MY SYMPTOMS & CONDITIONS
I have had the following symptoms and conditions.
(no particular order)
- Changing mole
- Seborrheic keratosis
- Seborrheic dermatitis
- Finger pain/cramp (annular flexor pulley injury)
- Shoulder pain (rotator cuff injury)
- Biceps tendonitis
- Low back pain (soft tissue weakening)
- Heel pain/burning heels (plantar fasciitis)
- Chondromalacia patella
- Quadriceps tendonitis
- Sudden-onset diarrhea (microscopic colitis)
- Change in stool caliber/color (microscopic colitis)
- Missed periods
- Headaches (sinus nerve irritation from aggressive nose cleaning)
- Sudden-onset dry mouth
- Continuous coughing (acid reflux)
- Beeturia
- Medial epichondylitis (golfer’s elbow)
- Hamstring injury
- Grating jaw
- Blocked ears upon awakening
- Ganglion cyst
- Sprained ankle
- Sprained wrist
- PVCs
- Twitching muscles
- Panic attacks
- Actinic keratosis
- Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo
- Prophylactic double mastectomy
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: Freepik.com, pressfoto
Rotator Cuff & Other Shoulder Pain: Causes, Treatment Options
Shoulder pain is one of the most common problems that affects not only the poorly conditioned but also fitness enthusiasts, recreational athletes and professional athletes.
“The majority of shoulder pain is related to the rotator cuff,” says Jessalynn Adam, MD, who specializes in primary care sports medicine with OrthoVirginia.
“Rotator cuff injuries and problems include impingement, tendinosis (overuse/wear and tear), bursitis/bursopathy, and acute or degenerative tears,” explains Dr. Adam.
Pain in the shoulder can also be caused by life threatening situations such as a heart attack or lung cancer. But don’t panic.
Because, again, the vast majority of shoulder pain is caused by a musculoskeletal problem involving either the rotator cuff, cartilage, bursa or major muscles in that area.
What is the rotator cuff?
It’s a group of four muscles and their tendons. It’s a site of frequent injury or strain. Some people suffer a tear at some location of their rotator cuff requiring surgery.
Symptoms of Rotator Cuff Strain or Impingement
Quite classically, the pain radiates to the side of the upper arm, even though that is not the site of the actual strain or impingement.
There is often pain as the person is trying to slip a hand into a coat or jacket pocket, or reach behind them from the driver’s seat to retrieve something from the back seat.
The patient may report that it hurts to raise the arm straight up at the sides, especially if in the process they turn their wrist forward so that the palm is facing backward.
Overhead motions may also hurt. Usually, pulling motions, such as holding — with a bent arm — onto the leash of a large dog that’s trying to walk faster than you, do not hurt.
Physical therapy is the treatment of choice, along with avoiding the offending movements.
A worsening pain in this joint that does not improve with rest is cause for concern.
Dr. Adam specializes in the care of athletes and active individuals of all ages, offering prevention, diagnosis and treatment of sports and exercise injuries. Dr. Adam’s care focuses on muscle injuries and biomechanics.
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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Tongue Problems? Here’s What’s Wrong
Here is a sampling of tongue symptom articles:
Is your tongue twitching?
How scary is THAT? Do you find yourself spending huge amounts of time inspecting your tongue in the mirror?
Is your family wondering why you spend so much time in the bathroom?
When you go over to someone’s house, is the first thing you do is seek out their bathroom to catch a look at your tongue, under the guise of, “I really have to go,” or, “There’s something in my eye”?
How about at diners? Must you check your tongue before settling at a table to order your food?
Do you find yourself moving it around unnaturally inside your mouth to test it for stiffness?
But here’s a truth: Nowhere in the annals of medical literature does it state that tongue twitching usually means a fatal disease!
To believe otherwise would certainly induce tremendous anxiety. Here’s what to do if your tongue has become a big thorn in your side.
Normal tongue twitching vs. bulbar-onset ALS symptoms:
Are there key differences between benign twitching of the tongue and that of bulbar-onset ALS?
Only a neurologist can answer this question for you; find out what one has to say about this before you begin jumping to all sorts of conclusions that will interfere with your ability to focus on tasks throughout the day!
When you REALLY need reassurance you don’t have bulbar-onset!
Sometimes you just need to read something several times to reassure yourself that your tongue is very healthy and that there is nothing wrong with you. Read more on this topic…
Stiff tongue? A stiff tongue can have at least nine causes. Whom better to address the causes of a stiff tongue than an ear, nose and throat doctor and surgeon?
Stacey Silvers, MD, discusses nine possible ailments that can cause your tongue to feel or be stiff.
Burning tongue? Most causes of a burning tongue are benign, but one possible cause stands out because it can kill you. Here is the information on that.
Does your tongue seem to be yellowish lately?
Though the cause of a yellowing tongue is usually benign — such as that of sucking on a lemon drop — unfortunately, a possible cause is also cancer.
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.
HEADACHES: Brain Tumor, Aneurysm, Sinus, Hematoma & More
Here Are Headache Related Articles
Brain tumor headache vs. normal headache.
Are you one of these types who, every time you get a headache, you fear it’s a brain tumor? Can a benign headache actually feel like a brain tumor headache?
Or, to put it another way…can a brain tumor headache mimic a regular harmless headache? Read…
Is it a sinus headache…or a ruptured aneurysm?
The sinus headaches depicted in TV commercials are a field of flowers compared to the intensity of some real life sinus headaches. They can actually masquerade as a rupturing aneurysm!
“Sinus headaches are due to three major causes: blocked sinuses from allergies, blocked sinuses from infection, or blocked sinuses from distorted anatomy such as a deviated septum,” says Dr. C. Phillip Amoils, MD, a board certified otolaryngologist with SC-ENT Ear, Nose & Throat Specialists in CA.
“The diagnosis for sinus headaches comes from a thorough ENT evaluation and a limited CT scan of just the sinuses,” adds Dr. Amoils.
But is there a way you can distinguish at home between a benign sinus headache and the pain of a rupturing brain aneurysm?
Aneurysm headache symptoms vs. normal headache symptoms.
“Sudden severe headaches may warrant a neurological evaluation and MRI radiological workup,” says Dr. Amoils.
- Can a ruptured aneurysm ever feel like a benign headache?
- Should you go running to the ER every time you have a really bad headache?
What IF it’s a ruptured aneurysm? This can be fatal within minutes.
Do you get a headache from lifting weights?
Head pain from strength training has more than one possible cause. There are solutions.
Can heavy weightlifting cause an aneurysm?
Heavy weight lifting, especially deadlifts and squats, will cause blood pressure to spike significantly. Can this burst a blood vessel in your brain?
Hit your head? CT scan normal? Beware…
Have you recently hit your head but are relieved because the ER CT scans were normal?
The standard is to have a CT scan upon ER admission, and then stay overnight and have a follow-up CT scan 24 hours later.
Warning: Even if the follow-up scan shows no bleeding in the brain, this doesn’t mean you’re out of the woods!
A “chronic” subdural hematoma may still be waiting in the wings for you, as it was for my mother!
Six weeks after her normal CT scan, she awakened with significant neurological symptoms and had to have blood drained from her brain! Read more about chronic subdural hematoma…
Dr. Amoils is considered among the best surgeons worldwide for sinus surgery and OSA, having helped thousands of patients for 30+ years. He also demonstrates to physicians the protocols he’s developed for mouth breathing, nasal congestion, obstructive sleep apnea and snoring using minimally invasive 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/Phovoir
Sore Adam’s Apple: Causes, Solutions
An ear, nose and throat doctor addresses the causes of a sore or painful Adam’s apple.
Are you feeling pain or soreness at or near the Adam’s apple?
“The Adam’s apple is also known as the thyroid cartilage,” says Dr. Stacey Silvers, MD, of Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery in NYC, who is board certified in otolaryngology.
“If that area of the throat is sore, this may be from inflammation of the cartilage, inflammation of the thyroid gland which is close to this cartilage, or from acid reflux,” explains Dr. Silvers.
“Acid from the stomach comes up and irritates the back of the throat, causing redness and swelling.
“The location of the swelling is behind the Adam’s apple in the throat, giving a sense that the Adam’s apple is the location of the pain.
“The throat pain and/or a lump in the throat may be the patient’s only symptom.
“If the symptom is associated with fever or redness over the area, see your doctor as you may have an infection of the thyroid or the thyroid cartilage.”
Another possibility is a bacterial tonsillitis or epiglottitis infection, which can inflame tissues around the larynx and cause pain.
Can stress cause acid reflux?
Dr. Silver says, “Stress is in many patients the cause of acid reflux and can cause a lump in the throat and throat pain.
“Stress will increase the production of stomach acid and the acid can reflux up.”
Persistant Soreness
If the discomfort persists despite applying acid and stress reducing treatments, it’d be wise to see your physician, says Dr. Silvers.
A feeling of soreness in the Adam’s apple can stem from several other causes.
Vocal cord strain from excessive speaking or singing can create persistent soreness.
It’s possible a strained muscle could lead to what feels like a sore Adam’s apple.
A strain in a neck muscle can result from tilting the head upward under tension while lifting weights.
Tumors in the throat, larynx or thyroid can cause localized pain and sensitivity.
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/9nong
Rotting Flesh Smell in Nose: Which Test Rules Cancer Out?
Cancer can cause a rotting flesh smell in the nose, but an ear, nose and throat doctor says the cause is usually benign.
The smell of rotting flesh in the nose can have several causes, says Dr. Stacey Silvers, MD, of Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery in NYC, who is board certified in otolaryngology.
“A rotting flesh odor from the nose may be caused by an acute sinus infection,” says Dr. Silvers.
An acute (sudden) sinus infection usually comes with pain in the teeth, nasal congestion and fever, she adds.
The odor of rotting flesh may also be caused by a chronic (long-standing) infection of the sinuses, which can cause a buildup of old mucous in these cavities.
Dr. Silvers explains that “if mucous is not able to clear from the sinuses or the nose, it gets old and can smell bad.”
What about cancer causing a bad smell in the nose?
“The olfactory centers can develop growths (benign or malignant), and will present with loss of smell, decrease in sense of smell, changes in sense of smell or a chronically bad smell,” says Dr. Silvers.
If you’re concerned about cancer, what test should you undergo?
“A persisting smell with no evidence of sinus and nasal issues should be addressed with an MRI,” says Dr. Silvers.
Though an MRI is intimidating to some people because it requires that your entire head be inside a tubular structure, this procedure has no risks, no radiation exposure.
“If a simple sinus wash and sinus treatment does not help, consult your doctor for a possible MRI.”
The cause of a foul odor from a very young child’s nose is likely to have a different cause than in an adult; toddlers have been known to stick things up their noses.
A foreign object in the nasal cavity “can be present for over a year if not diagnosed properly,” continues Dr. Silvers.
Though cancer involving the sinuses can occur, Dr. Silvers says, “Very rarely we find cancer in the nose or in the back of the nose.
“If symptoms of a rotting odor persist, then the person should see an ENT for a good nasal, sinus and nasopharynx exam.”
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/Kleber Cordeiro
Cause of Bad Odor after Blowing Your Nose
An ear, nose and throat doctor explains some likely causes of a bad smell after blowing your schnoz.
Blowing your nose is not supposed to result in a bad or foul smell, so when it does, what can this mean?
“Bad odor after blowing the nose is usually caused by old mucous in the sinuses or a sinus infection,” explains Dr. Stacey Silvers, MD, of Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery in NYC, who is board certified in otolaryngology.
Another Cause of a Bad Smell from Blowing
“Occasionally acid from the stomach has been seen in the back of the nose,” says Dr. Silvers.
“This alone can cause a bad odor from the nose, but can also lead to higher incidences of sinus infections.”
Stomach acid can reach the back of the nose through a process known as laryngopharyngeal reflux (LPR), which is a type of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) that affects the throat and voice box.
In LPR, the acid can travel upward and high enough, irritating the lining of the throat, vocal cords and sometimes even reaching the nasal passages.
Additionally, acid reflux can stimulate the production of mucous as a protective response.
This increased mucus can drip down the back of the throat and into the nasal passages, exacerbating the sensation of acid in the nose — and possibly causing a stink when you blow your nose.
In fact, if you catch a nasty smell after you blow your nose, and also feel a burning inside your nose, there’s a good chance you have LPR.
Chronic and Acute Sinus Infections
There are two kinds of sinus infections: acute and chronic.
Dr. Silvers says that a chronic sinus infection does not come with congestion or fever, but may “present with fatigue, pressure over the cheeks and forehead, and a bad odor in the nose after blowing.”
The chronic sinus infection often also comes with headaches, and if you just happen to have one of these headaches while you blow your nose, don’t be surprised if the headache intensifies while you blow.
Any kind of straining, including for bowel movements, can make a sinus headache feel worse.
If a sinus problem is causing the bad smell after blowing your nose, Dr. Silvers says that a neti pot with a sinus rinse can be very helpful.
“If it is not, then see your doctor or your ENT for a nasal/sinus exam and a culture.”
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/Syda Productions
Heartbeat Problems: Thumping, Fluttering, Racing, Pounding Pulse, Etc.
Feeling your heart racing, skipping, pounding, thumping, jumping can be so scary.
Even after doctor after doctor tells you “you’re fine” and that “nothing is wrong,” feeling a lot of things going on with your heartbeat can still produce a ton of anxiety and fear into many men and women.
But just WHAT is going on with your ticker, then?
Why do you feel it so much?
Below are articles with feedback from cardiologists to whom I asked very specific questions relating to thumping, fluttering and racing heartbeats.
Heartbeat Related Articles
What if your heart flutters after lying down?
Is there any significance to a fluttering heartbeat upon lying down? Here is what usually happens:
Almost immediately after your head hits the pillow, you become aware of something going on in your chest. And it doesn’t feel right.
You begin worrying there’s something wrong with your heart, even if you’re young.
You are positive it’s not a twitching muscle in your chest. It feels like your heart because that’s exactly what it is. You are calm and still, so why is your heart doing flip-flops?
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Should you worry if your heart thumps?
You’ve heard of things going “bump in the night.” What if your heart goes “thump in the night” or day?
For example, you could be focusing on a task at work, when suddenly…ba-boom! What just happened with your heart?
A thump is not the same as a flutter. Here’s the info you need about thumpers.
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Diagnosed with a class II heart murmur and scared this means trouble?
I was told I had a class II heart murmur by a cardiologist. It was scary when the cardiologist kept on listening to his stethoscope; I kept wondering why he wouldn’t put the instrument down already.
This really unnerved me.
He ordered an echocardiogram and an MR angiogram — and I finally got the diagnosis.
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Does eating make your heart beat fast?
Eating can speed up heart rate. This is not your imagination. ‘
It’s worrisome to many people and can even happen to seemingly healthy people. A fast pulse from eating can even happens to athletes.
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
TRANSIENT ISCHEMIC ATTACK: Symptoms, Duration, Answers
TIA stands for transient ischemic attack, and the many symptoms can come in many permutations.
“A transient ischemic attack (TIA), also known as a mini stroke, is a temporary blockage to the blood flow of the brain,” says J. Mark Anderson, MD, DABFM, of Executive Medicine of Texas and who is board certified in family medicine.
Thus, the only difference between a transient ischemic attack and an ischemic stroke is the length of time.
The blood clot in the TIA dissolves before permanent damage results. However, having a TIA means that a person is at serious risk for a massive stroke in the near future.
Stroke is the U.S.’s No. 1 cause of permanent disability and doesn’t just affect “old” people.
Freepik.com/jcomp
It’s a common condition, and it affects so many people that even those who are middle aged or in their 30s can be stricken by this brain blood clot.
Symptoms of a Transient Ischemic Attack
Dr. Anderson explains, “Symptoms of a TIA include muscle weakness, trouble controlling one side of the body, slurred speech, blurred vision and facial muscle weakness/numbness.”
Other possible symptoms are confusion, vision issues other than blurriness, and a sensation that something is pulling one’s body to the side, or heaviness on one side of the body, while one one’s feet.
How Long Does a TIA Last?
“The symptoms only last from a few minutes to about an hour because the blood flow returns to that area of the brain.
“TIA’s can be scary because they mimic the symptoms of a stroke. TIA’s are different from strokes because a stroke leaves permanent damage, whereas a TIA is transient, meaning it comes and goes.”
Risk Factors
“People with high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity and atrial fibrillation are more likely to have a TIA.”
So are people with untreated sleep apnea. If you’ve been diagnosed with sleep apnea, are you using a CPAP machine like you should?
“Since TIA and stroke are so similar in nature, it’s important to seek medical attention immediately,” adds Dr. Anderson. “Early intervention in a stroke patient may determine their ability to function in the future.”
Did you know that a TIA is a warning sign that you’re at very high risk for a stroke in the next 30 days?
The blockage can originate in the brain. Shutterstock/ corbac40
Can a sudden severe headache mean a TIA?
Have you had sudden severe headaches and are plagued by the thought that these were mini strokes? Your fear is unfounded. Read more…
Can mental stress cause a TIA?
Stress actually CAN trigger a transient ischemic attack.
Certain situations, however, have to be present in order for this to happen.
Do not let the “transient” in “ischemic attack” lower your guard. A two-minute TIA is a medical emergency. Think of this as the sufferer’s body gearing up for a very near-future massive stroke.
Dr. Anderson is coauthor of the award-winning book, “Stay Young: 10 Proven Steps to Ultimate Health,” and host of the nationally syndicated Staying Young Show which goes to podcast as Staying Young Show 2.0.
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 Cancer Cause a Foul Smell from Your Nose?
An ear, nose and throat doctor addresses the various causes of a foul odor from the nose, including after blowing.
Ewww, what is causing that foul smell from your nose, you wonder—or someone dear to you wonders.
“A foul smell after blowing the nose may be caused by a sinus infection (this typically is associated with fever and pain in the teeth with nasal congestion), or old mucous in the sinuses,” says Dr. Stacey Silvers, MD, of Madison ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery in NYC, who is board certified in otolaryngology.
“If mucous is not able to clear from the sinuses or the nose, it gets old and bad smelling,” continues Dr. Silvers.
“Occasionally acid reflux can cause a bad smell from the nose. Stomach contents have a bad odor and can reach as high as the back of the nose.”
Dr. Silvers adds that a chronic sinus problem will not present with fever, but an acute one may.
“Patient may or may not have nasal congestion, but may simply present with fatigue, a bad odor in the nose after blowing and/or pressure over the cheeks and forehead.”
Dr. Silvers recommends trying a neti pot (which can be purchased at a drug store; example below), which is a tea-kettle-shaped pot that you use to rinse the nasal airways with a special rinse (that the store will also sell).
Neti pot. Shutterstock/nullplus
If this doesn’t resolve the problem, then see an ENT doctor for a nasal/sinus exam and a culture, says Dr. Silvers.
But what about cancer as the cause of a foul odor from the nose?
Dr. Silver says, “Very rarely we find cancer in the nose or in the back of the nose. If symptoms persist then the person should see an ENT for a good nasal, sinus and nasopharynx exam.”
What about children with this notable symptom?
Dr. Silvers says, “If the foul smell is noted on your child and there is drainage from only one side, it is most likely that the child has a foreign body in the nose.”
The foreign body can cause a foul odor that may not necessarily be pinpointed to the child’s nose.
Rather, it may be a bad smell about the child’s face, so if your child’s face or even head has a bad odor, consider the possibility that there is indeed a foreign object at the root of the problem.
“Chronic drainage from both sides may be from a chronic adenoid infection,” says Dr. Silvers. “A nasal culture and physical exam will be diagnostic.”
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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