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SpecialtiesDoctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Doctors may have more than one area of specialty interest. Board certification in a specialty area means the doctor has completed formal training and has practice experience in that specialty, and has passed the certification examination from the corresponding accredited medical specialty board.
Family Medicine
Languages spoken
English
Doctor Q&A
66 Answers
46 Agrees
The number of answers this doctor has agreed with.
A 51-year-old male asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Many causes: Fresh blood indicates lower GI bleed (i.e. hemorrhoids, fissures, diverticulosis). One of the concerning causes is a mass in colon. It can be noncance... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Do as stated...: by ob physician. They know you the best for this situation and can give you a more detailed explanation. There are many causes of being high risk and ... Read More
3.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Possibly pregnancy: This can be the embryo being implanted in the uterus. Give it few days and check with home pregnancy test. Make sure to use prenatal vitamins and avoi... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 84-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Postherpetic...: Neuralgia. Complication of having shingles. There is no cure, but pain can be controlled with topical capsaicin cream. If this doesn't help, there are... Read More
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old male asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Extremely dynamic: For weight loss, you should have net cal deficit. With exercise it can be difficult to monitor the exact Cal burned. Reason is mainly because it depen... Read More
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 26-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Vitamin K & C: I have attached a link below which has a list of common drugs and food items that should be avoided and the associated risk of hemolysis if ingested. ... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old male asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Intriguing : Do you have any other symptoms (fevers, hair changes, swelling on legs, feeling uncomfortable in hot temperatures outside)? Typically, stomach bug wil... Read More
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Many....: shortness of breath, rapid heart rate, rapid breathing, chest pain with breathing, possibly cough and low grade fever, wheezing, and even cough with b... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 20-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Further eval: If you are not pregnant, you need to get additional blood work to check for hormone imbalance. Examples include thyroid hormone and prolactin. See an ... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old male asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Normal: If you blow your nose too hard, you can burst small capillaries, leading to small amount of blood. Other common cause is dry mucus membranes with irri... Read More
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 43-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Sure: Read the nutrition label and see if there is any added sugar. Most companies will add little sugar to make the protein isolate taste tolerable. Few co... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Yes with caution: Seaweed contains very high levels of iodine. If you don't have thyroid problems, you should be safe to combine the two.
On a side note, too much i... Read More
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 18-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Yes: They can occur. What you want to look for is associated bleeding. Keep on mind that early pregnancy can have some spotting during implantation of embr... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Variable: Best time to exercise: as frequent as you can, any time of day; aim for 60 min/day for 5 days. Calories intake depends on height, weight, and metaboli... Read More
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 58-year-old male asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Good: Keeping blood pressure lower than 120/80 is excellent. Low blood pressure is when pressure is less than 90/60 mmHg.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Diet possibly: It may be related to your diet. Certain foods such as beans, onions, and green vegetables are common causes. irritable bowel syndrome is also a common... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 41-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Possibly: If you started a new medication, then it is possible for the new med to cause allergic reaction. Stop using the new medication and see if the hives go... Read More
3.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Disulfiram reaction: Is the issue here. You will feel sick if you combine the two. While on Flagyl, do NOT drink alcohol. Not just because of the reaction, but also becaus... Read More
3.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 60-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
No: Based on your TSH, you should be on levothyroxine replacement. The question here is whether the symptoms are related to hypothyroidism, medication, or... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
ER - TIA eval: Sounds like you may be having a transient stroke. You should have this checked out at the ER the next time it happens. At the very least, call your do... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Yes: There are muscles on the side of the head, fans out and back, known as temporalis. YOU can find good images on Google images if you search temporalis.... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Diet > exercise: There is no "fast" way to loose weight. Most effective way is likely diet control. 1 lb of fat is equal to 3500 cal. Because we break down muscles and... Read More
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 33-year-old male asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Nerve innervation: External hemrrhoids can originate just on the inside brim of anus. A true internal hemrrhoid doesn't have the same nerve innervation as the distal par... Read More
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 36-year-old male asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Ignore: Grow own if you can or farmers market; eat fresh, home cooked foods; & fresh fruits over juices.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 34-year-old male asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
On demand: 2 oz every 2 to 4 hrs. However, this is ideal case. Babies eat on demand when they are this young. At times they can eat double what they are supposed... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Not usually...: Question to address here is why you crave ice? Sometimes vitamin deficiencies make people crave certain foods. Ice is water, so will not be hurtful; h... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 49-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Medical attention: See a doctor if you tried laxatives and it didn't help. Particularly important if you had history of abdominal surgery, worsening pain, or going on fo... Read More
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A male asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Seek help from doc: If you are interested in quitting, you should talk to a physician. There are many options such as 12 steps. In the long run, it is healthier for your ... Read More
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old male asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Unlikely: While tumor can cause headaches, it is unlikely. Instead try getting some sleep. Common causes include caffeine withdrawal, dehydration, migraines, si... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Depends: on the underlying cause of the inflammation. Usually few weeks. NSAID's that you are taking will help with controlling inflammation and pain. When you... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Laproscopic : Appendectomy. If the surgery was very recent, give your body some time. During surgery you likely received IV fluids which added to weight gain. In ad... Read More
3.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Unlikely: Generally, black and tarry stools happen when there is cause of upper GI bleed. Here the hemoglobin undergoes chemical reaction leading to change in c... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 42-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Adjust the dose: Many things affect the TSH level. Tissue in the body has the ability to convert T4 to T3 when needed. There are many things that can alter synthroid (... Read More
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 28-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Wait and watch: Congratulations on getting to the last portion. If they are irregular, then it is Braxton hicks contractions. It is body preparing itself for the gran... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 27-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
No: As long as the chlamydia was completely treated, it should not come back. If you are having symptoms, please talk to your doctor. You may require trea... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 32-year-old male asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
PCP: If this is first time, start with Primary care physician.
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 37-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
No: The is no real indication to use fever reducers or pain killers for prophylaxis. Some vaccines may not even cause a fever (100.4 F) in kids. Even if y... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
High: Ovulation is likely to take place on day 13 to 14 on a regular 28 - day cycle. I would recommend avoiding alcohol and smoking until you get a negative... Read More
3.8k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 40-year-old male asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Yes: You will have restricted depth perception and peripheral vision will be restricted. You will also have to verify with the state DMV for specific rules... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 59-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Wait and watch: Polyps can be benign or cancerous. Larger size, higher counts, and the "flatter" shape are more suggestive of cancerous origins. The only way to know ... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 50-year-old male asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Often times, normal: If you are not getting restful sleep at night, you may be experiencing sleepiness during the day. Often times, this is the body telling you it needs m... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 33-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Seek expert help.: Having serve nausea and vomiting can be sign of alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Some people are at risk for having seizures while withdrawing form alcoho... Read More
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 32-year-old female asked:
A 20-year-old male asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Ideally no: Omeprezol (PPI) should be taken by itself on an empty stomach for maximum absorption. Generally you can take other medications after 30-45 minutes of ... Read More
3.3k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 22-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
No: they should be exchanged as directed because there is increased risk of eye infection.
3.4k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 36-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Possibly: Long term bed rest can lead to loss of muscle mass. In the legs, muscles function to squeeze blood from veins to the heart. If there is lack of utiliz... Read More
3.8k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Too early to tell: Early during pregnancy the hormone has not reached a detectable level for home pregnancy kits. Though you are 2 days late, don't worry. Sometimes the ... Read More
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 17-year-old female asked:
Thick clear/white stretchy vaginal discharge immediately after sex in panties during ovulation week?

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Normal: During ovulation the vaginal wall undergoes changes that makes secretions more viscous. In fact in the past, the consistency of vaginal discharge was ... Read More
3.9k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
A 21-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
Very likely....: due to hyperthyroid state. Once the thyroid balance is restored, you will have your hair back. Be patient with restoring thyroid balance.
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
A 23-year-old female asked:

Dr. Alok Patelanswered
10 years experience
See doc for recheck: Visit your doctor to recheck pregnancy. Test may be negative in early stages. If again the test is negative, they will check for thyroid disease (very... Read More
3.9k viewsAnswered >2 years ago
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
TestimonialsRecommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
Recommendations and Thank you notes are endorsements given from patients or other doctors.
3
Recommendations
78
Thank you notes
Jul 22, 2014
Very useful and timely responses.
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Patel is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Mar 31, 2015
Dr. Patel is an amazing doctor! #nationaldoctorsday2015 #virtualflower1
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! Thank you Dr. Patel. Makes sense. Thanks for taking the time to help!
HealthTap member
Thanks for your quick reply! Thanks- yes follow all recommendations taking med for max absorption..
HealthTap member
Thank you, your answer was very helpful! I was told that this wias great to loose weight
Education & Training
Medical/Graduate school
Ross University School of Medicine, Dominican Republic
Graduated 2012MD
Awards
Top Family Physician, Third Place, Wisconsin - Summer
2014
Thought Leader Doctor, Third Place, Wisconsin - Summer
2014
HealthTap Founding Doctor
90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions, provide medical advice, write prescriptions, and more.
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