Rotten Egg Smell from Nose: Interview with Doctor
A rotten egg smell in your nose can have several causes, says an E.N.T. doctor.
Eeeuuwww! What is causing that rotten egg odor from your nose?
“A bad smell in the nose can come from the sinuses, or old mucus in the nose (possibly infected) or acid reflux,” says Dr. Stacey Silvers, MD, of Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery in NYC, who is board certified in otolaryngology; one of her specialties is sinus surgery.
She explains: “Acid can come up as high as the back of the nose, causing a bad smell or odor.”
Does a rotten egg smell from the nose, or a particularly bad odor, necessarily indicate it may be cancer?
Dr. Silvers answers, “Rarely, a foul odor can come from an olfactory bulb tumor or a nasal tumor.”
Located at the base of the frontal lobe, the olfactory bulb processes information about odors detected by the nose.
When you inhale, odor molecules (also known as odorants) are detected by sensory neurons in the nasal cavity.
These neurons send signals to the olfactory bulb, which then relays the information to other areas of the brain for further processing for smell recognition.
This all happens in just a few hundred milliseconds after inhaling the molecules.
Again, it’s extremely unlikely that what seems like a rotten egg smell coming from your nose is actually a malignant tumor.
“If the symptoms persist, then a nasal examination may be necessary,” says Dr. Silvers.
If the rotten egg smell is accompanied by a persistent new kind of headache, vision problems or cognitive problems, you should seek a thorough evaluation.
But even if the rotten egg stench is the only problem and persists despite making efforts to reduce acid reflux or let a suspected infection in the mucus clear up, it’s time to see your doctor.
You may also want to consider irrigating your nose on a daily basis with a saline solution and neti pot (shown below), both of which can be purchased from a drug store or online.
Neti pot. Shutterstock/nullplus
An NYC expert in ear, nose and throat care, Dr. Silvers has been named among America’s Top Physicians and Surgeons in facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology numerous times since 2003. Dr. Silvers is an expert in the field of minimally invasive rhinology, resolving patients’ breathing and sinus problems with simple in-office procedures.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Boibin
Pain Above Adam’s Apple from LPR
Here’s how LPR can cause pain above the Adam’s apple, says an E.N.T. doctor.
LPR stands for laryngopharyngeal reflux disease, and is a common culprit in pain or discomfort above the Adam’s apple.
“Throat pain is not a normal symptom; this does not mean, necessarily, that something bad [cancer] is going on with the throat,” says Dr. Stacey Silvers, MD, of Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery in NYC, who is board certified in otolaryngology.
Dr. Silvers continues, “The Adam’s apple refers the thyroid cartilage. This tissue, like any tissue in the body, can get inflamed. In this case it is referred to as chondritis.”
Chond = cartilage, and itis means inflammation.
“Common things are common however, and pain in this area is invariably caused by acid reflux, otherwise known as silent reflux (LPR),” explains Dr. Silvers.
“LPR is when acid gets up into the back of the throat around the level of the larynx and the opening of the esophagus.
“The symptoms include post-nasal drip, throat pain, lump in the throat, trouble swallowing, pain with swallowing, throat clearing and cough.
“Stomach acid is an irritant and does not belong in the throat. The pH of this acid is 2 and is highly acidic and irritating to the tissues.
“This causes pain, swelling — and the body to try to protect itself with thick mucus from the back of the nose (causing a feeling of post-nasal drip and the need to clear the throat).”
Rubbing your fingers on the Adam’s apple will not make the pain or discomfort go away.
Triggers of Acid Reflux
When acid reflux occurs, it can travel high enough to cause LPR.
One common trigger is certain foods and beverages. Spicy foods, citrus fruits, tomatoes, chocolate and caffeinated drinks can irritate the esophagus or relax the lower esophageal sphincter (LES), which normally prevents acid from escaping the stomach.
Fatty or fried foods also tend to slow down digestion and increase the likelihood of acid reflux.
Another significant factor is overeating or eating large meals.
Consuming large portions puts extra pressure on the LES, making it more likely that acid will be pushed upward into the esophagus.
Eating late at night or lying down immediately after a meal can exacerbate the problem, as gravity helps keep stomach contents where they belong.
Smoking, too, weakens the LES, and alcohol can both relax the LES and increase stomach acid production.
Wearing tight-fitting clothing around the waist may add pressure on the stomach, leading to acid reflux — which again, can make its way to the throat: LPR that irritates the Adam’s apple area.
Stress can increase stomach acid production and slow down digestion, while inadequate sleep can affect the body’s ability to manage stomach acid levels.
We’re not done! Obesity puts extra pressure on the stomach, and this could cause those stomach juices to go where they shouldn’t.
The solution to pain above the Adam’s apple from LPR?
Make an effort to avoid all of the triggers of acid reflux and hence, the LPR, though stressful situations are often difficult to avoid.
An NYC expert in ear, nose and throat care, Dr. Silvers has been named among America’s Top Physicians and Surgeons in facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology numerous times since 2003. Dr. Silvers is an expert in the field of minimally invasive rhinology, resolving patients’ breathing and sinus problems with simple in-office procedures.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Top image: Shutterstock/Niran Phonruang
Mucus in Throat Won’t Go Away: Causes, Solutions
An E.N.T. doctor explains causes and solutions to excess mucus in the throat that won’t go away.
Mucus in the throat that won’t go away or that you “can’t get rid of,” as many people state, is a common problem.
“Throat clearing and mucus in the throat that will not go away is associated with stomach acid coming up into the back of the throat,” explains Dr. Stacey Silvers, MD, of Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery in NYC, who is board certified in otolaryngology.
People with this form of acid reflux do not usually experience the ‘typical’ reflux symptoms of indigestion and ‘heartburn.’
“The body has one protective mechanism to acid in the back of the throat, which is mucus,” says Dr. Silvers.
“That thick mucus in the throat is annoying and causes the individual to clear their throat almost constantly in some cases.
“Mucus production does come from the back of the nose and drips down. This often causes the individual to think the cause is allergies.
“Allergies cause congestion, sneezing, itching, mucus running and dripping from the nose. This can be successfully treated with allergy medication.
“Allergy medication will not treat that thick protective mucus in the throat causing the need to constantly clear the throat.”
How to Get Rid of Stubborn Mucus in the Back of your Throat
Dr. Silvers explains, “You can start by reducing eating three hours before bed and cutting down on highly acidic foods.”
So if you normally hit the sack at around 11:30 pm, be sure that your last bite comes in by 8:30 pm.
Dr. Silvers continues: “If this does not work adequately you can try an OTC reflux suppressor until the symptoms resolve.
“And then continue to focus on dietary treatment measures to keep the reflux from happening and therefore the need for excessive mucus in the throat.”
Examples of over-the-counter reflux suppressors include antacids such as Rolaids, Mylanta and Maalox.
H2 blockers include Pepcid and Zantac. Proton pump inhibitors include Nexium and Prilosec. Ideally, though, you’ll strive to treat your acid reflux naturally.
If this article provided you with helpful information or reassurance, please consider supporting my work through Ko-fi. Donations help me continue writing detailed medical content that’s easy to understand.
An NYC expert in ear, nose and throat care, Dr. Silvers has been named among America’s Top Physicians and Surgeons in facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology numerous times since 2003. Dr. Silvers is an expert in the field of minimally invasive rhinology, resolving patients’ breathing and sinus problems with simple in-office procedures.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Prostock-studio
Are These Symptoms Throat Cancer or LPR?
There are some distinguishing features between throat cancer symptoms and those of LPR, says Dr. Stacey Silvers, MD.
The first thing that Dr. Silvers says is that “Throat cancer should always be ruled out when symptoms include prolonged hoarseness.
“Cancers are growths and if on or adjacent to the vocal cords, the voice will be affected.”
Don’t rule out throat cancer if you’ve never smoked.
“Patients can develop throat cancer without a history of smoking,” explains Dr. Silvers, of Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery in NYC. She is board certified in otolaryngology.
Are there symptoms or symptom features of LPR that rarely, if at all, occur with throat cancer?
“LPR if left untreated can lead to throat and esophageal cancer,” says Dr. Silvers.
“The symptoms can be similar; the most important feature is symptoms that are prolonged.
Shutterstock/Stockbakery
“Problems will only occur if symptoms are ignored and left untreated.
“If you have symptoms that affect your throat, you can try avoiding late night eating, and cutting down on acidic foods.
“You can try some OTC reflux medication which is readily available.
“If these measures are not helping your symptoms, then it is best to have your throat examined and a proper diagnosis given.”
Are there symptoms that usually occur with the cancer that are hardly seen, if ever, with LPR?
“We don’t typically see weight loss with LPR,” says Dr. Silvers. “This is a feature we can see with cancer.
“Bloody cough can be seen with LPR rarely, but is another symptom more worrisome with a throat cancer.
“A physical exam is necessary. A higher risk in smokers and heavy drinkers. Bad refluxers are as just as high of a risk.”
Is there a tip-off type of symptom that strongly points to LPR and away from the cancer?
Dr. Silvers explains, “Symptoms that have been present for a short term very strongly point to LPR.
“If left alone for years untreated then you are at a high risk for developing throat or esophageal cancer.
“Smokers and heavy drinkers are at a much higher risk. But esophageal cancer is seen frequently with bad refluxers alone.”
Is there a tip-off symptom that suggests cancer and probably NOT LPR?
“Prolonged hoarseness, blood in the sputum and weight loss are very concerning symptoms associated with throat cancer.
“Especially in someone who has had LPR symptoms for a long time to begin with.
“We are more suspicious in patients who are smokers and heavy drinkers, but these habits, though putting you at higher risk, may not be part of your lifestyle, as years of acid reflux alone can put you at high risk.”
Untreated acid reflux, even if it affects only the throat as far as feeling symptoms like those of LPR, can cause changes in the cells of the esophagus: a condition called Barrett’s esophagus.
This condition raises the risk of esophageal cancer and necessitates yearly screenings.
Dr. Silvers says, “Acid reflux is the number one cause of esophageal cancer, and this disease is on the increase in the U.S. ”
SYMPTOMS
- Bad breath despite home treatment
- Breathing difficulty or noise with breathing
- Persistent cough
- Coughing up blood
- Ear fullness or pain despite no infection
- Hoarse voice that persists longer than two weeks
- Loose teeth or dentures suddenly poorly fitting
- Palpable lump in the neck
- Nosebleeds for no reason
- Swallowing pain or difficulty
- Throat pain or soreness
- Throat burning or irritation
- Throat lump sensation like something is stuck
- Changes in voice pitch or volume
- This list is not complete.
An NYC expert in ear, nose and throat care, Dr. Silvers has been named among America’s Top Physicians and Surgeons in facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology numerous times since 2003. Dr. Silvers is an expert in the field of minimally invasive rhinology, resolving patients’ breathing and sinus problems with simple in-office procedures.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/9nong
Yes, LPR Can Be Caused by an Infection, Says Doctor
“LPR can follow an upper respiratory infection,”
…says Dr. Stacey Silvers, MD, of Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery in NYC, who is board certified in otolaryngology.
It’s not a coincidence that you have developed LPR (laryngopharyngeal reflux disease) following your infection of the upper respiratory tract.
Dr. Silvers explains, “Many patients describe a prolonged dry cough after a viral URI or prolonged hoarseness after a URI. These are classic symptoms of silent reflux.”
URI stands for upper respiratory infection.
LPR is the “silent reflux,” called this because it doesn’t present with what most people associate with acid reflux (thanks to endless TV commercials): the symptom of heartburn.
“We know emotional stress increases stomach acid production, and much of this acid comes up in the throat leading to LPR symptoms,” continues Dr. Silvers.
“A URI is a stessor on the body and can result in similar prolonged symptoms. Reflux medication and a reflux diet will resolve these issues.
“URI symptoms should resolve in 5-7 [days] unless the cause is bacterial.
“Antibiotics, after a culture, may be required. If it is not bacterial and symptoms progress weeks to months, then reflux should be considered, and treated.
“If a patient has a prolonged cough, postnasal drip, throat clearing and hoarseness after a URI, feeling well otherwise, the diagnosis is most likely silent reflux,” or LPR.
An NYC expert in ear, nose and throat care, Dr. Silvers has been named among America’s Top Physicians and Surgeons in facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology numerous times since 2003. Dr. Silvers is an expert in the field of minimally invasive rhinology, resolving patients’ breathing and sinus problems with simple in-office procedures.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: ©Lorra Garrick
Can You Die from a Single LPR Choking Episode?
Though untreated LPR can lead to fatal esophageal cancer, can you choke to death from one “I can’t breathe” episode of laryngopharyngeal reflux disease?
LPR causes many symptoms, and one of them is a sudden sensation that the airway has become constricted, making it difficult to INhale air (though there’s no problem exhaling).
It feels like you’re inhaling through a straw, and the sufferer may think that they’re going to die.
“The patient needs to relax; people do not die from these symptoms, as scary as they may be,” says Dr. Stacey Silvers, MD, of Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery in NYC, who is board certified in otolaryngology; one of her specialties is sinus surgery.
Though LPR has been suggested as a cause of sudden infant death syndrome, this has not been proven, and SIDS continues to remain a mystery.
Furthermore, the 50 million Americans afflicted with LPR do not have to worry about choking to death or passing out and never awakening from the sudden feeling that they can’t breathe.
During such an episode, try panting heavily like a dog; that might restore normalcy.
Otherwise, stay calm and wait it out.
Dr. Silvers explains, “The patient can take some liquid Gaviscon which is fast acting to suppress the reflux and coat the throat (the European Gaviscon is best and can be purchased online).
“The patient should see an ENT who will confirm the diagnosis of LPR or silent reflux. Avoid late night eating; this is the number one trigger of nighttime breathing and choking symptoms.
“Acid reflux will worsen sleep apnea, and in some patients will cause their sleep apnea.”
A wedge to allow an elevated sleep position will help. It’s also possible that a person’s LPR can be caused by a problem with the diaphragm or the esophageal sphincter.
An NYC expert in ear, nose and throat care, Dr. Silvers has been named among America’s Top Physicians and Surgeons in facial plastic surgery and otolaryngology numerous times since 2003. Dr. Silvers is an expert in the field of minimally invasive rhinology, resolving patients’ breathing and sinus problems with simple in-office procedures.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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Top image: Shutterstock/Aaron Amat
Why Does Diabetes Kill So Many If It Can Be Controlled?
If diabetes can be controlled, why do so many Americans die from it every year?
According to the National Diabetes Statistics Report, 2014, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S in 2010 (over 69,000 deaths).
In that year there were over 234,000 death certificates listing diabetes as a contributing or underlying cause of death.
Diabetes is also a leading cause of blindness and amputations in U.S. adults.
This disease, as you can see, is very destructive. However, diabetes can be controlled. Have you ever heard someone say, “I have type 2 diabetes, but I control it with diet and exercise?”
Since type 2 diabetes can be controlled with diet and exercise, why do so many people die from it and even more develop serious complications leading to disability?
As for type 1, this, too, can be controlled, but requires daily injections of insulin.
Difference Between Type 1 and Type 2
In type 1 (10 percent of all cases), the pancreas fails to produce insulin—a hormone that shuttles blood sugar to muscle cells. The result is too much sugar in the blood.
In type 2, the pancreas works fine. The problem is with the insulin receptor sites on muscle cells:
They don’t work efficiently, and/or there’s not enough of them. The result is too much sugar in the blood.
Controlling Diabetes
Insulin injections provide insulin so that the blood sugar can be taken to the insulin receptor sites.
Exercise lowers blood sugar by forcing the muscles to demand more sugar.
Those with type 1 can exercise all they want, but without insulin, there’s nothing to shuttle the blood sugar to their muscle cells.
Diet is important: Too many refined carbohydrates, especially all at once, overload the blood with sugar.
“Although it can be controlled, it does not mean that most people do a good job,” says John Whyte, MD, board certified internist in Washington, DC, and author of “Is This Normal? The Essential Guide to Middle Age and Beyond.”
This is easy to believe. I used to work at a place where there were two diabetics.
One pedaled hard every day on a stationary bike, kept his weight in check and watched what he ate.
The other was overweight and was frequently seen eating junk food.
Dr. Whyte explains, “Diabetes is a progressive disease — which means that beta-cells in the pancreas which are responsible for insulin continue to ‘burn out.’ Changing our diet and taking medicines can slow that down, but all too often patients either don’t take their medicine as directed, or they don’t make changes to their lifestyle.
“It can be hard to make the healthy choice if you’ve grown up with processed foods and a love of candy!
“And if you have always been a couch potato, one doesn’t change overnight.
“I always get frustrated when patients are very reluctant to start insulin, and then after a few months, their diet gets worse since they learned [incorrectly] if they eat a cupcake, they can just take more insulin.
“So the reality is that we see far fewer complications when patients have good control. But we’re not doing a good enough job helping patients understand the importance of daily control.”
Controlling diabetes also means regularly checking blood sugar levels. Many people neglect to do this when they should.
Dr. Whyte is the chief medical officer of webmd.com. Prior, he was the chief medical expert for almost a decade at Discovery Channel.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Scalp Tenderness Above the Ear: Doctor Explains
A medical doctor answers what may cause scalp tenderness above the ear.
Many people want to know what might cause tenderness or soreness, even pain, on or in their scalp above the ear.
“In terms of scalp tenderness, there are a range of diseases and conditions for which this could be a harbinger,” explains John Whyte, MD, board certified internist in Washington, DC, and author of “Is This Normal? The Essential Guide to Middle Age and Beyond.”
Dr. Whyte continues, “But the reality is that most of the time it is related to tension headaches.
“We think of herpes as a condition that primarily affects our mouth or genital areas, but herpes zoster actually can cause tenderness of the scalp.
“One of the most serious conditions which can cause scalp tenderness is temporal arteritis.
“This is a condition which results in swelling of certain arteries in the head, typically around the eyes, but can also affect the side of our heads.
“There are almost always other symptoms such as vision changes and jaw pain. This is a medical emergency and needs to be evaluated quickly.”
Don’t panic if you discover some tenderness on or in your scalp above an ear.
First ask yourself if you bumped your head in that location within the past few days.
There could be a bruise from skin trauma — the same kind of bruise that would appear on your thigh if you accidentally rammed your thigh into something sticking out; after a few days the skin is still tender to the touch.
Another possible, and very benign, cause of tenderness at the scalp above an ear is the result of aggressive hair brushing.
Shutterstock/Image Point Fr
You should try a softer brush. Brushes with natural bristles or wide-tooth combs are generally gentler on the scalp compared to those with stiff or plastic bristles.
When you’re brushing, be mindful of your technique. Use gentle strokes and avoid yanking or pulling hard on your hair.
If you hit a knot, try to gently work through it with your fingers before reaching for the brush.
This approach can prevent unnecessary strain on your scalp.
The hair has nothing to do with this pain or soreness.
It’s the bristles of the brush making aggressive contact with the skin of the scalp.
Dr. Whyte is the chief medical officer of webmd.com. Prior, he was the chief medical expert for almost a decade at Discovery Channel.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Is It Bulbar ALS or Normal Tongue Twitching?
A neurologist explains why constantly examining your tongue for Bulbar ALS doesn’t make sense.
Your tongue is twitching, you Googled twitching tongue, and now you’re terrified you might have bulbar onset ALS, because the bulbar onset version of this awful disease can involve a twitching tongue.
You’ve been giving your tongue all sorts of strength tests, such as quickly moving it back and forth, pressing it against the roof of your mouth and so on.
Being that ALS references show up on the first page of keyword search results of tongue twitching, it’s no wonder that you’re now freaking that you might have ALS.
It certainly doesn’t help that the second page has several more ALS links regarding tongue twitching.
Ironically, the first two pages of the search results also reference nonfatal causes of tongue twitching.
But it’s human nature to fixate on the worst possible explanation, even though bulbar onset ALS, whose symptoms indeed can include tongue twitching, strikes about 1,375 Americans every year. This makes bulbar onset ALS an extremely rare disease.
However, the fact that it shows up amply in search results for tongue twitching creates the illusion that it’s more common.
“If a person is really worried about having bulbar onset ALS,” says Kristina Lafaye, MD, “inspecting the tongue is not the exam to perform.”
She adds: “If they do not have any problems with swallowing, chewing, or controlling their secretions, then they do not need to bother looking at their tongues.”
Dr. Lafaye is a board certified neurologist specializing in clinical neurophysiology and neuromuscular medicine with Tulane Doctors Neurosciences.
“Bulbar onset is marked by problems swallowing, chewing, and controlling secretions,” Dr. Lafaye points out.
“There is coughing and a perception of food (liquids) ‘going down the wrong way.'”
She emphasizes that development of these symptoms is “subtle” and not an overnight process.
Search engine results do not correlate with how common a disease is.
They only indicate how often it’s written about, and/or how crafty the keywording of the article is.
Shutterstock/El Nariz
Effective search engine optimization and latent semantic indexing will help get an article at the top of the search results.
Don’t let that fool you into believing that your twitching tongue means you might have bulbar onset ALS.
The first two symptoms of bulbar onset ALS are speech and swallowing difficulties.
When scared people, who Googled tongue twitching, learn this fact, they feel relieved, but the relief is often short-lived, because soon, the person then starts perceiving difficulty speaking and swallowing.
Attention then turns to talking and swallowing. Nevertheless, the tongue continues to twitch, often more than ever, panicking the person.
Bulbar onset ALS progresses rapidly, but an anxiety-stricken person can remain terrified of bulbar onset ALS on a chronic basis, even though after months and months, the only symptom he or she has is the twitching tongue.
The person has “molded” their mind into thinking a certain way, and it’s virtually impossible to just snap out of it.
The best treatment for this hypochondria affliction is behavior modification, and visiting new perspectives.
Suppose you know that 1,375 Americans every year get zapped by aliens into thin air, but a year before this happens, the selected victims experience a normal headache.
Would this mean that every time you had a headache, you’d freak out and feel convinced that the aliens have you on their zap list?
Probably not, especially since you know that millions of people suffer headaches every day, and there are over 300 million people in this country.
You’d recognize the astronomically low odds that the aliens would ever zap you.
Yet, this same kind of thinking does not take place with people scared out of their wits that, due to a mere twitching tongue, that they probably have bulbar onset ALS.
Maybe it’s because a twitching tongue is a stranger symptom than a headache.
We grow up hearing about headaches. We hear about headaches all the time, everywhere. They are part of our culture, part of living, and part of our vernacular.
How often do parents tell their kids, “You’re giving me a headache!” Headaches are the topics of jokes and humor.
But tongue twitching? What is THAT? Seems mighty odd. But it shouldn’t be. After all, the tongue is a muscle.
And muscles twitch — millions of times in millions of people EVERY DAY. A twitching tongue shouldn’t frighten you any more than should a twitching calf muscle. The tongue is a muscle.
Nonfatal Causes of Tongue Fasciculations
– Anxiety (which may initially be due to factors unrelated to health, such as money or relationships)
– Fatigue
– No known cause other than sometimes, muscles just twitch
– Benign fasciculation syndrome (annoying muscle twitching disorder)
– Side effects from some medications
– Mineral imbalance, particularly calcium/magnesium deficiency
– Dehydration
– Dystonia (neurological movement disorder)
– Bulbar onset ALS – but realize THIS: About four out of every 100,000 American people will be diagnosed with ALS. Bulbar onset comprises 25 percent of ALS victims.
This means that it would require up to 100,000 people before a new diagnosis of bulbar onset ALS was made.
You can’t live your life as though you are that one (or four) person out of 100,000.
You are over 30 times more likely to die in a car accident this year than get bulbar onset ALS.
So next time your tongue twitches, relax, take a few deep breaths, and promise yourself you will stop examining your tongue in the mirror.
Dr. Lafaye is triple board certified: neurology, clinical neurophysiology and neuromuscular medicine from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Her expertise and leadership continue to make a significant impact on patient outcomes.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Top image: Shutterstock/MCarper
Sources: nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003296.htm & cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/ss6307a1.htm
Can Middle Age Cause Your Ankles to Swell?
Have you noticed that lately your ankles appear swollen and you’re wondering if this is due to middle age?
“As we get older we may see swelling of our ankles — usually near the last half of the day especially if we stand or sit for long periods,” says John Whyte, MD, board certified internist in Washington, DC, and author of “Is This Normal? The Essential Guide to Middle Age and Beyond.”
Why does this happen?
“We have valves in our veins which typically prevent pooling,” says Dr. Whyte.
“But as we get older the valves don’t work as well or get damaged. Gravity takes control and therefore we have some pooling.
“Fluid due to aging typically resolves by morning; it is usually a small amount; it is never accompanied by difficulty breathing and usually occurs in both ankles/lower legs.”
An assortment of medical conditions can cause fluid buildup in the lower legs and around the ankles, even the feet. Have a medical doctor check the swelling in your feet.
Nurses, too, have a lot of experience with this presentation and are very knowledgeable of it.
If your socks are leaving “imprints” of their patterns in your skin, this most likely is nothing to be alarmed about.
A rubber band around your wrist, left there for a while, will also leave an imprint.
Aging and Your Skin
Shutterstock/Elvira Koneva
As people age, the skin undergoes various changes that contribute to its loss of elasticity and firmness, commonly referred to as losing its “bounce.”
This phenomenon primarily results from a decline in the production and quality of collagen and elastin, two proteins crucial for maintaining the skin’s structure and resilience.
Collagen provides strength and support, while elastin allows the skin to stretch and return to its original shape.
With age, the production of these proteins decreases, and the existing ones become more fragmented and less effective.
In addition to the decline in collagen and elastin, the skin’s ability to retain moisture diminishes over time.
This is partly due to reduced production of hyaluronic acid (“HA”), a substance that helps maintain skin hydration and the so-called plumpness.
As the skin becomes drier, it loses its softness and suppleness, contributing to the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.
The loss of bounce or firmness in skin, as people enter middle age, should not be confused with fluid buildup, swelling or edema.
Dr. Whyte is the chief medical officer of webmd.com. Prior, he was the chief medical expert for almost a decade at Discovery Channel.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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