Blog
News, research and guides
755 articles from the VitMode editorial team.
GuidesExcessive Thirst (Polydipsia): Causes and When to Test Glucose
Constant, excessive thirst, often with passing large amounts of urine, has several well-described causes: diabetes, diabetes insipidus (now called vasopressin deficiency or resistance), primary polydipsia, hypercalcaemia and medicines, including lithium. Differentiation starts with simple blood and urine tests: glucose, HbA1c, sodium, calcium and creatinine. We explain how polydipsia differs from a dry mouth, what research says about each cause, which tests to do first and which symptoms, such as rapid weight loss, vomiting or confusion, need urgent help.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Sen i neurobiologia12 min
November 3, 2026
GuidesColonoscopy Prep: Low-Residue Diet and How to Take the Bowel Prep
The quality of a colonoscopy depends largely on what happens before it: the diet on the day before and how the bowel prep is taken. European and American guidelines agree that the prep is best split into two doses, that dietary restrictions can be limited to one day, and that a low-fibre diet is an acceptable alternative to clear liquids only. We explain where these recommendations come from, what the meta-analyses show, how low-volume and high-volume preparations differ, how to handle medicines, and what to do when the prep has not worked.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Badania i biomarkery12 min
November 3, 2026
GuidesMRI Scan: Claustrophobia, Gadolinium Contrast and Implants
An MRI scan raises three common worries: the narrow tube, gadolinium contrast and metal in the body, such as a pacemaker, joint replacements or tattoos. We explain what is actually known: how often the scan is interrupted by anxiety and what helps (a randomised trial from 2026), what the risk of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) looks like with newer contrast agents, what gadolinium deposition in tissues means, when a pacemaker is not an obstacle and what to tell the staff before the scan. We also note where the evidence is weak or applies only to some groups.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Badania i biomarkery12 min
November 3, 2026
GuidesCT Scan with Contrast: Kidneys, Metformin and Allergy — What Is Really Known
Iodinated contrast in computed tomography is tied to three common worries: that it will damage the kidneys, that metformin must be stopped, and that an allergy to iodine or seafood rules out the scan. Current data are calmer than tradition suggests: in a meta-analysis of 28 studies (107,335 people) contrast CT was not significantly associated with acute kidney injury, the randomised AMACING trial showed no benefit of routine hydration at eGFR 30–59, and an 'iodine allergy' in the sense of an ordinary allergen does not exist. We explain who still needs caution and what information the patient should pass on.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Badania i biomarkery12 min
November 3, 2026
GuidesAbdominal Ultrasound: Preparation, Do You Need to Fast and a Full Bladder
Almost every unit asks you to arrive fasting for an abdominal ultrasound, yet the evidence for this advice is surprisingly thin. A 2026 meta-analysis found that fasting does not improve the overall diagnostic sufficiency of the scan; the benefit was limited to the gallbladder and the common bile duct, and a randomised trial of 215 patients found no difference in image quality after breakfast and when fasting. We explain where the advice comes from, when a full bladder is really needed, whether simethicone does anything, and what an ultrasound can and cannot show.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Badania i biomarkery12 min
November 3, 2026
Guides24-Hour Holter ECG: How to Prepare, How to Wear It and Whether a Smartwatch Can Replace It
A Holter ECG is a round-the-clock recording of the heart that detects rhythm disturbances invisible in a short test. The result depends, however, on how the test is done: whether the patient keeps a symptom diary, whether the electrodes stay on the skin and whether the recording day is a typical one. We explain how to prepare and how to wear the recorder, what is known about detection (68% diagnostic yield in one study, with no difference between 24 and 48 h), how a Holter differs from a 14-day patch, and why a smartwatch with ECG, despite high accuracy in detecting atrial fibrillation, is not a substitute.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Badania i biomarkery12 min
November 3, 2026
GuidesFunctional Dyspepsia: Upper Abdominal Pain and Fullness Without an Ulcer — Symptoms, Rome IV Criteria and Treatment
Functional dyspepsia is chronic pain, burning, fullness or early satiety in the upper abdomen that is not explained by an ulcer, a tumour or any other disease visible at gastroscopy. It is diagnosed with the Rome IV criteria after organic causes have been excluded, and treated step by step: H. pylori test-and-treat, a proton pump inhibitor, then low-dose tricyclic antidepressants or a prokinetic. We explain what the meta-analyses show, how large the real effect of each approach is and which symptoms need urgent work-up.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Żywienie, suplementy i trening13 min
October 29, 2026
GuidesFrequent Belching: Causes, When It Is a Belching Disorder and How It Is Treated
Belching is a normal physiological event, but when it becomes frequent, loud and bothersome it is called a belching disorder. The Rome IV classification distinguishes gastric and supragastric belching — the latter is a habit of sucking air into the oesophagus and immediately expelling it, not a symptom of stomach disease. We explain how to tell them apart, what they overlap with (reflux, dyspepsia, anxiety), what studies say about diaphragmatic breathing, speech therapy and baclofen, and when belching needs investigation.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Żywienie, suplementy i trening12 min
October 29, 2026
GuidesDifficulty Swallowing (Dysphagia): Causes, Tests and When to See a Doctor Urgently
Dysphagia is the sense that food or liquid does not pass smoothly from the mouth to the stomach. A distinction is made between oropharyngeal dysphagia (trouble starting a swallow, coughing and choking) and oesophageal dysphagia (a feeling of food sticking after swallowing), and the causes range from reflux and strictures, through eosinophilic oesophagitis and achalasia, to neurological disease and cancer. We explain how to tell the two types apart, which tests are done and which symptoms call for prompt investigation.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Żywienie, suplementy i trening13 min
October 29, 2026
GuidesStomach and Duodenal Ulcer: Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis and Treatment
A stomach or duodenal ulcer is a defect in the lining caused most often by Helicobacter pylori infection or by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, including aspirin. It presents as pain or burning in the upper abdomen, but may also be silent until complications: bleeding or perforation. We explain how diagnosis works (gastroscopy, H. pylori testing), what eradication and proton pump inhibitors achieve according to Cochrane reviews and meta-analyses, and which symptoms mean urgent help.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Żywienie, suplementy i trening13 min
October 29, 2026
GuidesChronic Nausea: Causes (Stomach, Drugs, Hormones, Nervous System) and How It Is Diagnosed
Nausea lasting weeks or months rarely has a single cause. The usual places to look are the stomach (gastroparesis, peptic ulcer, reflux), medicines and supplements (metformin, iron, GLP-1 analogues), hormonal disorders, the nervous system (migraine, vestibular disorders) and anxiety. We explain the order in which tests are done, what the Rome IV criteria mean and when chronic nausea needs urgent work-up.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Żywienie, suplementy i trening13 min
October 29, 2026
GuidesNeck Pain: Causes, Exercises and When Imaging Is Needed
Neck pain is one of the most common musculoskeletal complaints, and in the great majority of cases there is no single cause visible on a scan; doctors call it non-specific neck pain. A Cochrane review of 27 trials indicates that for chronic neck pain the best evidence concerns strengthening exercises, while MRI in people with no symptoms shows disc bulges in more than 87% of cases, so the scan result alone rarely explains the pain. Below we set out what is known about causes, about the role of the phone and sitting posture, about exercise and manual therapy, and about the warning signs (numb hands, gait problems, fever) at which investigation should not wait.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Żywienie, suplementy i trening12 min
October 29, 2026
GuidesPain Between the Shoulder Blades: When It Is Muscle, and When Heart, Oesophagus or Gallbladder
Pain between the shoulder blades most often comes from the muscles and joints of the thoracic spine, but it can also be referred pain from internal organs: the heart, aorta, oesophagus, gallbladder or lungs. In a large US registry 33% of patients with a heart attack reported no chest pain, and in the aortic dissection registry classic findings were often absent. The article shows how to recognise mechanical pain, which features of the pain raise or lower the probability of heart disease, when the pain is a warning sign and which tests are done and in what order.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Żywienie, suplementy i trening12 min
October 29, 2026
GuidesTailbone Pain (Coccydynia): Causes, Treatment and Cushions
Coccydynia, or tailbone pain, usually worsens on sitting and when rising from a chair, and the most common risk factors are obesity, female sex, injury and prolonged sitting. According to a review in the Ochsner Journal, conservative treatment is effective in about 90% of cases, and in a systematic review of 64 studies (1980 patients) even conservative care alone gave an average pain improvement of 1.7 cm on the VAS. The article explains where this pain comes from, what is known about cushions, drugs, physiotherapy, injections and surgery, when imaging is performed and which symptoms are a signal for an urgent consultation.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Żywienie, suplementy i trening12 min
October 29, 2026
GuidesNumb Hands at Night: Is It Really Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?
Numbness of the hands at night is most often linked to carpal tunnel syndrome, but not always: similar symptoms are produced by compression of the ulnar nerve, irritation of a nerve root in the neck, thoracic outlet syndrome and polyneuropathy in diabetes or vitamin B12 deficiency. In a survey of 396 people as many as 33% experienced nocturnal paraesthesia at least once a week, also without diagnosed carpal tunnel syndrome. The article shows how to tell which nerve is involved, the significance of sleeping position, diabetes, the thyroid and vitamin B12, what Cochrane says about night splints, and when numbness calls for more urgent investigation.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Żywienie, suplementy i trening13 min
October 29, 2026
GuidesSacroiliac Joint Pain (SI Joint): How to Recognise and Treat It
Sacroiliac joint (SIJ) pain is usually felt in the buttock and lower back below the level of L5 and, according to international consensus guidelines, affects 15–30% of patients with axial pain. There is no single test that confirms it: diagnosis rests on a set of provocation tests (three of six positive gave a sensitivity of 94% and specificity of 78% against a diagnostic block), and the evidence for exercise, manual therapy and injections is largely indirect or of low quality. The article explains how to tell this pain from disc and hip pain, what studies say about treatment, the role of pregnancy and spondyloarthritis, and when to see a doctor.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Żywienie, suplementy i trening13 min
October 29, 2026
GuidesEarwax: Should You Clean Your Ears, Are Cotton Swabs Safe, and What Is Impacted Wax?
Earwax is not dirt but a secretion that protects the ear canal, and in most people it clears out on its own. Otolaryngology guidelines advise against routinely treating earwax in people without symptoms, and cotton swabs push wax deeper and are a recognised cause of eardrum perforation. We explain when wax becomes an impaction, what the evidence says about softening drops and irrigation, why ear candles are discouraged, and in which situations you should not irrigate your ears yourself.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Odporność, infekcje i skóra12 min
October 29, 2026
GuidesRecurrent Nosebleeds: Causes, First Aid and When to Get Tested
Most people have a nosebleed at least once in their life, and it usually comes from the front part of the nasal septum, where vessels lie just beneath a thin mucous membrane. When nosebleeds keep coming back, it is worth checking for dry mucosa, picking or nasal sprays, anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs and, less often, a bleeding disorder or a tumour. We explain how first aid works according to the guideline (pressure for at least 5 minutes), what is known about hypertension, who needs blood tests and which symptoms call for urgent assessment.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Odporność, infekcje i skóra12 min
October 29, 2026
GuidesTonsil Stones: Causes, Bad Breath and How to Get Rid of Them
Tonsil stones (tonsilloliths) are small whitish or yellowish deposits in the crypts of the palatine tonsils, made of leftover cells, bacteria and mucus. On CT they are found in about a quarter of people, usually without symptoms, but in some they go with bad breath, a foreign-body sensation and recurrent sore throat. We explain how they form, how strong the link with halitosis is, what can be done safely at home, what is known about laser cryptolysis and tonsillectomy, and when white spots in the throat are something else.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Odporność, infekcje i skóra12 min
October 29, 2026
GuidesHoarseness Lasting Over 3 Weeks: Causes and When You Need a Laryngoscopy
Hoarseness (dysphonia) that does not clear up after a few weeks is a signal to look at the larynx, not just to wait it out or treat blindly. According to the American otolaryngology guideline, laryngoscopy should be done when a voice disorder does not resolve or improve within 4 weeks, and immediately when a serious cause is suspected. We explain what causes persistent hoarseness (voice misuse, nodules and polyps, laryngopharyngeal reflux, vocal fold paralysis, the thyroid, smoking, cancer), why the guideline advises against antireflux drugs before the larynx has been looked at, and what voice therapy offers.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Odporność, infekcje i skóra13 min
October 29, 2026
GuidesLump in the Throat (Globus): Causes, Tests and Treatment
A lump in the throat (globus pharyngeus) is a common complaint: a feeling of a lump or pressure in the throat with no difficulty swallowing food and no structural abnormality. The causes are unclear, and current views link tension in the throat and laryngeal muscles with mucosal irritation. We explain how globus differs from dysphagia, what the studies say about reflux and proton pump inhibitors (one placebo-controlled trial showed no benefit), what role speech therapy, centrally acting drugs and reassurance play, and which symptoms call for tests.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Odporność, infekcje i skóra12 min
October 29, 2026
GuidesSpotting between periods: causes and when to get tested
Spotting between periods is surprisingly common: in a British cohort study almost one woman in four aged 40-54 reported it within two years, and in most cases nothing serious was found. The usual explanations are the dip in estradiol around ovulation, hormonal contraception or an intrauterine device, a polyp or a change on the cervix, an infection, or hormonal swings in perimenopause. Some situations do need a prompt check: pregnancy, bleeding after menopause, repeated spotting or spotting after sex, pain and general symptoms. We explain how to tell spotting from bleeding, what the data say about cancer risk and which tests are done in which order.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Hormony i endokrynologia12 min
October 29, 2026
GuidesHeavy periods: causes, anaemia and treatment
According to a Cochrane overview, heavy periods affect 2 to 5 in 10 women of reproductive age, and yet many of them never have their ferritin checked. In a large series of women referred to a specialist clinic for heavy periods, about 35% had anaemia and about 43% had ferritin below 15 µg/L, while almost 10% had von Willebrand factor deficiency. We explain when a period counts as heavy, which causes the PALM-COEIN classification lists, when to look for a bleeding disorder, how to recognise iron deficiency, and what the Cochrane overview says about the effectiveness of the levonorgestrel intrauterine system, tranexamic acid, progestogens, anti-inflammatory drugs and procedures.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Hormony i endokrynologia13 min
October 29, 2026
GuidesOvulation pain (mittelschmerz): causes, duration and when it is something else
Ovulation pain, or mittelschmerz, is one-sided lower abdominal pain in the middle of the cycle that, according to a clinical review, may affect over 40% of women of reproductive age and usually resolves within hours to two days. It is benign, but it is a diagnosis of exclusion: endometriosis, a haemorrhagic cyst, ectopic pregnancy, appendicitis and ovarian torsion can all hurt mid-cycle too. We explain what is known about the mechanism (the LH surge, contraction of the muscle around the follicle), how to tell ovulation pain from other causes, when home treatment is not enough and why the evidence for any treatment is slim.
VMRedakcja VitMode — Hormony i endokrynologia12 min
October 29, 2026