You’ve found a lump on your neck. It’s likely no one is excited about this prospect but is it cause for immediate concern? Fortunately, the answer is usually “no,” but there are some occasions when growth demands more investigation. The trouble is, which is which? There are certain signs associated with both harmless and potentially […]
Read MoreCan you imagine doing your job, reading your child a bedtime story, or telling someone you love them without a voice? Our voices are our most accessible, if not our most effective means of communication. Often, one does not realize how important his or her voice is until it is lost for a significant period […]
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When you develop an upper respiratory infection, perhaps accompanying a cold or flu, you may experience sinusitis, where your airways become swollen and filled with mucus. Breathing can be difficult and your sinuses may be unable to drain, a necessary part of clearing the infection. Without complete drainage, acute sinusitis can become chronic, as the […]
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Middle ear infections can affect people of any age, though they’re more common in children due to features of their developing anatomy. Fluid buildup can be both a symptom and cause of this type of infection, displacing air that normally fills this part of the ear behind the eardrum. Otitis media — or middle ear […]
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Skin cancer affects about 20% of all Americans at some point in their lives, and it’s the most common form of cancer worldwide. The good news is that early detection of this disease makes for a good prognosis. Even melanoma, the most aggressive type of skin cancer, has a five-year survival rate of 99% when […]
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Children frequently suffer from tonsillitis, the inflammation of two pads of tissue at the sides of the back of the mouth. The tonsils are one of the first steps in immune system control, a place where bacteria and viruses accumulate. Since tonsillitis rarely affects adults, it’s thought that tonsils play a role in immune system […]
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Snoring is more than simply a funny noise people make in their sleep. It’s a symptom of a potentially dangerous sleep disorder called obstructive sleep apnea. Caused by the collapse of soft tissue in your throat, snoring is part of a process that can stop your breathing while you’re asleep. Your brain wakes you enough […]
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Over 80% of American children experience at least one ear infection before their third birthday. It’s one of the most common illnesses that send parents seeking medical care for their children. Ear infections are easy to treat and often clear up spontaneously, but there are potential complications that make a doctor’s oversight the smart course […]
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Any fit of compulsive coughing is annoying. While it may be something you live with because of allergies, asthma, or colds, living with a chronic cough is another matter entirely. It can keep you from sleeping and distract you from your daily tasks. A cough becomes chronic for a child when it lasts more than […]
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The vocal cords are the two folds of tissue in your larynx, and they form every word you speak. It’s likely you give little thought about how you control your voice until something goes wrong. That “something” can stem from swelling, paralysis, nerve problems, tissue growths, overuse, and even hormonal changes. When you have a […]
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