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Early sinus cancer symptoms are usually subtle and often go unnoticed because they mimic other benign (not harmful) conditions like allergies, the common cold, and postnasal drip. Therefore, the majority of tumors are diagnosed at an advanced stage, requiring invasive surgery. Sinus cancer is rarely diagnosed or suspected before the onset of symptoms, but sometimes it is found on imaging when looking for other conditions. More commonly, it is diagnosed after someone presents with unilateral (one-sided) and continuous nasal sinus symptoms or damage to facial bones that is confirmed on imaging....

You have likely heard it before: “I only snore when I sleep on my back.” How does sleep position really impact your snoring? Is there a cure for it that might leave you sleeping better? Sleep Position and Snoring Snoring impacts roughly 90 million U.S. adults. It results when the upper airway, specifically the throat and the nasal passage, vibrate from turbulent airflow during breathing while asleep. This commonly affects the soft palate and uvula, the tissue that hangs down at the back of the throat....

A low-bacteria diet is designed to reduce your exposure to bacteria and other pathogens that can make you sick. It’s often prescribed for people who are at a greater risk of infection because they’re currently not making enough white blood cells due to certain illnesses or medical treatments. Research isn’t clear on how beneficial the low bacteria diet really is, but your healthcare provider might suggest you follow the diet as an extra precaution....

High LDL cholesterol levels (“bad cholesterol”), low HDL cholesterol levels (“good cholesterol”), and high triglyceride levels are now recognized as being major risk factors for cardiovascular disease. And for decades, cardiologists and public health experts have stressed the importance of controlling blood lipid levels in an attempt to prevent heart disease. A number of prescription drugs are available to help reduce LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. However, many health-conscious people would prefer to improve their lipid levels without resorting to prescription medications....

Osteoporosis is a chronic disease by which there is a gradual deterioration of the tissue that comprises your bones. It is often called a “silent disease” because there are few to no symptoms of osteoporosis. Over time, the pace of new bone formation cannot keep up with bone loss. In turn, the reduction in bone mass weakens the skeleton, making bones weak, fragile, and more porous—and more prone to fracture....

An otoscope is a handheld tool used by a healthcare provider to look inside the ear during an ear exam, or otoscopy. A provider may conduct an ear exam during a routine wellness visit or on people experiencing symptoms. During an otoscopy, a provider will check for signs of infection, injury, or other ear problems. This article will describe what an otoscope is and how it is used during an otoscopy....

If you are allergic to peanuts, which is a legume, you may also be allergic to other legumes. Peanuts Are a Legume Peanuts are similar to other legumes that grow underground—such as soybeans, lentils, peas, and beans. Foods classified as legumes have a protein profile which could cross-react with peanuts. Common legumes include: Soy and soybeansBeansPeasLentilsLupin Peanut Allergy and Legumes Having a co-existing allergy to another legume is similar to the risk of having any type of food allergy along with a peanut allergy....

Peritonitis is when the peritoneum—the thin layer of tissue that covers the inner wall of the abdomen and abdominal organs—becomes irritated or inflamed. It’s usually due to a bacterial or fungal infection, and the primary symptom is severe stomach pain. In some cases, the peritonitis could be the result of something else going on in the abdominal area, such as a burst appendix. Because the condition can be deadly if it’s left untreated, it’s important to diagnose and treat those with peritonitis as soon as possible....

Post-ablative hypothyroidism can happen after you have a thyroid ablation to treat certain thyroid diseases. Thyroid ablation is a common, non-surgical medical procedure that decreases the function of some, or all, of the thyroid gland. It can be used to treat hyperthyroidism, Graves’ disease, or thyroid cancer. Radioactive iodine (RAI) treatment is the most common form of thyroid ablation. The treatment involves taking radioactive iodine (iodine 131) that is absorbed by the thyroid gland, then destroying (ablating) all or part of the gland....

Pulmonary fibrosis is a condition marked by thickening and scarring of tissue deep in your lungs. It also may result in inflammation and scarring in your air sacs and their supporting structures. If the scarring progresses, it may lead to breathing difficulties and/or impair your lungs’ ability to deliver oxygen to your bloodstream. This can keep your internal organs from getting the oxygen they need to function properly. Alternative Medicine to Manage Pulmonary Fibrosis Very few scientific studies have explored the use of alternative medicine in the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis....

While COVID-19 cases continue to rise and fall in all areas of the U.S., a new study is shedding a positive light on what lies ahead for the coronavirus pandemic. Key Takeaways Scientists have developed a model that predicts COVID-19 may become endemic and become as mild as the common cold within the next decade.It’s still not completely understood when COVID-19 will officially reach an endemic stage.Experts predict with vaccinations, individuals may be able to resume “normal life” by the end of the summer....

Humira (adalimumab) is an injection used by millions of people to manage a variety of inflammatory health conditions. Many people wonder whether it is safe to use Humira and consume alcohol. The answer to this question isn’t simple, however, because there haven’t been enough studies done. Not having sufficient clinical evidence, though, does not mean it is safe to consume alcohol with Humira. What Is Humira? Humira is the brand name for one of several biologic anti-inflammatory medications that inhibit TNF-alpha....

Parkinson’s disease (PD) treatment focuses on dopamine replacement using levodopa. While levodopa is the most effective drug for reducing symptoms and improving quality of life in patients with PD, it’s associated with undesirable side effects, motor fluctuations (on-off), and involuntary movements (dyskinesia). As a result, experts have been looking into other drug targets (besides dopamine) for reducing the symptoms of PD. One such emerging drug target is a brain chemical messenger called adenosine....

The buildup of the chemical serotonin in the body can cause a potentially fatal (albeit rare) disease known as serotonin syndrome. This syndrome mostly occurs when you take a cocktail of medications that increase serotonin, such as a triptan for your migraines and an antidepressant for your depression, both of which act to increase levels of serotonin in the brain. It’s unclear why some people develop serotonin syndrome and others do not when taking the same combination of medications....

We know that exercise improves many symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS), such as fatigue, muscle strength, bladder and bowel function, and walking abilities. What may surprise you, though, is that there is also scientific evidence suggesting that exercise, especially strength training, may have a positive impact on the brains of people living with MS. Research Behind Exercise and the MS Brain In a small study in Multiple Sclerosis Journal, 35 patients with relapsing-remitting MS were randomly assigned to undergo either six months of twice-weekly supervised progressive resistance training (PRT) or six months of normal day-to-day unsupervised activities....

Anyone with both allergies and asthma can tell you that these conditions are closely related. Scientists are still unraveling the exact mechanisms of this phenomenon, here’s what we know. Symptoms of Asthma An estimated 25 million Americans are living with asthma, a chronic lung disease that is more common in children but occurs in people of all ages. The incidence of both allergies and asthma has been increasing worldwide in recent years....

Several conditions, as well as aging, can cause hair loss, but if you are losing your hair and it isn’t related to normal aging, there’s a chance your small intestine may be to blame. In some cases, celiac disease—a condition where gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye triggers intestinal damage—can cause hair loss. Fortunately, following a gluten-free diet can help restore any hair you may have lost while undiagnosed or still eating gluten....

The brain of someone with Alzheimer’s disease is very different from that of a normal brain. Hallmark differences in plaques and tangles, as well as the cerebral cortex, account for some of these key distinctions. Understanding how the anatomy of the Alzheimer’s brain differs from a normal brain gives us insight. It can help us cope better with the changes that happen to our loved ones resulting from this debilitating disease....

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases in the United States. Because HPV can have few or no symptoms, a majority of those infected may not even be aware that they have the virus. Worse yet, the consequences of infection can sometimes be severe, no more so than in men and women with HIV. Understanding HPV HPV is a family of viruses that cause genital warts in men and women....

Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, also known as VHL, is a genetic disease in which cysts (fluid-filled sacs) and tumors develop in multiple areas of the body. Although not all of the tumors are cancerous, people living with VHL are at an increased risk of developing certain types of cancer. The VHL gene functions as a tumor suppressor gene, which keeps normal cells from growing out of control. When there is a mutation in this gene, VHL can no longer function normally....