• MOUTH, METALLIC TASTE IN

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    02 Apr 2009 /  General health

    Description and Possible Medical Problems

    If you’ve ever been able to receive radio waves through the fillings ot orthodontute in your mouth, you probably found that the broadcast is usually accompanied by a metallic taste in your mouth.

    Whether or not you fall into this category, if a metallic, slightly bitter taste stays around for a period of time, something besides the radio is causing your symptoms. Indeed, changes in the sensation of taste are usually caused by a recent or progressive change in your physical health. A metallic taste disorder may be due to a vitamin deficiency—most often the B vitamins or the mineral zinc—or to a cold or flu, during which the pus resulting from an upper respiratory infection can taste bitter. A benign or malignant tumor on the tongue can also cause a metallic taste.

    Certain medications such as antihypertensives and any antibiotic can also cause a metallic taste. In some cases, the altered taste will disappear after your body adjusts to the medication; in others, it will remain as long as you’re taking the medication.

    If the metallic taste in your mouth doesn’t go away on its own, it’s a good idea to see your doctor.

    Treatment

    Your doctor will diagnose the cause of the metallic taste in your mouth by analyzing any changes in your diet and looking for the presence of a chronic respiratory infection. He will also examine your tongue for signs of a tumor. I had one patient who had a metallic taste that was caused by a tumor of the lung lining; the metallic taste preceded the cancer diagnosis by several months.

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  • NOSE, STUFFY

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    02 Apr 2009 /  General health

    Description and Possible Medical Problems

    You may think your stuffy nose is due to a cold—after all, you’ve never been allergic to anything—but think again. Adult-onset allergies are more common than most people think, especially with the increasing numbers of people who suffer from environmental allergies, in which rugs, furniture, and even hair spray can ttigger an allergic reaction.

    If your stuffy nose is due to an allergy and not to a cold or flu, you’ll probably answer yes to these questions:

    1. Has my clogged or runny nose lasted far longer than a cold usually does?

    2. Do my symptoms seem to appear and disappear without warning?

    Treatment

    Allergies can occur at any time of the year, although spring, when pollen is at its most abundant, and fall, when ragweed is in bloom, are the seasons when allergies and the accompanying nasal discomfort become most severe. At other times of the year, allergies to household mold and dust can cause a reaction.

    When it’s impossible to avoid the offending allergic substances, you can treat your stuffy nose with over-the-counter antihistamines or decongestants. Look for antihistamines that don’t make you sleepy, and don’t overdo it with the decongestants, especially the sprays—it’s easy to become hooked on them.

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  • DECREASED SENSE OF SMELL: TREATMENT

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    02 Apr 2009 /  General health

    Though many people start to notice a decline in their ability to smell as early as their 40s, the loss usually doesn’t become pronounced until they reach their 60s. In fact, there are many elderly men and women who can’t smell at all.

    Severe colds, the flu, and infections of the upper respiratory tract can completely take away your ability to smell. In this instance, as well as when medication is causing the decreased sense of smell, you just have to be patient. When you’re better and/or have discontinued the medication, you’ll be able to smell again. And if you’ve recently had major dental work done, your ability to smell will return after you’ve completely healed.

    Occasionally, nasal polyps will result in a loss of smell. If you have trouble breathing due to these obstructions, see your doctor, who will probably recommend surgical removal of the polyps.

    If you lose your sense of smell suddenly, it’s important to keep in mind that the condition is probably reversible. If your loss is more gradual, aging is the culprit.

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  • BODY SIGNAL ALERT VISION, DOUBLE: TREATMENT

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    02 Apr 2009 /  General health

    Sometimes double vision disappears by itself in one to three months, no matter what the cause. But because double vision is often a symptom of a serious medical condition, you should see your physician so she can begin treatment if necessary.

    Treatment for double vision depends on its cause. When an aneurysm is responsible, surgery is the primary treatment, and after the aneurysm is repaired you will need to be closely monitored by your doctor to make sure your blood pressure remains under control. Your doctor will probably recommend that you switch to a low-fat, low-salt diet so that your high blood pressure and/or arteriosclerosis doesn’t worsen. Both conditions can aggravate an aneurysm and cause it to burst.

    If diabetes is causing you to see double, the best thing you can do is to follow the program your physician has recommended to control your diabetes; in this case, your double vision should disappear in a week or two. Double vision caused by diabetes may disappear on its own a month or two after it first begins. Nevertheless, it’s important to see your doctor to make sure you don’t have an additional medical problem—such as high blood pressure or arteriosclerosis—that can make it worse. It’s best to have your doctor monitor your health regularly.

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  • EYELIDS, FLAT YELLOW GROWTHS UNDER

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    02 Apr 2009 /  General health

    Description and Possible Medical Problems

    If you wake up one day and find a flat yellow growth on the underside of an eyelid, the first thing you should do is call your doctor to have your cholesterol checked. This flat yellow growth, called a xanthelasma, is a cholesterol deposit that has gathered under the eyelid. Flat yellow growths can also occasionally occur in diabetics.

    Treatment

    Xanthelasimae are not in themselves a health problem; however, whether or not you’re predisposed to high blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels, if these flat yellow growths appear under one or both of your eyelids, you should definitely monitor your cholesterol levels and start proper treatment with diet, exercise, and medication.

    If you think the deposits are unsightly, your doctor can remove them on an outpatient basis. They may, however, grow back, especially if you do not treat your high cholesterol.

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