Sleep Apnea

Snoring
Snoring is an annoying but common phenomenon. According to the American Academy of Otolaryngology (AAO), up to 45 percent of American adults snore and 25 percent do so on a regular basis. (More »
HLCMS

Drowsiness
Feeling abnormally sleepy or tired during the day is commonly known as drowsiness. Drowsiness may lead to additional symptoms, such as forgetfulness or falling asleep at inappropriate times.A variety of things may cause drowsiness. These can rang  More »
HLCMS

Choking
Choking occurs when an object, food, or liquid becomes lodged in the throat. Children often choke as a result of placing foreign objects into their mouths. Adults normally choke due to breathing in fumes or eating or drinking too rapidly. Most pe  More »
HLCMS

Hyperactivity
Hyperactivity means being more active than is usual or desirable. Depending on the cause, hyperactivity has many different characteristics. The most common of these are: constant movement aggressive behavior impulsive behavior being easily dis  More »
HLCMS

Excessive Yawning
Yawning is a mostly involuntary process and is usually triggered by sleepiness or fatigue. It is a very natural response to being tired. Yawning is the involuntary process of opening the mouth and inhaling deeply, filling the lungs with air. Some  More »
HLCMS

Smoking
Smoking is the inhalation of the smoke of burning tobacco encased in cigarettes, pipes, and cigars. Casual smoking is the act of smoking only occasionally, usually in a social situation or to relieve stress . A smoking habit is a physical addictio...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine

Obesity
Obesity is an abnormal accumulation of body fat, usually 20% or more over an individual's ideal body weight. Obesity is associated with increased risk of illness, disability, and death. The branch of medicine that deals with the study and treatmen...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine

Snoring
Snoring is a sound generated during sleep when the roof of the mouth vibrates.  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Medicine

Enlarged Adenoids
Adenoids are small tissues located at the back of the throat. They are similar to the tonsils, and located right above them. Both adenoids and tonsils are part of the immune system.Adenoids are present at birth, and they grow until a child is b  More »
HLCMS

Hypothyroidism
Hypothyroidism, or a condition of insufficient thyroid hormone in the body, develops when the thyroid gland fails to produce or secrete as much thyroxine (T 4 ) and triiodothyronine (T 3 ) as the body needs. Because T 4 regulates such essential fu...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine

Pulse Oximetry
The pulse oximeter is a photoelectric instrument for measuring oxygen saturation of the blood . A pulse oximeter uses infrared light and a photo sensor to detect the amount of oxygen in a patient's blood. (Illustration by Argosy . Courtesy of Gale...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Nursing and Allied Health

History and Physical Exam
The health status of populations and of individuals is assessed for many reasons. Assessing needs for care helps guide the allocation of resources— diagnostic assessments guide treatment, prognostic assessments contribute to planning, and assessin...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Public Health

Full Sleep Study
Polysomnography is a study or test done while a person is fully asleep. You will be observed while you sleep so that your doctor can record data about your sleep patterns and identify any sleep disorders. Your doctor will measure your brain waves,  More »
HLCMS

Surgical removal of tonsils
Tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the tonsils. The tonsils are part of the lymphatic system, which is responsible for fighting infection.  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery

Tracheostomy
A tracheostomy is a medical procedure-either temporary or permanent-in which a tube is surgically implanted into a person's windpipe so that he or she can breathe. The tube is inserted through a cut in the neck below the vocal cords, all  More »
HLCMS

Adenoidectomy
An adenoidectomy is the surgical removal of the adenoids—small lumps of tissue that lie in the back of the throat behind the nose.  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery

Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
Nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy is a non-surgical treatment that provides a steady flow of air to the lungs through the nose. Nasal CPAP is often prescribed for those with obstructive sleep apnea, a sleep disorder that dis  More »
HLCMS

Modafinil
MODAFINIL (moe DAF i nil) is used to treat excessive sleepiness caused by certain sleep disorders. This includes narcolepsy, sleep apnea, and shift work sleep disorder.  More »
GOLD

Shiatsu
The practice of applying finger pressure to specific acupoints throughout the body has been used in China since 2000 BC, prior to the use of acupuncture. Acupressure techniques are widely practiced internationally for relaxation, wellness promotio...  More »
NaturalStandard

Heart Disease
All types of heart disease share common traits and have key differences. Learn about the different types, including coronary, ischemic, and congenital.  More »
HLCMS

Stroke
A stroke is a medical emergency where part of the brain is deprived of oxygen. There are four major kinds of stroke: cerebral thrombosis, cerebral embolism, subarachnoid hemorrhage & intracerebral hemorrhage.  More »
HLCMS

High Blood Pressure
Hypertension, or high blood pressure (HBP), increases the risk of heart attack, stroke & other health problems. Learn HBP symptoms & get treatment under an MD's care.  More »
HLCMS

Lack of adequate sleep
Problems involving disruption in sleep pattern or inability to sleep. Sleep is a period of decreased activity and muscle relaxation, characterized by patterns of deep sleep (where brain waves are slower, called non-rapid eye movement sleep) altern...  More »
Gale Encyclopedia of Childhood and Adolescence

Cor Pulmonale
Cor pulmonale is a condition that most commonly arises out of complications from pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure). It is also known as right-sided heart failure because it occurs within the right ventricle of your heart. Cor pulmo  More »
HLCMS