Many people suffer from sleepless nights. Trouble sleeping can be caused by a number of issues. Insomnia can be caused by physical symptoms like pain, increased urination, hot flashes or shortness breath, or by psychological issues like stress, anxiety or depression. These symptoms can make you unable to relax and stay asleep. Medications can also contribute to difficulty sleeping. Stimulants, steroids, diuretics, opioids and some anti-depressants can keep you awake at night. Psychiatric disorders like depression and bipolar disorder can also affect your sleep cycle. Some people with depression will have trouble sleeping while other with depression will sleep too much. People with bipolar disorder may stay up several days with little to no sleep and not feel tired. Your doctor will need a detailed history to pinpoint the exact cause of your problem.
Infectious Mononucleosis, more frequently referred to as “mono”, is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and is very common. Although it has also been associated with names such as “The Kissing Disease”, mono is not classified as a sexually transmitted infection. It is however transmitted through saliva, which can be exchanged during sex.
Chronic cough is a condition that affects many Texans. It is a cough that lasts 8 weeks or longer in adults and 4 weeks in children. The nagging cough is not only annoying but can also interrupt your sleep pattern, cause you to feel dizzy, hoarse and strain muscles. In this article we will discuss the most common causes and treatment of chronic cough in adults.
Has your ear been hurting lately? Is it itchy? Have you felt that you can’t hear as well in that ear? Is there some fluid coming out of your ear?
If you have children, have you noticed your child pulling or tugging at an ear? Maybe he or she seems to not hear as well in one ear, or loses balance and trips more easily than before?
With the wonderful news of very effective vaccines being developed and released to the public on a worldwide scale there are of course many questions that come to mind.
I know that I celebrated the news of effective vaccines being developed for the COVID-19 virus after caring for many patients over the last 10 months with COVID-19 infections. It has been horrible to witness firsthand our case and fatality numbers steadily climb, but even with the release of the vaccine I knew that many people would be hesitant to get it.
The holidays have passed, your New Year’s goals were set, only to be pushed to the Monday following the fireworks… and now it’s time to get serious about actually pursuing those goals. Among the most popular goals include: getting healthy, losing weight or maybe even just maintaining one’s current weight. Estimated obesity in the US (BMI >30, 2011-2012) is 35%, meaning, no one is alone in this battle, and many Americans struggle with achieving and maintaining these goals. Let’s go over what you can do on your own and how the medical community is involved.
Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can involve one or both sides of the chest. The seriousness of this illness can range from mild to life-threatening. Even before the COVID-19 pandemic, this infection was one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States.
The lungs are made up of many smaller air sacs called alveoli where oxygen enters the body. When germs enter the lungs and activate the immune system, inflammation occurs, which can result in the air sacs filling up with fluid or pus. Signs and symptoms of pneumonia include fever, chills, cough, chest pain when you cough or breath, and shortness of breath.
With all the changes and headlines we have experienced over the last year it may seem strange to be discussing the common strep throat. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a new situation in our lives, but some things remain the same. The days will begin to grow longer, and we (or at least I) look forward to Spring.
Many of us get dry, itchy skin at times, but for some, it is a vicious cycle, especially during the winter.
What is eczema? Eczema, also known as atopic dermatitis, is a skin problem that causes itchy, dry, scaly, red skin. It often runs in families and can affect people of all ages. The main cause of eczema is genetic changes passed on from parents. People with eczema are born with a unique outer layer of skin. This layer, the epidermis, is the body’s first line of defense and keeps bacteria, viruses, and irritating substances from entering the body. It also keeps the skin from losing too much water. In people with eczema, this barrier is weaker and more permeable, which allows irritating substances to get in and water to get out.
It’s that time of year again! Hot chocolate filled with marshmallows, bright lights lining homes and circling trees, a much-needed break from the Houston heat, and…achy joints? Most of us look forward to the holidays coming around every year whether that is because you finally get to see family, or you are finally going to get that gift that you have been wanting all year. For those with osteoarthritis, it may also mean increased pain in your joints.
