Diseases & Conditions Archive

Women's Health

When You Visit Your Doctor - Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

Updated February 1, 2017

Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Do you have regular menstrual cycles?
When was your last period?
Is your bleeding always heavy or prolonged?
How old were you when you started menstruating?
How long ago did you develop abnormal bleeding?
Are you sexually active?
How many times have you been pregnant?
What was the outcome of each pregnancy (live births, miscarriages, cesarean sections)?
Have you ever had difficulty getting pregnant?
What medications are you taking (including over-the-counter drugs and herbal remedies such as ginseng)?
Are you taking hormone replacement therapy or birth control pills?
Have you ever had medications injected (Depo-Provera or Norplant) for birth control?
Have you ever taken estrogen or tamoxifen?
Are you taking warfarin or other blood thinners?
Have you ever had an abnormal Pap smear?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Blood pressure, heart rate, weight
Abdominal examination
Pelvic exam

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Pregnancy test
Blood tests such as complete blood count, coagulation (clotting) studies, and certain hormone tests (such as thyroid stimulating hormone, cortisol, prolactin, follicle stimulating hormone, testosterone)
Pelvic ultrasound
Pap smear
Endometrial biopsy.

Men's Health

When You Visit Your Doctor - Erectile Dysfunction or Impotence

Updated February 1, 2017

Erectile Dysfunction or Impotence

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Do you smoke cigarettes?
Have you been screened for other medical problems such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes?
Do you exercise regularly? How much? How often?
Do you have a neurologic disease or sickle-cell disease?
Are you taking any medications (prescription or over-the-counter)?
Has your erectile dysfunction worsened since starting any new medications?
What effect is your erectile dysfunction having on your relationship? Your self-esteem?
How long have you had erectile problems?
Do you have erectile problems sometimes or all of the time?
Have you ever had any psychologically stressful sexual experiences?
Are you less interested in sex (diminished libido)?
Are you having difficulty achieving an erection or sustaining it?
Do you ever awaken with early morning or nocturnal erections?
Do you have pain with erections?
Penile bumps or lumps?
History of penile trauma?
History of pelvic surgery?
What are your goals in receiving treatment?
What therapies have you tried?
Do you know how much benefit you can expect from medical therapies?
Do you know the side effects and important drug interactions?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Genital examination
Rectal examination
Pulses in the groin and feet
Neurologic examination

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Blood tests (complete blood count or CBC, glucose, cholesterol panels, thyroid function tests, prolactin level)
Blood testosterone level (if libido is decreased)
Nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT)
Neurologic testing (nerve condition studies)
Your doctor may decide to do some vascular tests to establish whether the arteries that supply blood to the penis during erections are narrowed.

Heart Health

When You Visit Your Doctor - Heart Block

Updated February 1, 2017

Heart Block

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Have you been dizzy or lightheaded?
Have you fainted?
Have you been fatigued?
Have you had chest pain?
- Do you get it with exertion or at rest?
- How frequently do you get it?
- How long does it last?
- What brings it on?
- What relieves it?
Is this a change from your usual pattern?
Do you get short of breath when you lie down or exert yourself?
Do you awaken in the middle of the night short of breath?
Do your ankles swell?
Do you get rapid or pounding heartbeats for no reason?
What medications are you taking (including over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies, and vitamins)?
Do you have any other medical problems?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Heart rate, blood pressure, and weight
Pulses in the wrist and feet
Veins in the neck
Heart and lungs
Ankles and legs (for swelling)

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Electrocardiogram
Echocardiogram
Holter monitor
Electrophysiologic testing

Cancer

When You Visit Your Doctor - After Hodgkin's Disease Treatment

Updated February 1, 2017

Hodgkin's Disease (after the disease has been treated)

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Have you had fevers, heavy sweating at night, weight loss, itchy skin, or swollen lymph nodes?
Do you have pain in any of your bones?
Do you have a cough?
Are you fatigued?
Do you get lightheaded?
Do you bruise easily or have nosebleeds?
Do your gums bleed when you brush your teeth?
Have you had any recent infections?
Do you have a cough?
Do you have sinus congestion?
Do you have nasal discharge?
Do you know when to seek medical attention for signs of infection?
Do you know that you still need to practice birth control (both men and women)?
Infertility is uncommon with newer chemotherapy regimens. If you are a woman and have undergone early menopause, have you considered hormone replacement therapy?
Are you short of breath at rest or with minimal exertion?
Do you get chest pain or pressure with exertion?
Do you have swelling in your legs?
Do you know that chemotherapy and radiation can increase your risk of developing certain other cancers?
Are you up-to-date on all of your cancer screening tests?
If you are a woman, have you discussed the need for regular mammograms and breast examinations with your doctor?
Are you gaining weight?
Are you constipated?
Are you always cold?
Do you have dry skin?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Neck veins
Heart
Lungs
Abdomen (for enlargement or tenderness of the liver or spleen)
Bones and spine (looking for areas of tenderness)
Skin (looking for skin cancers)
Lymph Nodes (neck, axilla, elbow, groin)

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Blood tests for complete blood counts, kidney and liver function tests
CT scans of the chest and abdomen

Diseases & Conditions

When You Visit Your Doctor Acne

Updated February 1, 2017

Acne

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

At what age did your problem with acne begin?
Do you have blackheads, whiteheads, pustules, or cysts?
If so, what areas are involved: your face, chest, back?
What is your skin-care routine?
What products do you use? Do any of them help?
What medications have you tried (e.g., benzoyl peroxide, Retin-A, antibiotics, Accutane)?
If you are female, does your acne get worse around the time of your menstrual period and do you have regular menstrual periods?
What medicines do you take, including over-the-counter medicines and birth-control pills?
Have you been developing extra body or facial hair?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Skin exam

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Blood tests (liver function tests, cholesterol, or if you are female, perhaps a pregnancy test if you are taking the medicine Accutane)

Diseases & Conditions

When You Visit Your Doctor - Acoustic Neuroma

Updated February 1, 2017

Acoustic Neuroma

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Do you have trouble hearing out of one ear or both?
Do sounds seem distorted in one ear?
Are sounds different between your two ears?
Is the hearing loss getting progressively worse?
Do you have difficulty understanding others when they are talking? For example, do you have trouble hearing people on the other end of the telephone?
Do you have ear pain?
Have you been dizzy or lightheaded? If so, does it seem as if the room is spinning?
Do you feel unsteady when you walk?
Have you heard ringing or unusual noises in one or both of your ears?
Do the muscles on one side of your face feel weaker compared to the other side?
Is there any weakness of your face?
Have you lost your ability to taste certain foods?
Have you had headaches? Nausea? Vomiting?
Have you had double vision or unusual eye movements?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Ear, nose, and throat exam, including a screening test of your hearing in each ear
Neurological exam

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Audiometry (formal hearing test) by a certified audiologist
Brain-stem auditory evoked potentials
MRI or CT scan of the head

Diseases & Conditions

When You Visit Your Doctor — Bell's Palsy

Updated February 1, 2017

Bell's Palsy

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Do you have weakness or paralysis of the muscles in your face?
Can you still raise your eyebrows?
Can you close your eyelids?
Have you had ear pain? If so, on which side?
Are your eyes watery?
Have you noticed any change in your sense of taste?
Have you had problems hearing?
Have you had problems chewing?
Over what period of time did your symptoms develop?
Have you had a recent upper respiratory tract infection (for example, a cold)?
Could you have had a tick bite in the recent past?
Do you have diabetes?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Neurological exam focusing on the strength of the facial muscles
Examination of the ears, nose, and throat

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Blood tests for blood sugar and possibly Lyme disease
Hearing test (if you report difficulty hearing)
MRI computed tomography (CT) of the head (if your history and exam are concerning for a stroke or tumor)

Diseases & Conditions

When You Visit Your Doctor - Crohn's Disease

Updated February 1, 2017

Crohn's Disease

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Do you have abdominal pain or cramping?
Do you have diarrhea, fevers, fatigue, rectal pain, or bloody stools?
Have you recently lost weight?
Is there a family history of inflammatory bowel disease?
How many times a year do you get pain flare-ups?
Do you have episodes of joint pain or swelling?
Are you taking any medications?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Temperature, blood pressure, heart rate
Careful abdominal exam
Rectal exam

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy
Stool sample to look for the presence of blood, white blood cells, and to culture
Complete blood count and other blood tests
CT scan or MRI of the abdomen

Diseases & Conditions

When You Visit Your Doctor - Gallstones

Updated February 1, 2017

Gallstones

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Do you have pain in the mid- or upper-right portion of your abdomen?
Do fatty meals worsen the pain?
Does the pain occur after eating?
Do you have nausea, vomiting, or bloating?
Does the pain ever go through to your back?
Is the pain steady or intermittent?
Have you had fevers?
How long does it take for the pain to go away?
Do you take any medications (for example, birth-control pills or hormone therapy)?
Have you had any rapid weight loss?
Have you noticed darkening of your urine or yellowing of the eyes?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Abdominal exam

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Blood tests of liver function
Complete blood count
Abdominal ultrasound
Cholescintigraphy (HIDA scan)

Diseases & Conditions

When You Visit Your Doctor - Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Updated February 1, 2017

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Do you get a burning sensation in your chest or throat after eating?
Do you ever have a bitter or sour taste in your mouth?
Do you ever have bloating or nausea after you eat?
How often do you get these symptoms?
What do you do to relieve the symptoms?
Are the symptoms related to physical exertion?
Are the symptoms worse when you are lying down or sitting up?
Have you noticed any black stools?
Do you have a persistent cough?
Do you have a history of ulcer disease?
Are you taking any medications, especially ones that can irritate the esophagus or stomach, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen or tetracycline?
Do you drink alcohol or smoke?
How soon after you eat at night do you go to bed?
Have you tried any over-the-counter medications? If so, do they help?

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Chest and lung exam
Abdominal exam

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

Upper endoscopy (internal examination of the esophagus and stomach)
pH probe (to assess the acid level in the esophagus and stomach)
Manometry (to measure the pressure of the sphincter between the esophagus and the stomach)
Stool testing for blood
Complete blood cell count

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Diseases & Conditions Archive

Articles

When You Visit Your Doctor - Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

When You Visit Your Doctor - Erectile Dysfunction or Impotence

Erectile Dysfunction or Impotence

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

When You Visit Your Doctor - Heart Block

Heart Block

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

When You Visit Your Doctor - After Hodgkin's Disease Treatment

Hodgkin's Disease (after the disease has been treated)

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

When You Visit Your Doctor  Acne

Acne

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

When You Visit Your Doctor - Acoustic Neuroma

Acoustic Neuroma

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

When You Visit Your Doctor — Bell's Palsy

Bell's Palsy

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

When You Visit Your Doctor - Crohn's Disease

Crohn's Disease

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

When You Visit Your Doctor - Gallstones

Gallstones

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

When You Visit Your Doctor - Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

Questions to Discuss with Your Doctor:

Your Doctor Might Examine the Following Body Structures or Functions:

Your Doctor Might Order the Following Lab Tests or Studies:

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When You Visit Your Doctor Acne