Understanding Vocal Cord Damage & Abuse
Your voice is a powerful part of you, as it allows you to communicate with those around you. The way the voice is produced is when air exits the lungs, it passes through the vocal cords (sometimes called vocal folds), which are two thin stretches of muscle tissue in the larynx (also known as the…
What’s Causing Your Sore Throat?
A sore throat is one of the most commonly reported symptoms at doctor’s appointments, accounting for more than 13 million doctor’s visits each year. There are three types of sore throat, depending on what part of the throat is affected: pharyngitis affects the area right behind the mouth; tonsillitis is swelling and redness of the…
Why Do Some Children Get Recurring Tonsillitis?
A tonsil infection, known as tonsillitis, is common among children. While most experience inflamed and swollen tonsils every once in a while, certain children are prone to recurring tonsil infections. Researchers from the La Jolla Institute for Immunology wanted to find out why. What Is Tonsillitis? Your tonsils sit at the back of your throat…
Why Do You Get Postnasal Drip?
Mucus is a thick, wet substance that keeps your nose, throat, airways, stomach and intestinal track moist. It also helps trap and destroy bacteria and viruses to prevent infections. Every day, your nose alone produces about a quart of mucus. Normally, you don’t notice mucus at all because it mixes with saliva and drains down…
Salivary Gland Problems
Saliva plays a number of important roles, including lubricating your mouth, helping with swallowing, protecting your teeth against bacteria and aiding in the digestion of food. Your salivary glands produce roughly a quart of saliva each day. There are three major pairs of salivary glands: Parotid glands (inside of the cheeks) Submandibular glands (floor of…
New Thyroid Cancer Gene Mutation Identified
Thyroid disorders are common in Lexington and Columbia. About 20 million Americans have some form of thyroid disease. Fortunately, thyroid cancer is rare, and treatment is usually successful—especially when caught early. Scientists at Penn State College of Medicine have recently identified a new gene mutation that has been linked to thyroid cancer, a discovery that…
What is “Vape Tongue”?
Vaping has made national headlines recently due to an onslaught of illnesses across the U.S. Some cases, sadly, have proven fatal. If you like to vape in the Midlands, you should know about one side effect called “vape tongue.” Vaping Illnesses are on the Rise Vaping, for those unfamiliar with the term, is the act…
At-Home Laryngitis Remedies
Let’s talk about laryngitis! OK, bad joke. Laryngitis is an inflammation of the larynx (voice box) that often results in a lost voice. It’s pretty common in Midlands, associated with a number of conditions. Laryngitis usually clears up after a few days, but in the meantime, can leave you feeling pretty miserable. Fortunately, home remedies…
10 Soothing Foods to Eat When You Have a Sore Throat
Fall is well underway now, which means the leaves are changing colors, ghosts and goblins will soon be parading through the Midlands neighborhoods and you’ve had your fill of pumpkin spice-flavored everything. It also means cold and flu season is upon us, and with that, your likelihood of experiencing a sore throat is higher. You…
Unusual Causes of Chronic Cough
Coughs aren’t exactly unusual, but when they last for longer than three weeks, they are considered chronic. More than simply annoying, these can interfere with everyday activities and affect your overall quality of life. Individuals with a chronic cough in Lexington may be suffering from an underlying condition. What Causes a Chronic Cough? Coughing is…