Healthcare providers perform a thorough assessment that starts with you describing your symptoms. To identify the source of the bleed and how severe it is, you will need to undergo testing. What types of testing might I need? Initial steps may include: Blood tests check for signs of GI bleeds, such as anemia, using a sample of your blood. Fecal occult blood …

A healthcare provider will start by asking you about your symptoms and health history. They might suspect gastritis based on your answers, but they won’t know for sure if you have it without testing for it. They might begin with an imaging test, such as an upper GI series, a series of X-rays of your upper GI tract. This test can …

Your healthcare provider will perform a physical exam and ask about your symptoms and current medications. They may ask you to keep a food diary for a few weeks or more to see if certain foods or drinks make you gassy. Usually, this is all it takes to determine what’s causing gas pain. What tests will be done? If your provider suspects excess gas …

Healthcare providers diagnose gangrene through a physical exam and testing. During your exam, your provider will: Ask you about your medical history and current medical conditions. Ask you about any recent injuries. Check your skin for signs of gangrene. Your provider may also run tests to learn more about your condition and confirm the diagnosis. What tests diagnose gangrene? Tests …

If you’re experiencing gallstone symptoms, your healthcare provider will investigate with blood tests and imaging tests. Blood tests can detect inflammation, infection or jaundice and offer clues to which organs are affected. Imaging tests will help locate the source of the blockage in your biliary tract. What tests can detect gallstones? Your provider will begin with an abdominal ultrasound, which is …

Healthcare providers diagnose galactorrhea through some of the following: A physical exam of your breasts and nipples. Analysis of nipple discharge. Review of your medical history including medications you take. Blood test to check levels of prolactin (milk-producing hormone) in your body. Blood test to check your thyroid function. A pregnancy test. Imaging tests such as mammogram or ultrasound to examine breast tissue. Imaging …

A healthcare provider can diagnose pectus excavatum with a simple physical examination. Providers may not notice the issue until you’re in your early teens. They may want to do testing to see how much pectus excavatum is affecting your cardiopulmonary (heart and lung) function. What tests will be done to diagnose pectus excavatum? Tests for pectus excavatum may include: Magnetic resonance …

Your health care provider will examine your nails and perhaps take some nail clippings or scrape debris from under your nail. These samples are sent to a lab to identify the cause of your symptoms. Other conditions, such as psoriasis, can mimic a fungal infection of the nail. Microorganisms such as yeast and bacteria also can infect nails. Knowing the …

Your healthcare provider will begin by taking a medical history, asking you questions about your symptoms and doing a thorough eye exam. Your provider may use the following tests to diagnose Fuchs’ dystrophy: Microscopy: These types of exams use microscopes to make diagnoses. The slit lamp equipment used in your eye exam combines a microscope with a light that goes from …