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COPD... cigarette smoking leads the list!
by Thomas F. Rosenberg, MD
This airflow limitation is usually progressive and is associated with an irritation or inflammation of the airway linings in response to noxious gases, primarily caused by cigarette smoking.
The initials COPD stand for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease that, to many people, sounds ominous. The American Thoracic Society defines this chronic disease as “a preventable and treatable disease state characterized by airflow obstruction that is not fully reversible. This airflow limitation is usually progressive and is associated with an irritation or inflammation of the airway linings in response to noxious gases, primarily caused by cigarette smoking.
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Why Can’t I Sleep?
by David Margelli, PA-C
Taking consistently longer than 20 to 30 minutes to fall asleep suggests a problem.
Mention the word “insomnia” to people and many different descriptions may come to mind. Some would complain about trouble falling asleep, others about trouble staying asleep. Many would mention that they have had trouble with sleep quality occasionally, or just around stressful times. Others, only when traveling or working on a different shift. Many people would complain of a sense of bad sleep on a nightly basis for years, with no obvious cause.
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Asthma Defined
by Thomas F. Rosenberg, MD
Viruses and weather changes play a significant role as asthma triggers
Asthma is one of the most common diseases affecting over 30 million Americans. It may start in patients as young as one year of age or it may wait until they are 50. Asthma is a disease characterized by wheezing although many children may present with just a cough.
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Snoring...Not a Laughing Matter
by Ho-Sheng Lin, MD
Most people think of snoring as somewhat comical, and when asked whether they snore, patients will invariably laugh. Unfortunately, snoring is not a laughing matter.
Causes of Snoring
Broadly defined, snoring is just a noisy breathing that occurs during sleep. This occurs because the throat muscles relax during sleep causing the soft tissue in the throat to collapse which in turn causes the narrowing of the breathing passageway. The rattling noise associated with snoring develops as airflow through this narrowed passageway causes vibration of the floppy tissue in the back of the throat.
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Is it a cold or the flu ?
by Anne-Phelan-Adams, MD
Half the people with respiratory complaints are safer if they do not see a doctor!
If the truth were known, there is nothing substantive a doctor can do for typical cold symptoms and even minor flu symptoms. Prescription medications for flu symptoms are often no more effective than over-the-counters (OTCs).
Last year’s cold and flu season could have been much worse. There could have been a true influenza epidemic such as the 1917 swine flu epidemic that struck down and killed millions of people worldwide. However, that did not happen. There could have been an avian flu (bird flu) epidemic if the virus had “jumped” species and become a truly human infection that spread just like influenza but with deadlier consequences. However, that did not happen either.
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Sleep Apnea...It’s Not Just A Man’s Disease
by David Margelli, PA-C
women lag behind men until menopause, at which time they start to catch up
Sleep apnea has been recognized as a cause of significant daytime sleepiness for many years, but recent research has strongly implicated it as a risk factor for heart disease, including heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure. Sleep apnea can contribute to heart failure, and can itself be caused by heart failure. It has also been linked to diabetes and weight gain.
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