Health and Fitness

  Deviated Septum A deviated septum occurs when the septum, the cartilage and bone that separates the nasal cavity, is off-center. Some people are born with a deviated septum. For others, a nose injury causes it. A badly deviated septum may cause breathing problems, congestion and headaches. Surgery can repair a deviated septum. OVERVIEW What is a deviated septum? The nasal septum is the cartilage and bone in your nose. The septum divides the nasal cavity (inside your nose) into a right and left side. When the septum is off-center or leans to one side of the nasal cavity, it has “deviated.” Healthcare providers call this a deviated nasal septum. What happens if I have a deviated septum? If you have a minor deviated septum, you may have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. If your deviated septum is more severe, it may affect your breathing, cause headaches or lead to infections. How common are deviated septums? Deviated septums are very common. Healthcare professionals estimate tha...

What are nasal polyps? Have you ever felt like you have a cold that doesn’t go away? Nasal congestion that doesn’t seem to stop, even with over-the-counter cold or allergy medication, may be due to nasal polyps. Nasal polyps are benign (noncancerous) growths of the lining tissues, or mucosa, of your nose. What are the causes of nasal polyps? Nasal polyps grow in inflamed tissue of the nasal mucosa. The mucosa is a very wet layer that helps protect the inside of your nose and sinuses and humidifies the air you breathe. During an infection or allergy-induced irritation, the nasal mucosa becomes swollen and red, and it may produce fluid that drips out. With prolonged irritation, the mucosa may form a polyp. A polyp is a round growth (like a small cyst) that can block nasal passages. Although some people can develop polyps with no previous nasal problems, there’s often a trigger for developing polyps. These triggers include: chronic or recurring sinus infections asthma allergic rhinitis (h...

Ataxia-telangiectasia is a rare childhood disease. It affects the brain and other parts of the body. Ataxia refers to uncoordinated movements, such as walking. Telangiectasias are enlarged blood vessels (capillaries) just below the surface of the skin. Telangiectasias appear as tiny, red, spider-like veins. Causes Ataxia-telangiectasia is inherited. This means it is passed down through families. It is an autosomal recessive trait. Both parents must provide a copy of a nonworking gene for the child to have symptoms of the disorder. The disease results from a mutation in the ATM gene. This gene provides instructions for making a protein that helps control the rate at which cells grow and divide. Defects in this gene can lead to abnormal cell death around the body, including the part of the brain that helps coordinate movement. Boys and girls are equally affected. Symptoms Symptoms include: Decreased coordination of movements (ataxia) in late childhood that can include ataxic gait (cerebe...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, commonly referred to as COPD, is a group of progressive lung diseases. The most common of these diseases are emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Many people with COPD have both of these conditions. Emphysema slowly destroys air sacs in your lungs, which interferes with outward air flow. Bronchitis causes inflammation and narrowing of the bronchial tubes, which allows mucus to build up. It’s estimated that about 30 million people in the United States have COPD. As many as half are unaware that they have it. Untreated, COPD can lead to a faster progression of disease, heart problems, and worsening respiratory infections. What are the symptoms of COPD? COPD makes it harder to breathe. Symptoms may be mild at first, beginning with intermittent coughing and shortness of breath. As it progresses, symptoms can become more constant to where it can become increasingly difficult to breathe. You may experience wheezing and tightness in the chest or have excess...

High blood pressure (hypertension) can be dangerous if it’s not treated. It can put you at risk for stroke, heart failure, kidney failure and other medical problems. Changing what you eat, exercising more and taking your medicine can help you keep your blood pressure where it should be. OVERVIEW What is high blood pressure (hypertension)? Blood pressure is the measurement of the pressure or force of blood pushing against blood vessel walls. When you have hypertension (high blood pressure), it means the pressure against the blood vessel walls in your body is consistently too high. High blood pressure is often called the “silent killer” because you may not be aware that anything is wrong, but the damage is still occurring within your body. Your blood pressure reading has two numbers. The top number is the systolic blood pressure, which measures the pressure on the blood vessel walls when your heart beats or contracts. The bottom number is the diastolic blood pressure, which measures the ...

Diabetes types Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar. The hormone insulin moves sugar from the blood into your cells to be stored or used for energy. With diabetes, your body either doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t effectively use the insulin it does make. Untreated high blood sugar from diabetes can damage your nerves, eyes, kidneys, and other organs. There are a few different types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The immune system attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas, where insulin is made. It’s unclear what causes this attack. About 10 percent of people with diabetes have this type. Type 2 diabetes occurs when your body becomes resistant to insulin, and sugar builds up in your blood. Prediabetes occurs when your blood sugar is higher than normal, but it’s not high enough for a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar during pregnancy. Insulin-blocking horm...