min read

Illustration of the uterus labeling the myometrium (muscle layer) where leiomyosarcoma forms and the stroma (connective tissue) of the uterine lining where endometrial stromal sarcoma forms

Uterine Sarcoma: A Comprehensive Guide to Symptoms, Types, and Care

Uterine sarcoma is a rare, aggressive cancer of the uterine muscle or connective tissue. Learn the types and stages, warning signs such as abnormal vaginal bleeding, risk factors, how it is diagnosed, and how it is treated.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago8 min read

Infographic comparing a normal heartbeat, where signals from the sinus node travel in order and the heart pumps blood at 60 to 100 beats per minute, with ventricular fibrillation, where rapid irregular signals make the lower chambers quiver instead of pump at up to 300 to 400 beats per minute, and the result that blood flow stops and sudden cardiac death can follow

What Is Ventricular Fibrillation? A Plain-Language Guide to the Heart Emergency Behind Sudden Cardiac Death

Ventricular fibrillation is a heart emergency in which the lower chambers quiver instead of pumping blood. Learn the warning signs, causes, what bystanders should do, and how it is diagnosed and treated.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago10 min read

Infographic titled What Is a Varicocele?, comparing normal scrotal veins with efficient blood flow to a varicocele of enlarged veins with blood pooling and stagnation, and noting that it usually forms during puberty, develops over time, is most often on the left side, and often causes no symptoms

What Is a Varicocele? A Plain-Language Guide to the Enlarged Scrotal Veins That Can Affect Fertility

A varicocele is an enlargement of the veins in the scrotum that often forms at puberty. Learn the symptoms, causes, how it is diagnosed, when treatment is needed, and how it can affect fertility.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago10 min read

Illustration of an inflamed blood vessel in urticarial vasculitis, with immune cells gathered around a swollen vessel wall and endothelial lining, linked to raised hives on the skin of a forearm

Urticarial Vasculitis: Symptoms, Causes, and Management

Urticarial vasculitis causes itchy, painful hives from inflamed blood vessels and can affect the joints, heart, kidneys, eyes, and lungs. Learn the symptoms, triggers, diagnosis, and treatment options.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago7 min read

Illustration of a long bone showing an active cyst next to the growth plate, where it can expand and thin the bone, and a latent cyst that has moved away from the growth plate and is filling in with bone

Unicameral Bone Cyst: Understanding Solitary Bone Cysts in Children

A unicameral bone cyst is a benign, fluid-filled space in a child's bone. Learn the symptoms, active vs latent types, how it is diagnosed, treatment options, and why cysts can return.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago8 min read

Cross-section illustration of the female pelvis labeled with the bladder, uterus, rectum, pubic bone, and the urethra, with a red glow marking the irritation and inflammation of the urethra seen in urethral syndrome

Urethral Syndrome: A Comprehensive Guide to Symptoms, Causes, and Care

Urethral syndrome causes chronic urethral irritation and UTI-like symptoms without an infection. Learn the symptoms, triggers, diagnosis, and management from pelvic floor therapy to lifestyle changes.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago7 min read

Infographic on recognizing the signs of an opioid overdose: pinpoint pupils, blue or purple lips and fingernails, cold and clammy skin, and slow or stopped breathing with snoring or gurgling sounds, with a reminder to call 911 immediately, give naloxone if available, and stay with the person

Understanding Opioid Overdose: Recognition, Emergency Response, and Prevention

An opioid overdose is a life-threatening emergency in which breathing slows or stops. Learn the warning signs, the emergency steps to take, how naloxone works, and how to lower the risk of overdose.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago7 min read

Infographic titled Unexplained Infertility: The Diagnostic Checklist, showing the normal results needed for the diagnosis: a healthy uterus, regular ovulation, open fallopian tubes, good ovarian reserve (egg count), and a normal semen analysis; when all standard tests are normal, the diagnosis is unexplained infertility

Unexplained Infertility: Understanding the Diagnosis and Your Path Forward

Unexplained infertility means testing finds no cause for trouble conceiving. Learn how it is diagnosed, possible hidden causes, treatment options from lifestyle changes to IUI and IVF, and the outlook.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago8 min read

Side-by-side skull illustration comparing a normal bite, where the upper teeth slightly overlap the lower teeth, with an underbite, where the lower jaw (mandible) and lower front teeth sit in front of the upper jaw (maxilla) and upper teeth

Underbite Correction: Symptoms, Causes, and Modern Treatment Options

An underbite (Class III malocclusion) happens when the lower front teeth sit in front of the upper teeth. Learn the symptoms, causes, complications, and modern treatments, from palate expanders in children to jaw surgery in adults.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago6 min read

Illustration comparing a healthy urea cycle, where the liver converts ammonia from protein into urea that the kidneys remove in urine, with urea cycle disorder, where an enzyme deficiency blocks the cycle and toxic ammonia builds up in the bloodstream and reaches the brain

Urea Cycle Disorder: Managing Ammonia Levels and Genetic Health

Urea cycle disorder is a group of rare genetic conditions that let toxic ammonia build up in the blood. Learn the eight types, warning signs, how it is diagnosed, and how diet, medicines, and monitoring keep ammonia in a safe range.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago7 min read

Cross-section illustration of the female pelvis labeled with the bladder, the urethra, and a small urethral caruncle at the urethral opening

Urethral Caruncle: A Comprehensive Guide to Symptoms, Causes, and Care

A urethral caruncle is a small, benign growth at the urethral opening, most common after menopause. Learn the symptoms, estrogen link, diagnosis, and treatment options from creams to surgery.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago6 min read

Medical illustration comparing overt umbilical cord prolapse, where the cord lies ahead of the baby's head in the birth canal, with occult umbilical cord prolapse, where the cord lies alongside the baby's head

Umbilical Cord Prolapse: Emergency Signs, Risks, and Management

Umbilical cord prolapse is a rare childbirth emergency in which the cord drops into the birth canal ahead of the baby. Learn the warning signs, risk factors, emergency treatment, and outlook for mother and baby.

Dr. Baraa Alnahhal

3 hours ago6 min read