Tag Archives: sinus symptoms
More Cases of MERS Concern US Officials
And then there were three. Numerous news reports have cited the latest case of Middle East Respiratory Virus, or MERS, to appear in the United States. NBC News has reported that a man in Illinois contracted MERS simply from meeting the second case to appear in the US, and shaking his hand. This is concerning … Continue reading More Cases of MERS Concern US Officials
View More >>When Will We Get the Flu Vaccine Right?
It is a truism of microbiology that very small creatures have an evolutionary advantage over us. Their tiny size, rapid procreation and sky-high populations make germs ideally equipped to develop fortuitous mutations which render them immune to our defenses. This is as true in vaccines as it is in the body, which helps to account … Continue reading When Will We Get the Flu Vaccine Right?
View More >>How Sinus Symptoms Cause Snoring
I write frequently about sleep and breathing disorders, and often mention that sinus surgery can remedy some of the worst cases of interrupted sleep. One thing I rarely describe is the mechanism at work, namely how your sinuses can affect your nighttime breathing. This helpful article outlines the mechanics in their basic form. Here’s the … Continue reading How Sinus Symptoms Cause Snoring
View More >>Yet Another Reason to Choose Sterile Water
Some of you may recall the increasingly dire warnings I recently issued about using fully sterilized water when a Neti pot is called for. In my most recent post, I describe a nasty amoeba known as Naegleria fowleri, whose effects can include brain damage and, eventually, death. At the time, it was thought that N. … Continue reading Yet Another Reason to Choose Sterile Water
View More >>MERS Tracked to the Source; Danger Remains Low
For several months, doctors gave been engaged in an ongoing quest to discover the origins of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS. Leads were many; breakthroughs few and far between. Now a single bat may have changed the balance of power in this particular hunt. As the New York Times and other outlets recently reported, … Continue reading MERS Tracked to the Source; Danger Remains Low
View More >>Balloon Sinuplasty Benefits Go Beyond Your Face
Balloon sinuplasty stories in the news often seem to follow a predictable contour. First there is the long-suffering patient who has run out of credible alternatives. Then, the procedure. And then the relief, bold and bright, on a scale previously unknown. I would fault such stories for their distinct lack of dramatic twists were it … Continue reading Balloon Sinuplasty Benefits Go Beyond Your Face
View More >>Are Social Media Good for Medicine?
I have written before about the fascinating intersection between new media and medicine – the rise of review sites, the question of online doctors’ notes. And this recent article got me thinking once again about the most common example of all: Direct communication, namely the sort I am doing right now. It’s not news that … Continue reading Are Social Media Good for Medicine?
View More >>This Is Your Brain With a Cold
Interesting news this week – a study has found that your brain activity actually changes appreciably when you’re congested. Scientists at Northwestern University created an experiment to deprive people of olfactory input for several days. Voila: the brain adjusted in its typically elastic way to compensate for this lack of sensory input: For the study, … Continue reading This Is Your Brain With a Cold
View More >>When Sinus Distress is a Symptom, Not a Cause
I have spent time discussing before how sinus issues may be misunderstood. Sometimes they can be easily confused with a common cold or allergies; other times chronic sinus distress may even be a harbinger of cancer. An interesting article recently discussed another way that sinus symptoms can be a signal of something more serious: via … Continue reading When Sinus Distress is a Symptom, Not a Cause
View More >>Why Sinus Surgery Makes You a Better Golfer
We don’t always associate healthy sinuses with an athletic lifestyle, but the connection between the two is undeniable. Sometimes the experience of a star athlete can provide a window into how our sinuses can affect performance, and why it’s so important to maintain good sinus health. Take golf star Jason Day. Fans of the links … Continue reading Why Sinus Surgery Makes You a Better Golfer
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