Sweat or perspiration is the body’s way to cool itself. We tend to sweat more when we are hot and less when are feeling cold. Most people see sweating as an uncomfortable and undesirable process but it is actually a life saving mechanism. Sweating excessively is one of the more commonly known abnormalities with perspiration. It is often a cause of great distress. On the other hand, sweating too little or even not at all especially in hot environments can be dangerous and even fatal.

What is anhidrosis?

Anhidrosis is the medical term for no sweating. This means that a person is unable to perspire as would be normally expected. A similar term is hypohidrosis. This means that the sweating is at very low levels as would be the norm for the situation. Disturbance in sweating in this way allows the body temperature to rise and eventually lead to heat-related illnesses. In hot environments, this can be fatal within hours or days. Anhidrosis is usually a consequence of some underlying problem or disease which needs to first be treated for sweating to be restored. Patients with certain causes of anhidrosis may never be able to sweat as normal and have to adapt their lifestyle to avoiding heat and keeping cool through artificial methods.

continue reading Anhidrosis and Hypohidrosis (No Sweating and Low Perspiration)

We all experience itching now and then. Sometimes it is due to skin irritation while at other times it occurs for no known reason. Intense and persistent itching, especially where there is a rash, is usually a skin disease. However, sometimes ongoing itching has no physical cause. It can be related to nervousness or anxiety but is just temporary. If the itching is ongoing and skin is scratched constantly over a long period of time, it can eventually lead to changes in the thickness and texture of the skin.

continue reading Neurodermatitis (Lichen Simplex Chronicus) Chronic Scratch Rash

Ear problems are one of the common complications of flying. It is not always a problem for every person. Some may feel a slight discomfort, other a slight popping sensation when landing or even with takeoff. However, many people experience a more severe form of this ear problem. It is painful, affects hearing, may trigger vomiting, dizziness and even cause bleeding from the ears.

What is aerotitis media?

Aerotitis media is the medical term for unequal air pressure on either side of the eardrum. This mainly arises with air travel but can also occur when working in a pressurized environment or traveling over different altitudes in a short period of time. In very rare cases, mild aerotitis media can occur with rapidly descending a high hill. Slow descent and gradual changes in ear pressure are usually not a problem.

continue reading Aerotitis Media (Plane Ear Pain, Flying Ear Pressure Problems)

Most of us will experience a sore throat several times in life. It tends to come with the flu or a cold and often goes away in a few days without need for medication. In most of these cases we give little thought to what is happening in the throat. Located within the throat are small clumps of lymphoid tissue, a part of the immune system, known as tonsils. It traps germs like bacteria and viruses from the air that enters the throat and destroys it. Sometimes a sore throat is due to inflamed tonsils although the surrounding tissue of the throat is also usually inflamed.

What is tonsillitis?

Tonsillitis is inflammation of the tonsils in the throat. The term tonsillopharyngitis is often preferred because the tonsils as well as the surrounding tissue of the throat (pharynx) are affected at the same time. It is usually the tonsils that can be seen on either side at the back of the throat, known as the palatine tonsils, that are inflamed in tonsillopharyngitis. The tonsils at the back of the nose (adenoids) and tongue (lingual tonsils) which cannot be seen may also be affected. Tonsillitis is more common in children between 5 to 15 years of age and is one of the most common reasons for surgery in childhood.

continue reading Tonsillitis (Swollen Tonsils, Sore Throat Tonsils)

What is urticaria?

Urticaria, commonly known as hives, is a condition where there is red, itchy swellings on the skin (wheals or welts) that appears and disappears often for no known reason. It can appear with large swelling just under the skin which is known as angioedema. Sometimes the swelling is of the airways and can lead to difficulty breathing, suffocation and even death. Urticaria may be acute or chronic depending on the duration of time that it exists. Sometimes it can come and go repeatedly in which case it is said to be episodic urticaria. The condition may affect 1 out of 6 people at least once in their lifetime but in most cases it is acute and never occurs again.

continue reading Urticaria (Hives, Itchy Red Skin Welts) and Angioedema (Swelling)