Ramsay Hunt syndrome is a reactivation of the herpes zoster virus, the virus that causes chickenpox and shingles. It’s also known as herpes zoster oticus. Symptoms include ear pain, a blistering rash on the ear surface or in the canal and facial muscle weakness similar to Bell’s palsy all on the same side of the head.
Seborrheic dermatitis is a form of skin inflammation (dermatitis) that causes a red, oily, flaking skin rash in areas of the body where glands in the skin called sebaceous glands are most abundant, such as the scalp. When seborrheic dermatitis affects the scalp, it appears as either patchy or diffuse areas of redness and flaking. The condition is not contagious.
Nausea is a general term describing a queasy stomach, with or without the feeling that you are about to vomit. There are several things you can do on your own to help, including:
• Drink beverages that settle the stomach, such as ginger ale or chamomile tea.
• Avoid caffeinated colas, coffees and teas.
• Drink clear liquids to avoid dehydration (if vomiting is associated with nausea).
• Eat small, frequent meals to allow the stomach to digest foods gradually.
• Eat foods that are bland and simple for your stomach to digest, such as crackers or unbuttered bread, rice, chicken soup and bananas.
Some over-the-counter medications can help to relieve nausea, including chewable or liquid antacids or bismuth sub-salicylate (Pepto-Bismol). Dimenhydrinate or meclizine hydrochloride are helpful for treating or preventing nausea due to motion sickness.
If you continue to feel nauseated, several prescription medications are available to help relieve nausea.
The first symptom in most people is feeling thirsty and a dry mouth. However, older adults often have a constant dry mouth and may have a diminished sense of thirst. That’s why it can be especially dangerous for them. The next symptoms are fatigue, weakness, foggy thinking, lightheadedness and sometimes a headache.
Hematochezia is the medical term for passing blood through the rectum or anus. Hemorrhoids are the most common cause. Other causes include rectal trauma, diverticula (outpouchings of the colonic wall), infection, inflammatory bowel disease, polyps and cancer. Any new hematochezia should prompt a call to your doctor.
There are no quick ways to build abdominal and other core muscles. Unlike resistance or weight training for certain muscle groups, you can do core exercises every day. By doing them daily, you will more rapidly improve abdominal and core muscle strength and tone. Typical core exercises include sit-ups or crunches, planks, push-ups, bridges and superman poses. Start slow and easy, then gradually increase the intensity of the exercises.
When the sinuses become inflamed or infected, the mucus thickens and clogs the openings to one or more sinuses. Fluid builds up inside the sinuses causing increased pressure. Also bacteria can become trapped, multiply and infect the lining. Common symptoms of sinusitis include nasal congestion, thick green nasal discharge, fever, headache, tiredness and facial pain.
The most often used treatment uses continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device. A CPAP device forces your airways open with a stream of air. Some people benefit from a fitted mouth piece to wear at night that keeps the jaw forward, helping to open the airway. A newer treatment is an implanted pacemaker-like device called a hypoglossal nerve stimulator.
Many people with sleep apnea are overweight. The extra fat in and around your airway can make it smaller and easier to compress. Losing weight might make a big difference.
Sleep apnea is a disorder that causes people to stop breathing for short periods during sleep, called apneas. Apneas usually last between 10 and 30 seconds. In severe cases, apneas can happen many hundreds of times each night. A swollen tongue could cause more apneas in a person with the condition. But sleep apnea itself should not cause a swollen tongue.