Salty Taste in Mouth: Causes, Solutions
A salty taste in your mouth has a very interesting and likely cause.
Many people are bothered by a salty taste in their mouth, in the absence of having eaten any spicy foods, and this strange sensation may be persistent, on and off, or more of an occasional issue.
Nevertheless, a mysterious salty taste in the mouth is very annoying, and many people are affected by it.
If you have a salty taste in your mouth, you are not imagining this.
Something really IS causing this experience.
“Patients can have a salty taste in their mouth from a postnasal drip,” begins Jordan S. Josephson, MD, FACS, ear, nose and throat specialist; director of the New York Nasal and Sinus Center, and author of “Sinus Relief Now.”
Dr. Josephson continues, “Typically a person has one to two liters of mucus that they produce in their nose and sinuses, which gets passed into their throat and then swallowed each day.
“The mucus is part of the filtration system of the nose and sinuses and cleans the air that we breathe of bacteria, virus, fungus, pollutants and chemicals.
“So everyone has a postnasal drip and this is an important protective mechanism.”
And amazingly, normal people don’t even realize that they are swallowing a liter to two of mucus.
However, when allergies, infection or inflammation occur, the mucus changes consistency and becomes thick.
Plus, the pH changes and that is when the problems start and the patient notices the drip.
And this can be the cause of the salty taste in your mouth, states Dr. Josephson.
“In this circumstance the salty mucus coats their taste buds, causing them a salty taste.”
So now you see how this problem has nothing to do with what you’ve been eating or drinking.
Dr. Josephson continues: “The salty taste is most likely secondary to allergy and/or sinus problems. These are the most common causes, and if you suffer from this symptom you are not alone.
“Sinus problems are very common and over 40 million people in the United States suffer from chronic sinusitis.
Image: Kaia Ugan
“Worse, there are many people who are debilitated with sinus problems.”
Another cause of drainage into the sinus cavity is a CSF leak, which can cause a salty taste.
Solution to Salty Taste in the Mouth
“The treatment consists of making an accurate diagnosis to the reason causing the change in the mucus (postnasal drip) and then formulating a targeted treatment plan to return the mucus to near-normal consistency,” says Dr. Josephson.
“The problem may not be as straightforward and simple as one may think.
“It is important for the patient with this problem to get to a physician who is thorough in his/her history taking and physical examination.
“You should see a board certified otolaryngologist (ENT doc) who is well versed in taste and smell and sinus issues.”
Dr. Josephson has taught hundreds of physicians the technique of functional endoscopic sinus and nasal surgery, and was an instructor on the faculty at the Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, health and personal security topics for many years, having written thousands of feature articles for a variety of print magazines and websites. She is also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Why You Smell Phantom Cigarette Smoke When Nobody’s Smoking
Nobody around is smoking, so why do you smell cigarette smoke?
Is this crazy or what? There are some explanations for this phenomenon.
“There are many reasons that cause people to have phantom smells and/or bad smells (known as parosmia),” explains Jordan S. Josephson, MD, FACS, ear, nose and throat specialist; director of the New York Nasal and Sinus Center, and author of “Sinus Relief Now.”
Unfortunately, some causes of smelling cigarette smoke when nobody is smoking are very serious.
“These phantom smells can be caused by damage to the olfactory nerve by chemicals, or infection with a virus or bacteria, or trauma.
“A tumor of the brain or the olfactory nerve can also cause phantom smells. Or it can be caused by the infection itself.
“And the resulting sensation is then confused in the brain with the smell of cigarette smoke.”
More About Parosmia
Dr. Josephson notes, “The bottom line is that many people may get this sensation at one time or another.
“If it comes and goes, then again, there is probably nothing to worry about.
“However, there are a few conditions that can cause parosmia, and this lasts longer than a fleeting moment, or recurs more frequently, and this is something that needs to be looked at carefully.”
Why is cigarette smoke usually the phantom smell?
Shutterstock/Slava Dumchev
“The parosmia is often described like the smell of smoke or cigarette smoke or like something that is burning,” says Dr. Josephson.
“Overall this symptom is poorly understood and we don’t know why people relate this to cigarette smoke.
“It may be that the neurologic signals sent to the brain by the damage is closest to what we have learned is the smell of cigarette smoke or something burning.”
If one has parosmia, when should he seek medical attention?
“If the parosmia lingers, worsens and does not get better or it occurs with increasing frequency, you should probably see a board certified otolaryngologist and a neurologist and get studies to evaluate the cause of this problem.
“The good news is there most likely is a solution for most of these sufferers.”
What is it about phantom cigarette smoke and being alone in a car and nobody’s been puffing tobacco?
“Many people report that this sensation of parosmia is brought on by dry heated air.
“That is probably why many people report this to occur in the car because of the heating system in the car blowing dry air.
“Boiling water and forced hot air from a furnace have also been reported by many patients to induce this sensation as well.
“It is probably that there was damage to the nerve, and the heat causes the nerve to fire and cause this sensation of parosmia. However, this is not well understood.”
Other causes of smelling cigarette smoke are infections that can invade the sinuses or throat — such as COVID -19.
These can harm the nerves that pick up scents.
Dr. Josephson explains, “This is usually following a sinus infection or an upper respiratory tract infection.”
He continues, “If it is a bacterial sinusitis it needs to be treated with antibiotics, irrigation with saline and topical steroid sprays.
“Furthermore, viruses that attack the olfactory nerve or taste nerve can lead to this sense of something burning.
“Migraines can also be related to an aura that brings on the sensation of something burning or a smell described like there is cigarette smoke when there is none.”
If you continue to smell cigarette smoke, Dr. Josephson urges a comprehensive workup which includes a smell test and CAT scan.
“Then appropriate treatment has to be instituted.
“And the cause may be multifactorial and therefore the treatment may need to be multifaceted.”
Unfortunately, another cause could be neurological conditions including stroke.
Dr. Josephson has taught hundreds of physicians the technique of functional endoscopic sinus and nasal surgery, and was an instructor on the faculty at the Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
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.
Sweet Taste in Mouth: Causes and Solutions
A sweet taste in the mouth that won’t go away can have one of several serious causes.
This ongoing sensation can leave a person quite unsettled when there’s been no drink or sugary candy to explain it.
“Sweet taste in the mouth can be caused by various medical problems,” says Jordan S. Josephson, MD, FACS, ear, nose and throat specialist; director of the New York Nasal and Sinus Center, and author of “Sinus Relief Now.”
For instance, various metabolic problems can cause a sweet taste in your mouth; for example, diabetes can cause this.
Overall this symptom is poorly understood. We know that diabetes can give a patient a sensation of sweet taste in the mouth.”
The list doesn’t stop there.
Dr. Josephson continues, “Neurologic problems such as a stroke, seizure disorder or epilepsy can cause this problem.
“The patient may not even be aware that they are having a seizure, epilepsy or a stroke because this may be the only symptom.
“Furthermore, virus that attack the olfactory nerve or taste nerve can lead to this sweet taste.
“On the other hand, infection in the sinuses, nose and/or throat, especially with the bacteria pseudomonas, can give you a sweet taste or smell.”
Pseudomonas infection can get extremely serious and even be fatal, but before you get alarmed, understand that this type of infection is rare in healthy individuals.
Another cause is GERD: gastroesophageal reflux disease (heartburn).
In fact, GERD can cause an assortment of symptoms that can trick a person into thinking that something completely unrelated is going on with their body.
GERD. Shutterstock/solar22
GERD is often misdiagnosed as other illnesses, and serious conditions can be mistaken for GERD, such as a looming heart attack.
If this oddball symptom of a sweet taste in your mouth goes unexplained, this is a reason to seek a consultation with a doctor, and to be agreeable to giving a complete medical history and having some exams.
“Together this should provide your physician with the information to determine the exact cause of the sweet taste and thus lead them to the treatment solution that is appropriate for you,” says Dr. Josephson.
An intermittent sweet taste in the mouth is most probably a benign issue, says Dr. Josephson.
It’s when it’s of a persistent nature, and especially if it worsens, that a person should schedule a medical evaluation with a board certified ear, nose and throat specialist.
An appointment should also be made to see a neurologist, so that both physicians can perform a complete workup.
Dr. Josephson has taught hundreds of physicians the technique of functional endoscopic sinus and nasal surgery, and was an instructor on the faculty at the Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, health and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of feature articles for a variety of print magazines and websites. She is also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
.
Top image: Freepik/azerbaijan_stockers
Source: emedicine.medscape.com/article/226748-overview
Sore Tongue: The Many Causes and Solutions
If your tongue has been sore lately, there are many possible causes, some serious.
The first thing to consider, when suffering from a sore tongue, is to see if you’ve recently cut it with sharp food, your teeth, or burned it with hot food or beverages.
However, this kind of tongue soreness should be gone in a few days.
There are quite a few conditions that can cause a sore tongue, says Jordan S. Josephson, MD, FACS, ear, nose and throat specialist; director of the New York Nasal and Sinus Center, and author of “Sinus Relief Now.”
Conditions Causing a Sore Tongue
According to Dr. Josephson, here are just a few possible causes for a sore tongue: a bacterial, viral or fungal (thrush) infection; allergies; and tumors. Thrush can cause white plaque to coat the tongue.
“Sinus infection can lead to oral infection with the same bacteria,” he says.
“Apthous stomatitis can cause irritation, pain and ulcers on the tongue.”
Inflammation of the tongue can be caused by many viruses, and can result in swollen taste buds and ulcers.
Another cause of sore tongue is the herpes virus; this infection will manifest as lesions on the tongue.
If your tongue is sore, have you been subconsciously “chewing” on it?
Perhaps the soreness is related to TMJ, or bruxism: teeth grinding at night.
A sore tongue might mean a person has diabetes or nasal obstruction, the latter leading to breathing through the mouth, which can cause discomfort to the tongue.
Tumors
“Tumors, benign and cancerous, can cause sore tongue and need to be diagnosed early because squamous cell carcinoma, if found at a late stage, has a deleterious prognosis and can metastasize,” says Dr. Josephson.
“Cancer of the tongue is seen more often in smokers and alcohol drinkers.”
Certain foods can even cause a sore tongue, such as citrus and coffee, which contain compounds that can irritate the tongue and taste buds.
Smoking is another possible culprit as far as irritation.
Dr. Josephson explains, “If your tongue is sore and it does not go away, then you need to see a board certified otolaryngologist — head and neck surgeon, as soon as possible to work up the cause and to treat it successfully.
“If you bit your tongue and the soreness goes away in a couple of days, then you probably need not worry.”
Dr. Josephson has taught hundreds of physicians the technique of functional endoscopic sinus and nasal surgery, and was an instructor on the faculty at the Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, health and personal security topics for many years, having written thousands of feature articles for a variety of print magazines and websites. She is also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Top image: Shutterstock/Andreas Bohnenstengel
Constantly Swallowing, Tight Throat: Causes & Treatment
Always swallowing and throat tight?
Your need to swallow often, and that tight throat may be from a medical condition.
Or, it may be from plain anxiety, says Jordan S. Josephson, MD, FACS, ear, nose and throat specialist; director of the New York Nasal and Sinus Center, and author of “Sinus Relief Now.”
“There are two major reasons that cause patients to complain about constant swallowing and throat tightness.”
He continues: “Those two major reasons are post-nasal drip and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).”
So though anxiety can cause frequent swallowing and a tight throat, keep open minded about sinus problems and allergies, which can cause the post-nasal drip.
“These two problems are often connected, and when one acts up the other gets worse,” says Dr. Josephson.
Mucus is normally produced in the nose and sinuses.
Normally, 1-2 liters of mucus is produced.
It “traps dirt infection and pollution. The mucus drips into your throat and you swallow about 10-12 times per minute.”
Infection, allergy, pollution, tobacco smoke and chemicals can change mucus’s volume, pH and consistency.
“This causes inflammation to the throat, leading to tightness and swelling and the need to swallow more frequently, thus causing discomfort,” continues Dr. Josephson.
GERD can act up from post-nasal drip increase.
It’s a nasty cycle because when GERD acts up, “the reflux can cause swelling in the throat, causing the patient to feel tight in the throat, and this causes the patient to swallow more frequently than normal, giving the patient the sensation of constant swallowing,” points out Dr. Josephson.
The reflux can cause a laryngospasm, “a sudden closure of the voice box which can make the patient feel like they are choking.
“This may spark a panic attack where the patient feels like (s)he cannot breathe.
“This sudden closure is to protect the lungs, and — although scary, will not cause the patient to suffocate.”
Thus, any alarming tightness or frequent, stubborn swallowing does not mean you’re literally having trouble breathing, even though the reflux can actually reach the nose/sinuses, causing further post-nasal drip, increasing swallowing and throat tightness yet.
How acid reflux occurs. Image: BruceBlaus
The more you worry about your problem, the tighter your throat will seem to get, or actually get for real, because it is well-known that enough anxiety will cause tightness, or cause that so-called lump there.
Excessive swallowing, either due to GERD or anxiety, can, in and of itself, lead to the sensation of a tight throat.
So what is the treatment for problems with GERD and post-nasal drip?
Dr. Josephson recommends a complete medical history, complete physical and appropriate tests by an ear, nose and throat physician.
“An accurate diagnosis with targeted therapy needs to be instituted to resolve the underlying causes for this complex problem to be resolved.”
Dr. Josephsonhas taught hundreds of physicians the technique of functional endoscopic sinus and nasal surgery, and was an instructor on the faculty at the Johns Hopkins Medical Center.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, health and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of feature articles for a variety of print magazines and websites. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
.
Top image: Shutterstock/9nong
Quadriceps Muscle Dent Causes: Atrophy? MS/ALS? or What?
The quad muscle dent, that scary groove that appears in your quadriceps muscle, has more than one possible cause.
There are several causes of the quad muscle dent.
The quadriceps dent is often described as being one to two inches long, and sometimes horizontal, and other times diagonal.
Occasionally a description for the quad muscle dent comes in as closer to vertical, and may exceed two inches in length, sometimes stretching for almost half the length of the thigh.
This article explains the causes of dents in your quad muscle.
“First of all, any obvious or irregular change in tissue structure — such as ‘denting,’ is worth getting checked,” says Dr. Joseph J. Ruane, a sports medicine specialist with OhioHealth Physician Group.
“Rarely (and I mean rarely) it may be a sign of something bad going on underneath.
“However, it may be reassuring to know that the dent is most often a loss of subcutaneous tissue (the fat under the skin) rather than loss of muscle tissue itself.
“This can result from local trauma (bumping hard into the corner of a desk).
“The fatty tissue is damaged in the impact, and sometimes shrivels and shrinks; leaving a dimple, or dent.
“Sometimes it fills back in, often it may not. Muscles do not atrophy in small, defined sections that leave dents.”
If you’ve been worried sick over the dent in your quad muscle, re-read Dr. Ruane’s last line:
“Muscles do not atrophy in small, defined sections that leave dents.”
Is a Quadriceps Dent Really Atrophy?
Oddly, people who have hypochondria related to MS or ALS have somehow formulated the idea that an early sign of muscle atrophy is some little depression or groove in the muscle.
Nowhere in the annals of medical literature is muscle denting named as a sign of wasting muscle tissue or atrophy, or any kind of disease.
Another cause of the quad groove, in addition to local trauma, is prolonged leaning of the thigh into an object.
A person who spends a lot of time at a counter of sorts may be unknowingly leaning (pressing) their thigh into a hard edge.
Or, perhaps they are seated, and something weighted is resting atop their thighs, such as a heavy briefcase.
Later on, the person happens to notice a small impression or depression in their quadriceps while changing clothes, showering or working out.
They fail to recollect earlier in the day when something was pressing into their leg and “molding” the dent.
The image below shows natural quadriceps musculature.
Shutterstock/JRP Studio
Now…if only a tiny area of your natural muscle grooves is visible, do not take this out of context and think you have ALS or atrophy.
It’s normal for only a small area of natural grooves to be visible, creating a “small” indent.
Anatomy
Another cause of quad denting to consider is the natural anatomy of the muscle, if the fissure is more vertical than horizontal.
A person who has toned thigh muscles, along with low body fat in that area, will likely see vertical dent in the middle of their quads, a few inches to several inches in length.
This fissure may come and go, depending on body position.
Dents are clearly visible in these buff legs.
Acquaint Yourself with Natural Dents
If you’re not sure what the cause of your quadriceps dents, impressions or grooves are, check out images of bodybuilders’ legs.
They have very visible muscle definition and all sorts of grooves and “topography.”
This way you’ll learn what a normal muscle dent should look like, as opposed to what could be the result of local trauma.
Dr. Ruane’s practice is dedicated to comprehensive, nonsurgical musculoskeletal care. He is active in clinical research and is a nationally recognized speaker and educator.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, health and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of feature articles for a variety of print magazines and websites. She is also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Top image: Shutterstock/KlaraBstock
Aneurysm Headache vs. Normal Headache: Recognizing the Difference
How can you tell if that sudden, alarming headache is an aneurysm headache?
Can a headache hurt really bad and still be normal?
Does an aneurysm headache feel different than a normal, regular headache?
If you’re worried about your headaches possibly coming from aneurysms, then you likely already know to some extent just what an aneurysm is:
a blood-filled portion of a blood vessel, that causes it to “balloon” up into a sac-like structure; or, the blood-filled portion can be cylindrical in shape.
Nevertheless, an aneurysm has the potential, especially as it gets bigger, to rupture. The rupture may cause an alarming headache.
An aneurysm leak may also be over a period of days. A ruptured or leaking aneurysm is a life-threatening medical emergency.
Where do aneurysms come from?
“Aneurysms can either be developmental or acquired,” says Carol Redillas, MD, founder of Crescent City Headache and Neurology Center.
“A person can have an inherited weakness of the vascular wall, and develop an aneurysm with repeated, longstanding hemodynamic stress on the vascular wall.
“There are conditions that have been associated with an increased incidence of aneurysms such as connective tissue disorders, fibromuscular dysplasia, polycystic kidney disease, aortic coarctation, etc.
“Furthermore, trauma, infection, and cocaine use are also risk factors for developing aneurysms later in life.”
Can a person have an aneurysm for years and not know it?
“People can harbor an aneurysm without knowing it, as most are asymptomatic and are incidentally found only when a brain MRA is performed,” explains Dr. Redillas.
“They become symptomatic only when they reach a certain size and rupture or leak.”
Shutterstock/Veronika Zakharova
Do ruptured aneurysms always cause headaches?
“Aneurysms don’t always present with headaches, but those that rupture do. Before eventual rupture, aneurysms typically ‘leak’ and present with a sudden onset headache, i.e., sentinel headache,” says Dr. Redillas.
“Aneurysms that are located near the posterior communicating artery typically present with ptosis (drooping eyelid) and/or miosis (constricted pupil) without any headache at all.”
If a rupturing or leaking aneurysm is presenting with a headache, is it rare, then, for the headache to be the only symptom?
“A leaking aneurysm may present with headache as the sole symptom, but those that rupture may also be associated with change in mental status, loss of consciousness, seizures, meningismus or other focal neurological deficits, depending on the site of involvement.”
If someone has a severe headache seemingly out of nowhere, should they worry it might be an aneurysm rupture/leak?
“People always think that they have an aneurysm when they experience a severe headache,” says Dr. Redillas.
“The truth is, about 98% of headaches are due to a primary headache disorder such as migraine, cluster, tension type, etc.
“Headaches that have been present for years or even months are most likely migraines or tension type.
“Aneurysms are suspected only when a patient presents with a sudden-onset severe headache which may or may not be associated with ptosis, miosis, meningismus (neck stiffness and intolerance of bright light, with headache).
Ptosis: drooping eyelid
“However, pain is very subjective: a 5/10 pain for one may be a 10/10 for another; thus, a very unreliable way to diagnose headache.
“But if somebody presents with a new onset headache that is severe, especially those associated with exertion, an aneurysm should always be ruled out with further studies.
So if someone has had migraines or cluster headaches for years, how can they tell if that next sudden painful headache might be an aneurysm?
“Neurologists and headache specialists always look for a significant change in headache character, i.e., change in quality, location, associated symptoms, etc., to exclude other secondary causes.
“Aneurysmal headaches are typically short-lived because they usually rupture when it reaches a certain size.
“Thus, you don’t see a patient with a 10 year history of headaches due to an aneurysm.
“Aneurysms can also rupture with Valsalva’s maneuver (holding breath during physical exertion) such as straining, sexual activity, etc.”
So if an aneurysm headache is “short-lived,” can you elaborate?
And…suppose someone suddenly gets a “thunderclap” or severe headache…
It’s so bad it makes them stop cold what they are doing, but there are NO other symptoms.
At what point, then, should this person head to the ER?
After all, a benign headache can present in a very sudden, painful way.
And what if this individual doesn’t even have a history of sudden, severe headaches?
Dr. Redillas explains, “Aneurysmal headaches are usually ‘short-lived,’ like a thunderclap.
“However, not all patients with thunderclap headaches have an aneurysm, as these can also be seen in crash migraines, pituitary apoplexy, meningitis, increased or decreased intracranial pressure, thyroid disorders, etc.
“Patients are usually conscious with aneurysms that leak, and leaks can precede rupture by several days or even weeks.
“They can have a sentinel headache today, be symptom-free or headache free for weeks, then quickly deteriorate when the aneurysm ruptures.
“The best advice is, if you never had any significant headaches in the past, or this headache feels different than your usual headaches, it is better to have it checked than be sorry when you end up dead.
“If an MRA or a 4 vessel angiogram is negative for an aneurysm and the same headache recurs, then you can be rest assured that your headache is most likely benign.”
Dr. Redillas
served as the head of the headache division at Ochsner Medical Center for over 10 years. In addition to headaches, she also treats a variety of other neurological conditions.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, health and personal security topics for many years, having written thousands of feature articles for a variety of print magazines and websites. She is also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
Top image: Shutterstock/Syda Productions
Cause of One Pupil Temporarily Dilated, No Response to Light
Can Aneurysm Cause One Pupil to Be More Dilated than the Other?
Numb, Tingling Hands and Arms in the Morning?
Numb, dead, tingling arms and hands…
Do you awaken in the morning, or in the middle of the night, realizing that an arm, hand or both are completely numb, as though dead?
When you poke at the arm or hand with your “good” hand, is it like poking a piece of dead meat?
There are multiple possible reasons why with sleep, your arm, hand or flingers will “fall asleep” and be numb and tingly.
I know what it’s like to awaken in the middle of the night with a totally numb arm or hand, but never thought much of it beyond the nuisance of it.
However, I came to realize that waking with a limb that feels dead or disturbingly tingly can be frightening to some people.
What causes a limb to go numb or dead and/or become tingly while a person sleeps?
Numbness or tingling that you feel in the arms is transmitted by the nerves that run from the arm to the brain.
Anywhere along this pathway, a nerve can be impaired.
“The more severe and more prolonged the symptoms, the more appropriate it is to seek medical advice,” says Dr. David Beatty, MD, a retired general practitioner with 30+ years of experience and an instructor of general medicine for 20+ years.
There may be pressure on the nerve in the arm itself — caused by being in the same position for a while, sustaining that pressure.
However, the point of pressure may also be in the spinal cord or brain.
This would be a much less likely possibility, and any pathology in these locations wouldn’t only cause morning symptoms.
You can quickly verify a positional cause by changing positions, such as removing what seems to have been sustained pressure on your arm or hand.
In my case, waking in the middle of sleep unable to feel my numb arm and/or hand, was always the result of falling asleep with the limb bent across my midsection.
This position caused my elbow to press into the bed, which put pressure on the ulnar nerve (the “funny bone” nerve).
Source: BruceBlaus/CreativeCommons
Body Position’s Effect on the Hands and Arms, and Solutions
If you’ve been suffering from numb, tingly arms and hands after falling asleep, take note of the position of your body.
Where is your elbow?
Is the elbow against anything?
The pressure doesn’t have to be that much to offend the ulnar nerve.
This nerve is not buried deep within the arm, and hence, even what seems like light pressure on it can cause the entire limb to go dead or numb over a period of a few hours or even less, while you are fast asleep.
The ulnar nerve distributes into the hand and the pinky and fourth finger, so that if it’s receiving pressure at the elbow, this will affect the lower arm, hand and the fingers.
Simply straightening the arm at your side, palm up, will relieve the ulnar pressure.
To prevent my own arms from becoming numb overnight, I make sure to fall asleep with my arms straight at my sides, not folded over my midsection, and palms up, which minimizes pressure of the elbow against the bed.
Sleeping on your side can compress nerves in the arm closest to the mattress, so keep that in mind when slipping into bed.
Another cause of numb hands and fingers, though not the arm, while you sleep is a flexed wrist (meaning, the palm is bent towards the underside of the forearm).
This puts pressure on the median nerve, and the result may be a numb, tingly hand and fingers.
Solution? A wrist splint, available at drug stores and online.
Wrist brace. Shutterstock/Praisaeng
“There are lots of neurological diseases that can cause pins and needles or numbness in the arms and hands,” says Dr. Beatty.
If a new-onset numbness is present, and there’s no positional-related explanation, there may be a condition involved — especially if there are other symptoms with it.
Neurological but Benign Conditions
Waking with a numb, tingling, dead-feeling arm or hand is many times a benign condition, even though it’s very uncomfortable and can be quite startling to discover.
“This is a very common problem and the majority are caused by either carpal tunnel syndrome or cervical spondylosis,” says Dr. Beatty.
“The median nerve passes through a bony tunnel in the wrist as it goes into the hand.
“Anything that increases the pressure or tightness within the carpal tunnel can cause symptoms.
“Typically there will be numbness or pain over the thumb, index and middle fingers.
“Part of the ring finger may also be affected. Sometimes the symptoms are referred up the palmar side of the wrist and forearm.
“The symptoms are aggravated by tapping over the base of the palm (Tinel’s sign) or by fully flexing the wrist (Phalen’s sign).”
“CTS is often most troublesome in the morning — presumably because the wrists are flexed during sleep, and this puts more pressure on the median nerve,” continues Dr. Beatty.
“It’s more common in manual workers [plus heavy cashier and keyboard use].
“Any action that puts repeated pressure over the base of the palm can irritate the median nerve.
“The vibration from using power tools and the pressure needed to force a drill in are often to blame.
“Arthritis or a previous fracture of the wrist can trigger it.” So can obesity and drinking.
“If the symptoms are only affecting you briefly in the morning you can try adjusting your lifestyle to lose some weight and reduce alcohol intake.
“Manual workers may be able to adjust how they use tools to reduce trauma to the base of the palm.
“CTS usually causes less symptoms if the wrists are splinted in a straight position overnight.”
A differential for CTS is pronator teres syndrome.
“With pronator syndrome the median nerve is compressed as it passes between the heads of pronator muscles in the forearm,” says Dr. Beatty.
“It’s more common in people performing repeated pronator movements of the forearm (rotating the hand inwards).
“Typically there’s tenderness over the pronator muscles just below the elbow. This tenderness can be aggravated when someone tries to push back on your hand during pronation.”
Cervical spondylosis affects most people as they age, says Dr. Beatty.
“Osteoarthritis of the neck bones can form bony spurs that put pressure on the nerves leaving the neck.
“Disc degeneration means the discs are partly flattened. The vertebral bones are closer together, leaving less space for the nerves to emerge from the spine.
“If a nerve is squeezed it can cause pain, pins and needles or numbness in the area where that nerve supplies.
“This is less likely to happen when the neck is in a straight neutral position.
“During sleep the neck can get bent or twisted inadvertently, irritating the nerves going to the arms and hands.
“Many people with cervical spondylosis know they have a neck problem and some can trigger symptoms by moving the neck in a certain way.
“If the symptoms ease up quickly after waking, there probably isn’t too much to worry about.
“Perhaps adjust the number or type of pillow you use, trying to keep your neck in a relatively straight position. Sometimes using a soft cervical collar, temporarily, gives relief.
“The more persistent, severe or progressive your symptoms are, the more important it is to see your doctor.”
A Serious Cause
If the symptoms persist even after you get up, but then disappear, you might have suffered what’s known as a transient ischemic attack.
This is when a blood clot temporarily cuts off blood flow to the brain.
The younger you are, though, the less likely this will be the cause.
However, a TIA is not at the top of the list for most likely causes of morning numbness and tingling when a pressure-related cause can be ruled out.
Dr. Beatty has worked in primary medicine, surgery, accident and emergency, OBGYN, pediatrics and chronic disease management. He is the Doctor of Medicine for Strong Home Gym.
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/Seasontime
Cause of Tingling on Tip of Nose Includes Multiple Sclerosis
Limbs Fall Asleep Easily? Causes, Solutions to Numb & Tingling
Chest Pain, Pain/Numbness in Left Arm, Burping: Heart Attack?
Why Does My Eyelid Twitch After I Sneeze?
Achoo! And here comes the eyelid twitch, right after the sneeze.
Does this happen to you? Sometimes the eyelid twitch persists for a minute or so afterward.
And other times, maybe there is only one twitch of the eyelid after a good sneeze.
What Sets off an Eyelid Twitch after a Sneeze?
Could it be that the sneeze causes a jarring and jangling of things, and the tiny, minute muscles of the eyelid get caught up in the act?
“One mechanism is that sneezing involves so many muscles in a coordinated movement, that ancillary muscles may be incorporated by the body to ‘stabilize’ itself,” explains Dr. Ravish Patwardhan, MD, nationally-renowned neurosurgeon and founder of Comprehensive Neurosurgery Network LLC.
“Similar to grimacing when lifting heavy weights, this may also be a compensatory mechanism.
“The twitch that follows may be related to this mechanism, or recovering from this mechanism.”
No matter how strange the twitching (also known as fasciculation) may feel, one should not necessarily get alarmed over this.
This does not necessarily signal that you might have a neurological problem.
Millions of eyelids twitch day in and day out, all across the nation, many preceded by a good sneeze.
In fact, it’s not uncommon for a sneeze to result in a fasciculation elsewhere in the body, such as in the abdomen or trunk. This can happen.
A sneeze can be quite potent, getting what seems like the whole body involved.
This sudden physical action can literally shake someone halfway out of a chair, or cause a person to lose control of a car if it occurs while they are driving.
And we all know how loud sneezes can be, even though I’m convinced that the loudness of a sneeze is directly proportional to how many people are within earshot of the guilty person!
Yes, nobody sneezes as loud as a jackhammer when they are the only ones in a room.
I’m convinced that loud sneezing is an attention-getting tactic. But anyways, back to the eyelid twitching phenomenon.
Dr. Patwardhan continues, “Sneezing and yawning (as well as swallowing or breathing, for that matter) are very coordinated behaviors, done involuntarily many times; many theorize about why we yawn or sneeze (or sigh), as the full answer is really not presently known.”
In conclusion, any kind of benign muscle fasciculation, including that twitching eyelid, following a hard sneeze, is absolutely nothing to worry about.
Comprehensive Neurosurgery Network provides treatment for neurological disorders of the brain, spine and peripheral nerves.
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: ©Lorra Garrick
Might Bad Headache Be Brain Tumor? Stop the Anxiety
How to stop fearing that your headache means a brain tumor…
Is that throbbing headache making you think you might have a brain tumor?
Many people will fear a brain tumor when they get a sudden, sharp pain in their head, especially if it feels like it’s behind their eye.
A person prone to hypochondria won’t be able to help but think that there is a brain tumor — located behind their eye, perhaps.
Do you fear that every headache means a brain tumor?
“The bottom line is that a headache is highly unlikely to be due to a brain tumor,” says Jonathan Stegall, MD, an integrative oncologist and medical director for The Center for Advanced Medicine, an adult cancer treatment center in Alpharetta, GA.
“It’s important to remember that headaches are quite common, while brain tumors are very uncommon,” though their level of media attention creates the illusion that they’re as prevalent as prostate or breast cancer.
“Virtually everyone has had a headache at some point in their lives,” says Dr. Stegall.
Millions of people every day suffer pain in their head somewhere.
If you work in a large office, you’ve certainly witnessed this: Is it not true that practically every day, several people are complaining of headaches?
And that bottle of aspirin gets passed around like a jar of candy.
- Meanwhile, only five per 100,000 Americans per year will be diagnosed with a tumor that starts in their brain.
- Plus, about two-thirds of brain tumors are actually benign.
“A brain tumor isn’t likely to cause a headache in isolation, nor is it likely to mimic a tension headache or migraine,” says Dr. Stegall.
“Headaches caused by a brain tumor are typically persistent, lasting days or weeks. They frequently get worse over time.
“Some studies have found that they tend to be more painful in the morning, or wake a person from sleep at night.
“Positioning can impact the headache too, for example, when lying flat.”
Bear in mind, though, that a harmless sinus headache can immediately worsen upon lying flat.
“The headache from a brain tumor can also be accompanied by neurological changes such as vision changes, trouble speaking, seizures, confusion and having trouble walking.”
A Benign Mass Can Still Be Deadly
For example, a benign mass on the pituitary gland can result in abnormally high secretion of human growth hormone, which can kill the patient if not treated.
A benign tumor can encroach upon parts of the brain that control vital functions.
This is why it’s so important to see your doctor about any unexplained, persistent and especially worsening symptoms including lack of appetite, increased appetite, dizziness, mental fog and fatigue.
How Brain Tumor Headaches Behave
Ask yourself, as should your doctor, if your headache ever goes away.
A brain tumor headache, due to the mass being there all the time and growing, may never totally go away — and in fact, be non-responsive to painkillers.
A headache that comes and goes — being completely gone at times — is likely related to migraine or tension, such as tension in the muscles about the neck.
Glioblastoma multiforme. Credit: Hellerhoff
A tension type of pain can be quite aggravating, and a migraine type can be very strong and even quite debilitating.
Sometimes these pains tend to gravitate to the back of the eye, and this can be alarming.
But as painful as these can be, they do run their course, and also respond to over the counter painkillers, as well as sometimes just a big glass of water, since dehydration can be a causative factor.
A headache from a brain tumor would typically be ongoing for weeks or months.
And remember, if there are accompanying symptoms such as the ones already mentioned, more urgent medical attention is warranted.
Your headache is very likely from a harmless cause as long as it does not also come with worrisome symptoms, which also include numbness in a limb and sudden hearing loss.
To date, no known dietary risk factors exist for developing a brain tumor.
Jonathan Stegall, MD,
