Ear, Nose, and Throat Facts

What is the ear?

external or outer ear, consisting of:

pinna or auricle - the outside part of the ear.

external auditory canal or tube - the tube that connects the outer ear to the inside or middle ear.

tympanic membrane - also called the eardrum. The tympanic membrane divides the external ear from the middle ear.

middle ear (tympanic cavity), consisting of:

ossicles - three small bones that are connected and transmit the sound waves to the inner ear. The bones are called:

malleus

incus

stapes

eustachian tube - a canal that links the middle ear with the throat area. The eustachian tube helps to equalize the pressure between the outer ear and the middle ear. Having the same pressure allows for the proper transfer of sound waves. The eustachian tube is lined with mucous, just like the inside of the nose and throat.

inner ear, consisting of:

cochlea (contains the nerves for hearing)

vestibule (contains receptors for balance)

semicircular canals (contain receptors for balance)

What is the nose?
The nose is the organ of smell and is part of the peripheral nervous system. The external part of the nose lies above the roof of the mouth. The nose consists of:

external meatus - triangular-shaped projection in the center of the face

external nostrils - two chambers divided by the septum

septum - made up primarily of cartilage and bone and covered by mucous membranes. The cartilage also gives shape and support to the outer part of the nose.

nasal passages - passages that are lined with mucous membranes and tiny hairs (cilia) that help to filter the air

sinuses - four pairs of air-filled cavities that are also lined with mucous membranes

What is the throat?
The throat is a ring-like muscular tube that acts as the passageway for air, food, and liquid. The throat also helps in forming speech. The throat consists of:

larynx - houses the vocal cords and is crucial to speech and breathing. The larynx also serves as a passageway to both the trachea (windpipe to the lung) and the esophagus (canal to the stomach).

epiglottis - located above the larynx and works with the larynx and vocal cords to push the food into the esophagus, therefore keeping food from entering the windpipe.

tonsils and adenoids - made up of lymph tissue and are located at the back and the sides of the mouth. They protect against infection, but generally have little purpose beyond childhood.

The Drain of Pain: Dealing with Chronic Back Pain

If you have chronic back pain, you know how it can negatively affect your entire life-- lost work days, cancelled trips, missed games, and just plain misery. The physical and emotional drain of continual or recurring discomfort in the back can be quite difficult to deal with; constant low grade pain stresses the body and mind, and pain that comes and goes can catch you off guard and throw a wrench in any plan. Here are some tips to achieve chronic back pain relief:

First and foremost, identify the source of the pain. Knowing what the cause is will not only help you to properly treat the symptoms, but it will also help you to become more adept at identifying the onset of a pain episode. Being proactive in this way can prevent an instance of pain from turning into a full-blown episode.

Work with your doctor to find the medication that works best for you. One type of pain or anti-inflammatory medication may be more effective than another in your particular case.

For chronic pain, consult a pain management specialist. By taking a multidisciplinary approach to your pain, you will learn to manage or even avoid severe episodes. Such an approach includes consulting with physicians and nurses to manage your pain meds, psychologists to address depression and anxiety, and physical therapists to increase strength and mobility.

Additional avenues to help address chronic pain include stress relief, relaxation exercises, improved sleep and nutrition habits, and regular exercise.Go online and check out these organizations that offer peer support for people living with chronic pain and their families: National Pain Foundation; National Chronic Pain Society; American Chronic Pain Association

10 Myths About Chronic Pain (Hint: It's Not All in Your Head!)

Chronic pain is a very misunderstood phenomenon. Most people tend to think pain sufferers should simply toughen up and deal with it. But if it were that easy, it wouldn't be such a widespread problem. Here are ten myths regarding chronic pain according to Phillip J. Wagner, MD, from the Hospital for Special Surgery:


"If the doctor can't find the cause of the pain, then it must be in your head." Chronic pain is a legitimate complaint, the causes of which can be difficult to determine.

"Seeking help for your pain makes you weak." There is no need to suffer and feel trapped. Help is available; you just need to find it.

"Taking narcotic pain medications will lead to becoming an addict." Most people don't become addicted to narcotic pain medications. Addicts crave their drug. Dependence, however, can occur when the body becomes accustomed to the presence of the medication.

"Side effects of opiod drugs turns you into a zombie." Most side effects can be controlled by making dosage adjustments.

"People taking pain meds for a long time will build a tolerance and require higher doses." Increased dosages are used to manage worsening physical or psychological symptoms.

"Some people just don't want to get better." Come on ... who wants to be in pain?

"If you just ignore the pain it will go away." Ignoring chronic pain may actually make it worse. Understanding chronic pain and getting the right kind of help is the key to treating the problem.

"People should overcome pain by pushing through it." You must know your limits and respect the messages your body is sending in order to avoid worsening your pain.

"If you look good, you can't be in pain." People are resilient and many continue functioning despite their pain. This misconception can cause a lot of emotional distress for pain sufferers.

"Just live with it because you've been to so many doctors and no one has helped." There are many different treatments available. It's just a matter of finding the right one to help you.

Cold Sores "101"

Cold sores and fever blisters are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). This virus is passed from person to person by saliva, or by skin contact. Cold sores usually appear as clusters of tiny blisters on the lip. Most people are first infected with HSV-1 before they are 10 years old.

After this first infection, the virus remains in the nerves of the face. In some people, the virus becomes active again from time to time. When this happens, cold sores appear. HSV-1 can get active again because of a cold or fever.

Stress also can lead to a cold sore outbreak. This includes mental and emotional stress, as well as dental treatment, illness, trauma to the lips or sun exposure. HSV-1 also can infect the eyes, the skin of the fingers and the genitals. Most genital herpes infections are caused by herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2), however.

HSV-1 can cause serious illness in people who have other health problems. The virus also can cause serious illness in people whose immune systems are weakened by either illness or medications they are taking.

Cold Sores - Symptoms

People infected with HSV-1 for the first time may have fever, headache, nausea and vomiting. They may have painful swelling and open sores in the mouth. Some people have a sore throat. These symptoms usually begin about a week after someone is exposed to HSV-1.

Cold sores appear when HSV-1 is reactivated later in life. They may occur after a period of illness or stress, poor nutrition or sunlight exposure, or for no known reason. Dental procedures that stretch the lip may occasionally trigger the virus.

The border of the lip is the most common place that these sores appear. They may occasionally occur inside the mouth, too. This is more likely in people who have weakened immune systems or other medical problems.

The first sign of a cold sore is a tingling, burning or itching. This is followed by swelling and redness. Within 24 to 48 hours, one or more tiny blisters ("fever blisters") appear. These blisters pop and form painful sores ("cold sores"). The sores eventually are covered by crusts. The crusts are shed and form again while the sore heals.

Cold Sores - Diagnosis

Your dentist or physician usually can diagnose cold sores by asking you about your medical history and examining you. If you have other medical conditions, your physician can do other tests to diagnose cold sores. These tests are usually not necessary in healthy people.

Cold Sores - Duration

When you are first infected with HSV-1, symptoms can last for 7 to 14 days. Cold sores usually crust within 4 days and heal completely within 8 to 10 days.

Cold Sores - Prevention

To help to prevent a first herpes infection in children do not let them be kissed by anyone who has cold sores, fever blisters or signs of a first herpes infection. However, HSV-1 is very common. Most children will be infected by the time they reach adulthood. Several different vaccines are being developed against HSV (types 1 and 2), but these appear to protect only people who have never been infected.

There is evidence that using sunscreen on your lips will prevent cold sores caused by sun exposure. Antiviral medicines may prevent cold sores from forming. In certain situations, your dentist or physician may prescribe these medicines. If you are going to encounter a known trigger, a medicine taken in advance can decrease the chance of a cold sore.

Cold Sores - Treatment

Some medicines can help cold sores heal faster. They also relieve pain and discomfort. The medicines are acyclovir (Zovirax), famciclovir (Famvir) and valacyclovir (Valtrex). These drugs cannot get rid of the virus. You need to take them each time you can feel a cold sore coming on. Once you have blisters on your lip, the medicines will not help much.

These drugs also can stop cold sores from popping up in the first place. Some people take them when they know they will be under stress.

Keep the area clean and apply lip balm. Try not to touch the area. Avoid kissing anyone while you have blisters and sores.

Swine Flu Care Guidelines

Guidelines for Taking Care of Yourself and Others
From PandemicFlu.gov
If you have been diagnosed with H1N1 (Swine) flu, you should:

Stay home, follow your doctor’s orders, and watch for signs that you need immediate medical attention.

Remain at home for 7 days after your symptoms begin or until you have been symptom-free for 24 hours, whichever is longer.

Avoid close contact with others, especially those who might easily get the flu, such as people of any age with chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant women, young children, and infants.

Wear a facemask – if available and tolerable – when sharing common spaces with other household members to help prevent spreading the virus to others. This is especially important if other household members are at high risk for complications from influenza.

Get plenty of rest.

Drink clear fluids such as water, broth, sports drinks, or electrolyte beverages made for infants to prevent becoming dehydrated.

Cover coughs and sneezes. Clean hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often, especially after using tissues and after coughing or sneezing into your hands.
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If you are taking care of someone who has contracted
H1N1 (Swine) flu, you should:

Avoid being face-to-face with the sick person.

When holding a small child who is sick, place his/her chin on your shoulder so that he/she will not cough in your face.

Make sure everyone in the household cleans their hands often, using soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub.

Remind the patient to cover coughs, and clean his/her hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub often, especially after coughing and/or sneezing.

Speak with the person’s health care provider about any special care that might be needed, especially if the person is pregnant or has a health condition such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, or emphysema.

Talk to your health care provider about taking antiviral medication, such as oseltamivir (Tamiflu®) or zanamivir (Relenza®), to prevent getting the flu. Ask the patient’s health care provider whether the patient should take antiviral medications.

Consider wearing a facemask or respirator, when close contact is unavoidable.

Monitor yourself and household members for flu symptoms and contact a telephone hotline or health care provider if symptoms occur. Get medical care right away if the patient exhibits emergency

COBRA Subsidy Rules

Here's an overview on some basic criteria for the subsidy. (While COBRA insurance can be purchased for an 18-month period, the subsidy lasts only nine months, even though there's talk among Democrats to extend it.)

You must have worked for an employer with 20 or more employees.

You must have been laid off between Sept. 1, 2008 and Dec. 31, 2009.

You are not eligible if you qualify for Medicare or a spouse's health insurance plan.

You cannot receive the subsidy if you were terminated due to "gross misconduct."

If you make more than $125,000 a year, or $250,000 as a married couple, the subsidy could increase your tax liability.

If you declined COBRA coverage or canceled the insurance because it was too costly and now want to apply because you think you can swing it at the reduced rate, it may not be too late. Check with your human resource department and COBRA plan administrator to find out if you can still apply.

Complications of Diabetes

Diabetes is the sixth leading cause of death among Americans, and the fifth leading cause of death from disease. Although it is believed that diabetes is under-reported as a condition leading to or causing death, each year, more than 200,000 deaths are reported as being caused by diabetes or its complications. Complications of diabetes include eye problems and blindness, heart disease, stroke, neurological problems, amputation, and impotence.

Because diabetes (with the exception of gestational diabetes) is a chronic, incurable disease that affects nearly every part of the body, contributes to other serious diseases, and can be life threatening, it must be managed under the care of a physician throughout a person's life.

How Do the Three Main Types of Diabetes Differ?

Although the three main types of diabetes are similar in the build-up of blood glucose due to problems with insulin, there are differences in cause and treatment:

type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, resulting in no or a low amount of insulin. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily in order to live.

type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a result of the body's inability to make enough, or to properly use, insulin. Type 2 diabetes may be controlled with diet, exercise, and weight loss, or may require oral medications and/or insulin injections.

gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women who have not had diagnosed diabetes in the past. It results in the inability to use the insulin that is present and usually disappears after delivery. Gestational diabetes may be controlled with diet, exercise, and attention to weight gain. Women with gestational diabetes may be at higher risk for type 2 diabetes later in life.

How Does Diabetes Affect Blood Glucose?

For glucose to be able to move into the cells of the body, the hormone insulin must be present. Insulin is produced primarily in the pancreas, and, normally, is readily available to move glucose into the cells.

However, in persons with diabetes, either the pancreas produces too little or no insulin, or the cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. This causes a build-up of glucose in the blood, which passes into the urine where it is eventually eliminated, leaving the body without its main source of fuel.

What is Prediabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is commonly preceded by prediabetes. In prediabetes, blood glucose levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be defined as diabetes. However, many people with prediabetes develop type 2 diabetes within 10 years, states the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. Prediabetes also increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. With modest weight loss and moderate physical activity, people with prediabetes can delay or prevent type 2 diabetes.

Prediabetes affects 57 million people in the US, according to the American Diabetes Association.