Pleural disorders may be caused by inflammation, injury, or an imbalance of fluids in the pleural space. Your age and family history may increase your risk. You may also be at higher risk if you take certain medicines, smoke tobacco or marijuana, or have other medical conditions. You may be able to help prevent pleural disorders by quitting smoking or not starting if you don’t smoke.
Category: Family Health
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Foot Surgery: Neuroma or Plantar Callus
Tight shoes and high heels can place extra pressure on the ball of your foot, causing neuromas and calluses. A neuroma is an inflamed nerve. It can cause pain, numbness, or burning. A plantar callus is a buildup of hard skin on the ball of the foot. The callus may feel like a stone in your shoe.
There are many nonsurgical treatments for neuromas and calluses. But if these are not helpful, surgery may be considered.
Neuroma
When 2 metatarsal bones are squeezed together, they may pinch the nerve that runs between them. The pinched nerve can become swollen and painful. This often happens at the base of the third and the fourth toes. Standing or walking for a while can increase the pain.
Neuroma removal
The enlarged part of the inflamed nerve is removed. Most often, you can bear weight on your foot right away. You may have to wear a surgical shoe for a few weeks. When healed, a small area may feel numb, where part of the nerve was taken out.
Plantar callus
When one metatarsal bone is longer or lower than the others, it presses on the skin beneath, forming a callus. Wearing shoes with thin soles and high heels can also place extra pressure on the ball of your foot. As a result, the callus may cause foot pain and irritation.
Bone removal
The affected metatarsal bone is cut and aligned with the other metatarsals (oblique osteotomy). Screws or pins may be used to hold the bone in place. Only part of the metatarsal bone is removed. The plantar callus should go away on its own over time.
Author: StayWell Custom Communications
Last Annual Review Date:
4/1/2024
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Scoliosis in Children and Teens: Diagnosis, Treatment, and Steps to Take
Source: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases –
Related MedlinePlus Pages: Scoliosis -
Bad Breath (Halitosis) – Center for Young Women’s Health
Key Facts
- 80-90% of bad breath starts in the mouth.
- If you have bad breath, start by brushing your teeth and flossing regularly.
- Ask your dentist or someone close to you if they’ve noticed that you have bad breath.
About 50% of people have daytime bad breath or halitosis. The good news is there are ways to help prevent it.
What is bad breath?
Bad breath, or halitosis (the medical name) pronounced, hal-e-toe-sis, is “a noticeable and unpleasant odor in the breath.” It can be embarrassing and sometime difficult to know whether or not you have bad breath because it’s hard to smell your own breath.
What causes bad breath?
Most of the time bad breath is caused when food collects and then gets trapped between the teeth and the tongue. The food that’s stuck breaks down and releases bacteria. The bacteria then release a sulfur gas, which smells bad. Bad breath can also be caused by bacteria trapped in the sinus passages of the nose when a person has a sinus infection.
Other causes of bad breath may include:
- Smoking
- Eating certain food such as garlic, onions, coffee, etc.
- Dry mouth (when the saliva flow decreases) which can be caused by certain medicines or breathing with your mouth open
- Nasal (nose) infections or problems affecting nasal airflow or mucus production
- “Tonsilloliths”- stones that form from the tonsils and attach themselves on the tongue. The stones can cause a bad smell when a person with them coughs. Tooth decay and gum disease (sometimes called gingivitis)
- Problems with your digestive system
- Other health problems (rarely)
When do most people have bad breath?
It’s normal to have bad breath after you wake up. This is because there’s very little saliva (or spit) flowing through your mouth while you’re sleeping, which is when bacteria are most active. Your breath should improve after you brush your teeth and tongue, floss your teeth, and finish with mouth wash (if you choose).
How can I tell if I have bad breath?
It’s hard to check your own breath. Even breathing into your hand and trying to smell your breath doesn’t work. Your best bet is to ask someone you’re close to. Ask them if they’ve noticed that you have bad breath. If they say yes, ask them if it’s when you eat certain foods or whether it’s all the time. Then try the tips below and check back with the person to see if it’s made a difference.
Ways to help prevent and/or treat bad breath:
- Brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes twice a day with toothpaste that contains “fluoride”; after breakfast and before bed or (after every meal if you can).
- Floss every day. Flossing gets food particles and bacteria that your toothbrush cannot reach. If you don’t know how to floss, ask your dentist to show you.
- Brush your tongue (with a plastic tongue cleaner or tooth brush) especially the back of your tongue- where the bacteria that cause bad breath live.
- Gargle with mouthwash at bedtime. Although mouthwash is a temporary solution, it can be helpful. Ask your dentist or look for a mouthwash that has a seal from the American Dental Association.
- Don’t smoke or chew tobacco. Smoking causes bad breath and may lead to gum disease. Smoking and chewing tobacco also puts you at risk for getting oral cancer.
- Chew sugarless gum (for about 5 minutes or less) if you can’t brush right after a meal. This can help to clear away food particles left behind after eating.
- Eat foods high in fiber such as whole grains, raw fruits, and veggies.
- Staying hydrated helps to prevent dry mouth which can contribute to bad breath.
- Drink less coffee and alcohol.
These tips are your first step towards fresh breath and great dental hygiene. Eating a healthy diet and staying hydrated will help too. Avoiding food with garlic or onions and staying away from drinks such as coffee will also help.
Should I see a health care provider to treat my bad breath?
If you’ve tried many different ways to manage your bad breath without good results, it’s a good idea to make an appointment with your primary care provider or dentist.
Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children’s Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Helicobacter pylori Infections
Source: National Institutes of Health –
Related MedlinePlus Pages: Helicobacter Pylori Infections -
Respirator Types and Use | Personal Protective Equipment
Overview
This page serves as a trusted source for respiratory protection information. Millions of workers across the United States rely on respiratory protection to keep them safe on the job. This includes workers in occupations such as healthcare, construction, public safety, emergency response, and mining.
To reduce exposure to respiratory hazards, it’s best to apply the hierarchy of controls. The use of respiratory protection is an important “last line of defense” in the hierarchy of controls approach.
When an employer determines that workers need respiratory protection, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires the use of NIOSH Approved® respirators. The NIOSH Respirator Approval Program is responsible for evaluating and approving respirators used in U.S. workplace settings.
Types
There are two main types of respiratory protection. Each respirator type provides a different level of protection based on its design:
- Air-purifying respirators (APRs)
- Atmosphere-supplying respirators (ASRs)
Additionally, NIOSH approves five different types of APRs and ASRs for protection against chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents.
Infographic showing the different types of respiratory protection. Each type of respirator has an assigned protection factor. This indicates the level of protection you can expect to receive from that respirator. Table 1 of the OSHA Respiratory Protection standard presents the assigned protection factor for each respirator type.
It’s important that employers choose the right type of respirator for your specific exposure or exposures. To do that, they must identify all respiratory hazards in your environment and the amount of exposure.
Additionally, a respirator’s effectiveness depends heavily on proper fit and use. For information on how to properly select and use respirators see Selection and Use of NIOSH Approved respirators.
Air-purifying respirators (APRs)
APRs use filters, cartridges, or canisters to remove gases, vapors, aerosols, or a combination of contaminants from the air. The different types of APRs are
Infographic describing the different types of air-purifying respirators. Atmosphere-supplying respirators (ASRs)
ASRs provide clean breathing air from a separate source. These respirators protect you from many types of airborne contaminants (particles, gases, and vapors) and, in certain cases, oxygen-deficient atmospheres. The different types of ASRs are:
- Supplied-air respirators
- Self-contained breathing apparatus
- Open-circuit (commonly used by firefighters)
- Closed-circuit (used for entry or escape in industries such as mining where it is known as a self-contained self-rescuer)
- Combination supplied-air/self-contained breathing apparatus
Infographic describing the different types of atmosphere-supplying respirators Respiratory protection programs (RPPs)
Workplaces covered under OSHA must establish a complete RPP when respiratory protection is required.
RPPs typically have nine parts including medical evaluations, fit testing, and training.
Medical evaluations
What is the purpose of a medical evaluation?
A medical evaluation determines your ability to wear a respirator.
How often do you need a medical evaluation?
OSHA requires a medical evaluation once, prior to initial fit testing and use in the workplace. However, you may need an additional evaluation if
- You, your supervisor, or your respiratory protection program administrator recognize signs or symptoms that may affect your ability to use the assigned respirator.
- A licensed healthcare professional determines that you have a condition that causes you to need another evaluation.
Fit testing
What is the purpose of fit testing?
Fit testing ensures that tight-fitting respirators form a complete seal to the face, which is important for providing the expected level of protection. Fit testing uses a test agent, either qualitatively detected by the wearer’s sense of taste, smell, or involuntary cough (irritant smoke) or quantitatively measured by an instrument, to verify the respirator’s fit.
How often should you get fit tested?
You should be fit tested annually and any time you use a different model, style, or size respirator. If your weight changes or facial/dental alterations occur, you may also need to undergo a fit test again to ensure your respirator remains effective.
Training
What is the purpose of training?
Training ensures that you know how to properly use, clean, and maintain your respirator.
How often should training occur?
You should receive training annually or when the need arises. A need may arise if the type of level of hazard changes or if you use a new type or model of respirator.
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Smoke Inhalation – Injuries and Poisoning
Smoke can suffocate people and sometimes also contains toxic chemicals produced by the burning substance. Some of these chemicals can damage the lungs or poison the body.
Many people who have been burned in fires have also inhaled smoke. Sometimes people inhale smoke without sustaining skin burns.
Inhaling small amounts of smoke usually causes no serious, lasting effects. However, if the smoke contains certain poisonous chemicals or is unusually dense or if inhalation is prolonged, serious problems can develop. Even common household materials such as plastics and fabrics can produce poisonous chemicals (toxic products of combustion) when they burn.
Smoke inhalation can cause problems in several ways:
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Suffocating the body with carbon monoxide
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Poisoning the body with toxic chemicals
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Damaging the windpipe, breathing passages, and/or lungs from toxic chemicals
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Burning the mouth and throat from hot gases
Carbon monoxide is a gas produced in many fires. When inhaled, carbon monoxide prevents the blood from carrying oxygen so tissues do not get enough oxygen (see also Carbon Monoxide Poisoning).
Many household and industrial substances release cyanide when burned and cause cyanide poisoning.
Inhalation of chemicals released in the smoke, such as hydrogen chloride, phosgene, sulfur dioxide, toxic aldehyde chemicals, and ammonia, can cause swelling and damage to the windpipe (trachea) and even the lungs. Eventually, the small airways leading to the lungs narrow, further obstructing airflow.
Hot smoke usually burns only the mouth and throat rather than the lungs because smoke cools quickly. However, an exception is steam, which carries much more heat energy than smoke and thus can also burn the airways in the lungs.
Symptoms of Smoke Inhalation
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headache, nausea, drowsiness, confusion, and coma.
Damage to the windpipe, breathing passages, or lungs can cause cough, wheezing and/or shortness of breath. These symptoms can occur right away or take up to 24 hours to develop.
Burns of the mouth and throat cause swelling that can make it difficult to breathe air in. People may have soot in the mouth or nose, singed nasal hairs, or burns around the mouth.
Diagnosis of Smoke Inhalation
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A doctor’s examination
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Often, chest x-ray and/or blood tests
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Sometimes, looking into the trachea and sometimes the lungs with a flexible viewing tube
Sometimes a doctor’s examination is all that is needed for people who have few or no symptoms and had only brief exposure to smoke.
People with symptoms usually need some testing, such as blood tests to measure oxygen and carbon monoxide levels and a chest x-ray. To assess the extent of injury due to smoke inhalation in people with significant symptoms, doctors may pass a flexible viewing tube (laryngoscope or bronchoscope) into the trachea.
Treatment of Smoke Inhalation
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For simple smoke inhalation, oxygen
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For tracheal burns, a breathing tube
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For difficulty breathing, sometimes medications and/or a ventilator
People who have symptoms caused by inhaled smoke are given oxygen through a face mask. If a tracheal burn is suspected, a breathing tube is inserted through the nose or mouth in case the trachea later swells and obstructs airflow. If people begin to wheeze, medications that open small airways, such as albuterol, may be given, usually as a mist that is combined with oxygen and inhaled through a face mask. If lung damage causes shortness of breath that persists despite use of a face mask and albuterol, a ventilator (People who have symptoms caused by inhaled smoke are given oxygen through a face mask. If a tracheal burn is suspected, a breathing tube is inserted through the nose or mouth in case the trachea later swells and obstructs airflow. If people begin to wheeze, medications that open small airways, such as albuterol, may be given, usually as a mist that is combined with oxygen and inhaled through a face mask. If lung damage causes shortness of breath that persists despite use of a face mask and albuterol, a ventilator (breathing machine) may be necessary.
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hemorrhoidectomy
Source: National Institutes of Health –
Related MedlinePlus Pages: Hemorrhoids
