Dr. Adam Joo, M.D.

That depends. As all things in medicine where and when or time period. If acute or sudden blockage of a large coronary (heart) artery, yes it’s a medical emergency. That’s what we call a full thickness heart attack or st elevation heart acute myocardial infarction or STEMI. If partially acutely blocked it’s slightly less of an emergency or non-stemi but still a heart attack. If complete or partially blockage happens over years, chronic blockage or chronic coronary stenosis. This is not considered an emergency. But you may have symptoms called a stable “angina” or “angina pectoralis” meaning choking of the chest. Of course the worst ones are not high percentage blockages like 80-90% blockages. They occur over time. The dangerous ones are the 10-30% blockages with atheromas that ruptures and cause sudden thrombosis and complete blockages. This can occur at very young age even in your 30-40s not knowing you had severe coronary artery disease.

Typically without any additional complications, 3 days.

All depends on the severity and complications. If uncomplicated new or recurrent, you maybe able to go home the following day. In certain circumstances you may not even need a hospitalization. However, if you need procedures or interventions, it would depend on those. There is hardly ever any one answer to many medical questions such as length of stay. All are individualized to each unique patient.

Simple answer yes as gallbladder is not a vital organ. Vast majority after the recovery periods of about 6-8 weeks will lead "normal" lives. Small percentage will have some mild GI symptoms especially with fatty foods but this is not life altering. A very small percentage will still produce bile stones which may cause problems, some serious such as cholangitis or pancreatitis.

Probably the most effective way to quit. You will get withdrawal symptoms both physical and psychological. Media (movies, pictures) and exposure (environmental and situation) may trigger some psychological craving but if you can resist you should be a new nonsmoker the moment you quit.

No. Not at all. Aspirin nor NSAIDs which includes ibuprofen are not treatment for thromboembolism to the lungs. Aspirin in certain circumstances can be used as a prophylaxis for thromboembolic disease such as DVT after certain orthopedic surgery, To dissolve clots by medications requires thrombolytic medication which is very dangerous for bleeding to death and is done in a critical care hospitalized setting. Most common treatment would be an anticoagulant, such as apixaban, but this doesn't dissolve clots. Your own immune system slowly "dissolve" the clots over time.

One thing that comes to mind is adrenal insufficiency, sometimes called Addison's disease. You should see your doctor and do a cortisol level and a ACTH stimulation test. Also you may also have a insulinoma, a benign tumor secreting insulin.

Yes, Pfizer mRNA vaccine has been approved for ages 5 -12. My children 6 and 9 both got them more than a month ago and have been doing fine.