Tonsillitis is a contagious infection with symptoms of bad breath, snoring, congestion, headache, hoarseness, laryngitis, and coughing up blood.

Tonsillitis can be caused acute infection of the tonsils, and several types of bacteria or viruses (for example, strep throat or mononucleosis). There are two types of tonsillitis, acute and chronic. Acute tonsillitis lasts from one to two weeks while chronic tonsillitis can last from months to years.

Treatment of tonsillitis and adenoids include antibiotics, over-the-counter medications, and home remedies to relieve pain and inflammation, for example,  salt water gargle, slippery elm throat lozenges, sipping warm beverages and eating frozen foods (ice cream, popsicles), serrapeptase, papain, and andrographism Some people with chronic tonsillitis may need surgery (tonsillectomy or adenoidectomy ).

The path air follows to get into and out of the lungs. See a picture of Airway and learn more about the health topic.

A deviate septum is a condition that may require surgery. With a deviated septum, the bone and cartilage that divide the nasal cavity of the nose in half (nasal septum) is significantly off-center or crooked. The causes of a deviated septum can be congenital, or develop after a trauma or injury to the nose. Symptoms of a deviated septum include:

• nasal congestion,
• recurrent sinus infections,
• nosebleeds,
• headache,
• facial pain,
• postnasal drip,
• snoring,
• and loud breathing.

A deviated septum can be relieved with medications and, if necessary, a surgery called septoplasty.

Hypoxia is a condition in which the normal concentration of oxygen in the blood is not enough for normal life functions. Hypoxemia is a condition in which there is a lower than normal amount of oxygen in arterial blood. Anoxia is a condition in which there is an absence or near absence of oxygen. There are a variety of causes of hypoxia and hypoxemia such as chemical or gas poisonings; lung conditions such as COPD, emphysema, lung cancer, and sleep apnea; medications; heart problems; anemia; and low oxygen concentration due to the lack of concentrated oxygen for example, mountain climbing, aviation, drowning, and fires. Symptoms of hypoxia and/or hypoxemia may be acute such as fast heart rate, rapid breathing, and shortness of breath; or severe symptoms include confusion, the inability to communicate, coma, and sometimes death. Symptoms in children include irritableness, anxiousness, and inattentiveness. Treatment of hypoxia and/or hypoxemia is to provide supplemental oxygen to the body as soon as possible.

Marfan syndrome is hereditary (genetic) condition affecting connective tissue. A person with Marfan syndrome may exhibit the following symptoms and characteristics:

• Dislocation of one or both lenses of the eye
• A protruding or indented breastbone
• Scoliosis
• Flat feet
• Aortic dilatation
• Dural ectasia (a problem with the sac surrounding the spinal cord)
• Stretch marks
• Hernia
• Collapsed lung

Though there is no cure for Marfan syndrome, there are treatments that can minimize and sometimes prevent some complications.

Pulmonary hypertension is an increase pressure in the pulmonary arteries that carry blood from the lungs to the heart. The most common symptoms are fatigue and difficulty breathing. If the condition goes undiagnosed, more severe symptoms may occur, for example:

• Ankle swelling (edema)
• Heart palpitations
• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Tiredness
• Decreased appetite
• Pain in the upper right side of the belly (abdomen)

As pulmonary hypertension worsens, some people with the condition have difficulty performing any activities that require physical exertion. For example:

• Fainting (syncope)
• Lightheadedness, particularly during physical activity
• Swelling in the legs and ankles
• A bluish color to the lips and skin

Researchers and doctors do not know what causes one type of pulmonary hypertension called idiopathic pulmonary hypertension. However, they do know that the can be caused diseases or condition you already have, for example, heart disease, high blood pressure, connective tissue disease, congenital heart disease, liver disease, pulmonary embolism (blood clot in the lungs), COPD, and emphysema.

People at risk of developing pulmonary hypertension are those who:

• Live at high altitudes
• Have a family history of the condition.
• Have diseases and conditions that may put them at risk of developing pulmonary hypertension
• Use illegal drugs like cocaine, and certain diet drugs.

While there is no cure for pulmonary hypertension, it can be managed and treat it with drugs like diuretics, blood thinners, calcium channel blockers, and using supplemental oxygen to increase blood oxygen levels. The prognosis and life expectancy for a person with pulmonary hypertension depends upon the severity of their condition.

REFERENCES:

NIH. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. "What is Pulmonary Hypertension?" Updated: Aug 2011

NIH. PubMed Health. "Pulmonary Hypertension (PH)."

CDC. Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention. "Pulmonary Hypertension Fact Sheet." Updated: Jul 22, 2014.

A number of vital tasks carried out during sleep help maintain good health and enable people to function at their best. Sleep needs vary from individual to individual and change throughout your life. The National Institutes of Health recommend about 7-9 hours of sleep each night for older, school-aged children, teens, and most average adults; 10-12 for preschool-aged children; and 16-18 hours for newborns. There are two stages of sleep; 1) REM sleep (rapid-eye movement), and 2) NREM sleep (non-rapid-eye movement). The side effects of lack of sleep or insomnia include:

• Irritability
• Tiredness
• Feeling sleepy during the day
• Concentration or memory problems

Lack of sleep and insomnia can be caused by medical conditions or diseases, medications, stress, or pain. The treatment for lack of sleep and insomnia depends upon the cause.

Sleep apnea is defined as a reduction or cessation of breathing during sleep. The three types of sleep apnea are central apnea, obstructive apnea (OSA), and a mixture of central and obstructive apnea. Central sleep apnea is caused by a failure of the brain to activate the muscles of breathing during sleep. OSA is caused by the collapse of the airway during sleep. OSA is diagnosed and evaluated through patient history, physical examination and polysomnography. There are many complications related to obstructive sleep apnea. Treatments are surgical and non-surgical.

Learn about the different types of sleep disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnea. Explore the symptoms, causes, tests and treatments of sleep disorders.

Sleepwalking is a condition in which an individual walks or does other activities while asleep. Factors associated with sleepwalking include genetic, environmental, and physiological. Episodes of sleepwalking may include quiet walking to agitated running. Conditions that may have similar symptoms of sleepwalking, but are not include night terrors, confusional arousals, and nocturnal seizures. Treatment of sleepwalking generally include preventative measures. Medication may be prescribed if necessary.

Snoring, like all other sounds, is caused by vibrations that cause particles in the air to form sound waves. While we are asleep, turbulent air flow can cause the tissues of the nose and throat to vibrate and give rise to snoring. Any person can snore. Snoring is believed to occur in anywhere from 30% of women to over 45% of men. People who snore can have any body type. In general, as people get older and as they gain weight, snoring will worsen. Snoring can be caused by a number of things, including the sleep position, alcohol, medication, anatomical structure of the mouth and throat, stage of sleep, and mouth breathing.

Somnoplasty is a procedure that reduces snoring by removing tissues of the uvula and soft palate. Complications include:

• prolonged pain,
• infection,
• bleeding,
• impaired hearing,
• nasal regurgitation,
• failure to cure sleep apnea, and
• failure to eliminate snoring.