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Not medical advice. Plainmed explains health topics for general educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from a licensed clinician, and it is not affiliated with any hospital or health system. If you have a medical concern, contact a qualified provider. In an emergency, call 911.

The plain-English health journal

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Updated weekly · Every article sourced & dated

What Is a HIDA Scan and What Can It Tell You

What Is a HIDA Scan and What Can It Tell You

If your doctor has recommended a hida scan, you probably have questions about what it involves and why it is needed. A hida scan is a nuclear medicine imaging test that checks how well your liver, gallbladder, and bile ducts are working. It tracks bile flow in a way that a standard ultrasound simply cannot […]

What You Need to Know About Skin Tag Removal at Home and at the Doctor

What You Need to Know About Skin Tag Removal at Home and at the Doctor

Skin tag removal is something millions of Americans deal with every year. These small, soft growths hang off the skin and can appear almost anywhere on the body. They’re rarely dangerous, but they can be irritating, painful when rubbed, and a real source of worry. This guide covers every removal option, from what a dermatologist […]

How to Relieve Sinus Pressure at Home

How to Relieve Sinus Pressure at Home

That tight, heavy feeling across your nose and forehead is impossible to ignore. Whether it strikes after a cold or during allergy season, sinus pressure makes daily life exhausting. Knowing how to relieve sinus pressure at home is genuinely worth learning. According to the CDC, nearly 29 million American adults deal with sinusitis each year. […]

What to Do After a Scorpion Sting and How to Treat It

scorpion sting

Getting a scorpion sting hurts immediately. The sharp pain hits within seconds, and the burning can spread fast. If you or someone near you gets stung, knowing what to do in those first few minutes makes a real difference. Scorpion stings affect thousands of Americans every year, particularly those living in the Southwest. Most stings […]

Bruised Heel: Treatment, Recovery Time and a Return to Running Plan

bruised heel causes symptoms and how to treat it fast

Abruised heel is a fat pad contusion under the heel bone, heals in one to three weeks with rest, ice, heel cups, and cushioned shoes. A bone bruise underneath can stretch that to six weeks. Before treating it yourself, squeeze the sides of your heel: sharp pain on the squeeze suggests a stress fracture, which needs […]

What You Should Know About STIs in Pregnancy

What You Should Know About STIs in Pregnancy

STIs in pregnancy are more common than most people expect. Many sexually transmitted infections produce no symptoms at all, which makes routine testing essential. Without screening and treatment, certain STIs during pregnancy can cause serious complications for your baby, including preterm birth, eye infections, and in some cases, stillbirth. Fortunately, most infections are treatable with […]

How Long Does It Take to Recover from the Flu

How Long Does It Take to Recover from the Flu

When the flu hits, it can stop you in your tracks. Most people want to know how long to recover from the flu so they can plan their return to work, school, and daily life. For most healthy adults, recovery takes about five to seven days. However, certain symptoms, especially fatigue, can linger well beyond […]

Infected Tattoo Signs and Symptoms You Need to Know

Infected Tattoo Signs Symptoms and How to Treat It

Getting a new tattoo comes with some expected discomfort. But knowing infected tattoo signs symptoms from normal healing matters a great deal. Some early reactions look alarming and turn out to be nothing. Others look mild and quickly grow worse. Acting fast on the right signals protects both your skin and your overall health. What […]

Why Should You Remove Tonsils and When Is It the Right Call

why should you remove tonsils

Many people wonder why should you remove tonsils when they keep causing repeated problems. The answer depends on how often you get sick and how much your daily life is affected. Tonsil surgery, also called a tonsillectomy, is one of the most common surgical procedures performed in the United States. Understanding the warning signs helps […]

The Difference Between Stomach Flu and Food Poisoning

difference between stomach flu and food poisoning

You feel awful. Your stomach is cramping, nausea keeps coming back, and you have spent most of the morning in the bathroom. The difference between stomach flu and food poisoning is not always easy to see right away. Both conditions cause very similar symptoms, yet their causes, timelines, and the right ways to respond are […]