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Sleep apnea can be complex to understand. Unfortunately, even some medical providers can misunderstand the meanings of various diagnoses. This can lead to costly and unnecessary testing and treatments. It is very important to understand the symptoms and signs of one diagnosis in particular: complex sleep apnea. What is complex, or treatment-emergent, sleep apnea? Learn about this condition, its features and causes, how it is diagnosed, and the most effective treatments—and if treatment is even necessary....

Being told that you have dyslipidemia can be scary. However, this broad term used to signify that you have one or more parameters on your lipid profile that may be too low or elevated. Luckily, depending on the types of lipids affected, there are many ways to treat this condition – ranging from taking medication to making a few changes in your lifestyle. Overview Dyslipidemia is a medical condition that refers to an abnormal level of blood lipids....

Eyelid margin disease, also referred to as blepharitis, is a common condition in which the eyelid margins are persistently inflamed. You can experience itching, stinging, burning, redness, and dandruff-like flakes on your eyelashes and eyelid margins with this condition. Blepharitis is an uncomfortable condition that usually produces inflamed and itchy eyelids, but it doesn’t permanently damage eyesight. Eyelid margin disease can begin during childhood and last throughout life—or it can begin during adulthood....

If you are looking for ways to stop snoring, you may be interested in learning how over-the-counter nasal dilators like Breathe Right strips can help improve your breathing during sleep. These nasal dilators work by opening the nostril or nasal passage to improve airflow through the nose, but are they right for you? Can they relieve sleep apnea? Learn more about these devices and whether they would be worth a try....

Christmas lights are a joy to behold during the holiday season but can pose hazards to your home and family if not properly installed or stored. This is no small matter. According to the National Fire Protection Associaton (NPFA), around 800 home fires are started each year by faulty Christmas lights while another 170 are caused by Christmas trees, resulting in over $23 million in property damage. Even more sobering is the fact that one of every 45 fires caused by a Christmas tree resulted in a death....

The humerus is the largest bone in the entire upper extremity. The top of the humerus joins with an area called the glenoid fossa on the scapula or shoulder blade. The bottom of the humerus touches the top of the radius and ulna which joins the upper arm with the lower arm. The meeting of these bones allows for the wide range of motion which is possible at the shoulder joint, along with movement at the elbow....

If you’ve been officially diagnosed with dermatitis herpetiformis, you almost certainly do have celiac disease as well. However, the whole issue can be confusing, and some explanation is in order. The Gluten Rash The “gluten rash” dermatitis herpetiformis (yes, it’s a mouthful) is an incredibly itchy, painful rash that results from your body’s reaction to the consumption of gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. Although you can experience the rash anywhere on your body, it most commonly crops up on places like your elbows, knees, buttocks, lower back and the back of your neck....

Pelvic tilt exercises can stretch and strengthen your abdominal muscles, and help to relieve sciatica and low back (lumbar) pain. Their benefits are far greater than their complexity: All you do is lie on your back with your knees bent and raise your pelvis. Pelvic tilts are safe for just about anyone, even if you’re pregnant. For your tilts to be as effective as possible, it’s helpful to understand which muscles they target, how those muscles may contribute to lumbar pain, and the finer points of performing them....

The rate of living theory of aging states that people (and other living organisms) have a finite number of breaths, heartbeats, or other measures, and that they will die once they’ve used those up. But don’t try to live longer by slowing your metabolism just yet: while the theory is helpful to explain some aspects of aging, it doesn’t really hold up under modern scientific scrutiny. History of the Rate of Living Theory The rate of living theory of aging may be one of the oldest theories that attempts to describe why organisms (including humans) actually age....

A salt water (saline) rinse can benefit your oral health by cleansing your mouth, warding off infection, and even relieving toothache pain. You can make a salt water rinse at home by mixing a teaspoon of table salt with 8 ounces of lukewarm water. Simply gargle the mixture for 15 to 30 seconds then spit the salt water out. This article provides step-by-step instructions on how to make a salt water rinse you can use at home....

Menstruation has many names—your period, monthly cycle, menses, even Aunt Flo. Regardless of what you call it, menstruation is vaginal bleeding that occurs monthly. During the monthly menstrual cycle, your hormones prepare your uterus (womb) for pregnancy. If you become pregnant, then your period usually doesn’t return until after childbirth. If you don’t become pregnant, then you shed the thickened lining of your uterus (the endometrial lining) and extra blood through your vagina....

Long-term care after triple bypass surgery involves surveillance of your cardiovascular health, medication to manage risk factors, and maintaining consistent heart-healthy lifestyle habits. Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), is an open-heart surgical procedure that’s done to treat blocked or partially blocked coronary arteries (the arteries that provide blood to heart muscles). Triple bypass surgery is a three-vessel CABG. While the surgery aims to correct the immediate problem, long-term care is necessary to address underlying arteriosclerosis and prevent the development of blockages that could cause a heart attack in the future....

Despite efforts to reduce the amount of arsenic in drinking water systems across the U.S., not all communities have benefited from these efforts equally. Key Takeaways Arsenic in drinking water systems presents environmental justice and public health concerns.Community water systems most likely to exceed national maximum contaminant levels are those that serve small populations, are located in the Southwest, and serve Hispanic communities.Arsenic levels are higher in groundwater systems, where arsenic occurs naturally....

The choroid is the vascular layer of the eye that lies between the retina and the sclera. The choroid is thickest in the back of the eye, where it is about 0.2 mm, and narrows to 0.1 mm in the peripheral part of the eye. It contains the retinal pigmented epithelial cells and provides oxygen and nourishment to the outer retina. The choroid forms the uveal tract, which includes the iris and the ciliary body....

Whether you scrape your knee, cut yourself, or are recovering from surgery, you might experience the same annoying side effect: itching around your wound. So why does skin itch while healing? Scientists are still investigating, but it’s believed that as the skin heals, it stimulates nerve cells that can leave you feeling itchy. Continue reading to learn more about why skin itches when healing, how to relieve an itchy wound, and when to see a healthcare provider....

While scientists do not know the exact cause of multiple sclerosis (MS), many believe that it is the result of a unique interplay between a person’s genetic and specific environmental factors. Some of these factors may include vitamin D deficiency, smoking, and past viral infections. Greater focus has also been placed on the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and the role it appears to play in the development of MS. How the Epstein Barr Virus Works The Epstein-Barr virus is the most common cause of infectious mononucleosis (a condition popularly referred to as “mono”)....

Achlorhydria is an absence of hydrochloric acid in the gastric juices produced in the stomach. The condition generally doesn’t occur on its own but is a secondary result of some other condition or circumstance, such as H. pylori infection or hypothyroidism. Regardless of its cause, achlorhydria can result in a host of gastrointestinal symptoms from pain to constipation to heartburn. Hydrochloric acid, which is produced by the parietal cells within the stomach walls, helps maintain the pH levels in the gastric juices so that the enzymes that help break down food into digestible substances can do their job....

Have you ever had an annoying spot appear in your vision? Cobwebs, rings, spots, and floaters are words used to describe small things that we sometimes see in our vision or visual field. Most of us have seen one or two in our lifetime and some of us may be bothered by them to a much greater extent. What Are Floaters? Floaters are the common name given to things we see from time to time in our vision....

Verywell Health: What lifestyle actions should people take to improve their heart health? This article is part of Health Divide: Heart Disease Risk Factors, a destination in our Health Divide series. Meet the Expert Gladys Velarde, M.D. is a member of the American College of Cardiology Prevention, Disparities of Care Work Group, and on the CardioSmart.org editorial board. Dr. Velarde’s clinical interests include heart disease in women and other populations along with preventive care....

BPPV is a medical abbreviation for Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo. It is a form of vertigo that is thought to be caused by calcium deposits within the inner ear. The medical term for these deposits is otoconia. Otoconia normally reside in two parts of the ear called the utricle and saccule but when they abnormally make their way into the portion of the inner ear called the semicircular canals they can cause vertigo....