Latest Medical Updates

The latest medical articles and expert perspectives published on MED.COM.

Lyme Disease: Early Signs, the Rash, Tick Bites and When to See a Doctor

Lyme disease is a bacterial infection spread by infected ticks. Learn what the rash looks like, including on brown and black skin, the other early and later symptoms, how to remove a tick safely, when to get medical help in the UK and US, and how to avoid tick bites.

8 min readNov 12, 2026

Pelvic Organ Prolapse: Symptoms, Causes and When to See a GP

Pelvic organ prolapse is when the womb, bladder or bowel bulge into the vagina, and it is common in women over 50. Learn the symptoms, causes, when to see a GP, what happens at the appointment, how prolapse is graded, the treatment choices, things you can do to help and where to find support.

6 min readNov 11, 2026

Uterine Fibroids: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and When to See a Doctor

Fibroids are common, non-cancerous growths in or around the womb, and many people never have symptoms. Learn the types of fibroids, the symptoms they can cause, who is more likely to get them, possible complications, how they are diagnosed, when to see a GP or healthcare provider, and an overview of treatment choices.

6 min readNov 10, 2026

Shingles: Symptoms, Urgent Warning Signs, and Who Is at Higher Risk

Shingles causes a painful rash, usually on one side of the body or face. Learn the first signs, what the rash looks like, the warning signs near the eye and other reasons to get urgent help in the UK and US, who is at higher risk, how it spreads, how long it lasts and how the vaccine can help.

10 min readNov 9, 2026

Overactive Bladder and Urinary Incontinence: Symptoms, Causes, and When to See a Doctor

Overactive bladder and urinary incontinence are common in women and men. Learn the main types of leaking, symptoms and triggers, causes and risk factors, signs that need care right away, what happens at the appointment, and self-care steps such as pelvic floor exercises and bladder training.

11 min readNov 8, 2026

Menopause and Perimenopause: Symptoms, Timeline, and When to See a Doctor

Perimenopause and menopause can bring changes to your periods, hot flushes, night sweats, poor sleep, mood and memory changes, and vaginal and bladder symptoms. Find out what each stage means, the usual age and what counts as early menopause, how long symptoms can last, how menopause is diagnosed, whether you can still get pregnant, and when to see a doctor, including about bleeding after menopause.

10 min readNov 7, 2026

Alcohol Use Disorder: Signs, Withdrawal, and When to Get Help

Alcohol use disorder is a common medical condition, and most people who have it recover or markedly improve. Find out how it differs from heavy drinking, how common it is, the signs to look for, who is more at risk, how drinking affects mental health, why stopping suddenly can be dangerous, how it is diagnosed and treated, how to support someone else, and where to get urgent help in the UK and the US.

12 min readNov 6, 2026

High Blood Pressure and Kidney Disease: How Each Can Harm the Other

High blood pressure and kidney disease can each lead to or worsen the other. Learn how high blood pressure damages the kidneys, how kidney damage raises blood pressure, who is more at risk, why there are often no symptoms, which checks help, how to protect your kidneys, and when to get help.

8 min readNov 5, 2026

Kidney Infection: Symptoms, Same-Day Warning Signs, and Who Is at Higher Risk

A kidney infection is a urinary tract infection that can affect one or both kidneys. Learn how it starts, the symptoms in adults and young children, the warning signs that need same-day or emergency care in the UK and US, who is at higher risk, and how it is diagnosed and treated.

8 min readNov 3, 2026

Postnatal Depression: Symptoms, Baby Blues, and When to Get Help

Postnatal depression, also called postpartum depression, is common after having a baby and usually gets better with treatment. Find out how it differs from the baby blues, when it can start, the signs that are specific to new parents, who is more likely to get it, how partners can help, the warning signs of postpartum psychosis, and where to get help or urgent support in the UK and the US.

11 min readNov 2, 2026

Erectile Dysfunction: Common Causes, Links to Heart Health and Diabetes, and When to See a Doctor

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common and often treatable. Learn what counts as ED, its main causes from blood vessel, nerve and hormone problems to mental health and lifestyle, how it links to heart health and diabetes, what a doctor checks, and when to get help.

11 min readNov 1, 2026

Endometriosis: Symptoms, Diagnosis, and When to See a Gynecologist

Endometriosis is a long-term condition where tissue like the womb lining grows elsewhere. Learn how its pain differs from normal period pain, the symptoms, why diagnosis can take years, the tests used, when to see a GP or gynecologist, how treatment can manage symptoms, and fertility.

12 min readOct 31, 2026

Hyperthyroidism (Overactive Thyroid): Signs, Causes, and How It Is Diagnosed

Hyperthyroidism means the thyroid makes too much hormone. Learn the signs, including how it can look in older adults, the main causes such as Graves disease, the tests used, eye changes, possible complications, pregnancy points, thyroid storm and how treatment is decided.

11 min readOct 30, 2026

Acute Kidney Injury: Causes, Warning Signs, and How It Differs From Chronic Kidney Disease

Acute kidney injury is a sudden drop in kidney function that develops over hours to days. Learn the common causes, warning signs, who is at risk, how it is found and treated, recovery and follow-up, and how it differs from chronic kidney disease.

10 min readOct 29, 2026

Panic Attacks and Panic Disorder: Symptoms, Causes, and When to Get Help

A panic attack is a sudden rush of fear with strong physical symptoms. Learn what attacks feel like, how panic disorder differs from a single attack, possible causes, how it is diagnosed and treated, what to do during an attack, and where to get urgent help in the UK and US.

10 min readOct 28, 2026

Pneumonia: Symptoms, Causes, and When to Seek Care

Pneumonia is a lung infection that can be mild or serious. Learn the symptoms in adults, older adults and children, what causes it, who is at higher risk, how it is diagnosed and treated, how long recovery takes, and when to get help in the UK and US.

12 min readOct 27, 2026

Advanced Cervical Cancer (Stage 3 and 4): Treatment Goals, Support, and What to Expect

Stage 3 and 4A cervical cancer is grouped as locally advanced and treated mainly with chemoradiation, while stage 4B is treated with systemic therapy aimed at control. Learn about treatment goals, palliative and supportive care, symptoms to report, urgent warning signs, support and follow-up.

10 min readOct 26, 2026

Celiac Disease Treatment: The Gluten-Free Diet, Follow-Up Care, and What If Symptoms Persist

A strict lifelong gluten-free diet is the only established treatment for celiac disease. Learn how quickly it works and what to know about follow-up in the UK and US, repeat blood tests and biopsy, nutrition, bone and vaccine checks, ongoing symptoms, and refractory celiac disease.

10 min readOct 25, 2026

Heart Failure: Symptoms, Causes, Types, and the Link With Irregular Heartbeat

Heart failure means the heart cannot pump enough blood for the body's needs. Learn the symptoms, types and ejection fraction, causes and risk factors, the two-way link with irregular heartbeat, heart failure in children, outlook, and when to get help in the UK and US.

11 min readOct 24, 2026

What Causes Type 2 Diabetes? Genetics, Risk Factors, and What You Can Change

Type 2 diabetes comes from a mix of inherited tendency and other risk factors. Learn whether it is genetic, how age and ethnicity thresholds differ between agencies, how weight, waist size, activity, smoking, pregnancy history, prediabetes and related conditions affect risk, and risk in children.

9 min readOct 23, 2026

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