Health Topics
Evidence-based explanations and surgical myth-busting on common symptoms, vascular health, and gastrointestinal conditions.
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Iron-Deficiency Anemia: When Do You Need Both an Upper Endoscopy and Colonoscopy?
Iron pills can improve the blood count without explaining why iron was lost in the first place. For some adults, looking at both the upper and lower digestive tract is the safest next step; for others, age, menstrual bleeding, symptoms, and procedural risk change the decision. By J.Y. Jeong, MD Evidence reviewed through: September 21,…
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Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening: Who Needs the One-Time Ultrasound?
An abdominal aortic aneurysm can grow silently, yet screening everyone creates more testing without proven benefit. One group has a clear recommendation for a one-time ultrasound; for women, never-smokers, and people with family history, the answer depends on which U.S. guideline is being used. By M.J. Kim, MD Evidence reviewed through: September 21, 2026 Updated:…
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Blood Thinners Before Surgery: When to Stop and Who Needs Bridging
For most people with atrial fibrillation, a short interruption of anticoagulation before surgery does not mean they need “bridge” injections. The harder question is deciding who is an exception – and when it is safe to restart. By M.J. Kim, MD Evidence reviewed through: September 9, 2026 Updated: October 1, 2026 At a Glance Most…
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One Leg Suddenly Swollen: When Is It a Blood Clot – and When Is It Something Else?
Sudden swelling in one leg can come from a pulled muscle, infection, a ruptured knee cyst – or a deep vein thrombosis. The safest way to tell them apart is not pain intensity. It is a structured assessment of your risk followed, when needed, by the right blood test or ultrasound. By M.J. Kim, MD…
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Your Mammogram Is Normal – But Your Breasts Are Dense. Is Another Scan Worth the False Alarms?
Your mammogram was normal. So why does the dense-breast letter say cancer could still be missed? The answer is not automatically another scan. By M.J. Kim, MD Evidence reviewed through: September 8, 2026 Updated: October 1, 2026 At a Glance A dense-breast notice does not mean cancer was found, and it does not automatically mean…
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The Colon Cancer Blood Test Is FDA-Approved. Can It Replace Your Colonoscopy?
The new blood tests make colorectal cancer screening easier. But detecting cancer and preventing cancer are not the same job. By J.Y. Jeong, MD Evidence reviewed through: September 3, 2026 Updated: October 1, 2026 At a Glance FDA-approved blood tests can now be used to screen some average-risk adults for colorectal cancer. In the pivotal…
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Rectal Bleeding Under 45: Hemorrhoids, Warning Signs, and When to Get a Colonoscopy
Bright red blood is often caused by hemorrhoids or an anal fissure. But your age and the color of the blood cannot prove where it came from. The important question is whether the source has actually been identified—and whether the bleeding behaves the way a benign problem should. By J.Y. Jeong, MD Evidence reviewed through:…