ROCHESTER, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Here are highlights from the July issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. You may cite this publication as often as you wish. Reprinting is allowed for a fee. Mayo Clinic Health Letter attribution is required. Include the following subscription information as your editorial policies permit: Visit www.HealthLetter.MayoClinic.com or call toll-free for subscription information, 1-800-333-9037, extension 9771.
Tinnitus: Ways to Reduce the Irritation
ROCHESTER, Minn. — Tinnitus — the name for a ringing, buzzing, whistling or hissing noise in the ear — isn’t a disease.
Rather, according to the July issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter, it’s a symptom of something wrong with the hearing mechanism, hearing nerves or part of the brain that processes sound. Usually, tinnitus is believed to result from damage to the cells of the inner ear due to age-related hearing loss or exposure to loud noises. The damage results in the sensation of sound when there is none.
Tinnitus can range from mildly annoying and temporary to so loud and constant that it causes fatigue and sleep problems, stress, memory problems, anxiety, depression and irritability.
When tinnitus develops due to hearing loss or damage — with no correctable underlying cause — treatment focuses on finding ways to reduce the irritation from the noise. An audiologist or an ear, nose and throat (ENT) physician may recommend one or several strategies, including:
Hearing aid — A hearing aid helps patients with hearing loss hear the sounds around them better, which may reduce awareness of tinnitus.
Using masking noise — This strategy may include a small device worn in the ear that emits soft steady noises, tones or music. Tabletop sound machines may help with sleep. A fan or an FM radio tuned between stations may offer the same result.
Tinnitus retraining therapy — Patients listen to low-level steady noise, which over time may desensitize them to the tinnitus. This approach is usually part of a long-term management program reserved for severe tinnitus.
People with bothersome tinnitus should consult an audiologist or ENT physician. Sometimes, tinnitus has an underlying cause that can be addressed, and symptoms will diminish or go away. For example, tinnitus can be a side effect of medication. Excessive ear wax, problems with the neck vertebrae, allergies, Meniere’s disease, middle ear fluid or thyroid problems can be factors. So can cardiovascular disease or tumors of the head and neck.
COPD Takes the Breath Away; Treatment Can Prevent Worsening
ROCHESTER, Minn. — Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) literally takes one’s breath away and is a leading cause of death in the United States. COPD refers to a group of lung diseases that limit airflow during exhalations, making it increasingly difficult to breathe out. COPD includes chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Most people with COPD have both.
The July issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter provides an overview of COPD, including causes, symptoms and treatment options.
Causes: COPD is usually attributed to exposure to tobacco smoke and airborne irritants over a long period of time. Most often, it occurs in long-term or former smokers.
Symptoms: Persistent shortness of breath and chronic cough lasting more than three to six weeks may signal COPD. Other symptoms may include wheezing, chest tightness and sputum or phlegm production. Symptoms usually progress slowly — more slowly in people who have stopped smoking, and faster when smoking continues.
Diagnosis: Pulmonary function tests are key in diagnosing COPD. A patient blows into a device called a spirometer that measures how much air lungs exhale and how quickly. This tool also helps monitor how well treatments are working.
Treatment: Doctors recommend treatments to minimize further damage, control symptoms and prevent a sudden worsening of COPD, called an exacerbation. Without prompt treatment, exacerbations may lead to lung failure and the need for hospitalization.
The first step in treatment is to stop exposure to lung irritants, including tobacco smoke. Patients who stop smoking have fewer symptoms and may see slightly improved lung function. Physical activity is critically important, too. Research shows that people with COPD who exercise do better overall.
Other treatments may include:
- Bronchodilator medications including albuterol, ipratropium (Atrovent) and others that relax muscles around the airways.
- Inhaled corticosteroids to reduce airway inflammation and prevent sudden exacerbations.
- Antibiotics to fight respiratory infections and help prevent flare-ups of COPD.
Even with treatment, damage done to the lungs by COPD isn’t fully reversible. But when the disease is detected early, COPD management improves symptoms and survival.
Tips to Limit Bad Breath
ROCHESTER, Minn. — Food particles in the mouth may be the source of bad breath. The July issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter offers tips to eliminate the food particles and resulting bad breath (halitosis).
Clean teeth after eating: Brushing is best. When brushing isn’t possible, chewing sugarless gum or swishing mouthwash for 30 seconds can help rid the mouth of food particles.
Floss at least once a day: Flossing removes decaying food from between the teeth.
Clean the back of the tongue: Mucus from postnasal drip can decay on the back of the tongue. It can be removed by using a tongue scraper or brushing the tongue.
Drink water or chew gum: When the mouth is dry, there’s insufficient saliva to wash away food debris.
Clean dentures daily: They harbor food particles and bacteria.
Limit foods or beverages that cause bad breath: Offenders include onions, garlic, coffee and alcohol.
Seeing a physician is wise when simple measures don’t improve bad breath. Halitosis may be related to a health condition such as gum disease, a sinus problem, chronic bronchitis or some throat problems.
Mayo Clinic Health Letter is an eight-page monthly newsletter of reliable, accurate and practical information on today’s health and medical news. To subscribe, please call 1-800-333-9037 (toll-free), extension 9771, or visit www.HealthLetter.MayoClinic.com.
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