Highlights from Mayo Clinic Health Letter September 2010

ROCHESTER, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Here are highlights from the September 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, 800-333-9037, extension 9771.

In Need of a Good Night’s Sleep? Most Sleep Problems can be Resolved

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- When a good night’s sleep is elusive, some sleuthing might be necessary to find a solution. But most sleep difficulties are treatable and addressing them often results in a better night’s sleep.

The September issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter includes an eight-page Special Report on Sleeping Well. Some highlights include:

Sleep isn’t a luxury: Restful sleep is just as important to health as adequate nutrition and exercise. Sleep is necessary to think clearly. Studies have shown that being well rested improves the body’s response to infection. Evidence suggests that brains are hard at work during sleep, possibly forming the pathways necessary for learning, making new memories and insights, and coming up with creative solutions to problems. Inadequate sleep is linked to depression and irritability as well as diabetes, weight problems and cravings for high-calorie, high-carbohydrate foods.

Sleep problems often can be treated: There’s a wide range of ways to address sleep problems, from eliminating naps to treating underlying illnesses. In fact, sleep problems often can be traced to treatable health issues. Examples include poor pain control, frequent nighttime urination, or illnesses that cause coughing or shortness of breath.

Medications may be used to treat insomnia, but most sleep aids are meant to be taken for a short time. They can lead to dependence or the effects can wear off. Behavior therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), also are helpful. CBT aims to replace negative thinking about sleep with more realistic, positive thinking. Studies have found that the long-term effectiveness of CBT is at least equal to medications alone -- and with no side effects.

Insomnia and depression often go hand in hand: Many people develop insomnia prior to being depressed. Studies show that unresolved insomnia increases the risk of depression. It’s not clear if one causes the other, but each can worsen if untreated.

Advising a physician about both insomnia and depression symptoms is important before determining a treatment plan. A sedating antidepressant, such as trazodone (Desyrel), is often used to treat insomnia and could help with depression, too. Other antidepressants may have stimulating properties and make insomnia worse.

Seeing Double? See a Doctor

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- Seeing double is more than disorienting and can be the sign of a serious underlying health concern. The September issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter recommends that new or unexplained double vision -- seeing two images of a single object -- warrants visiting a doctor as soon as possible. Double vision (diplopia) can originate in one or both eyes. The underlying cause can range from cataracts, a clouding of the eye’s lens, to a brain tumor.

Monocular is the term for double vision that originates in one eye and persists with a “ghost image” when the other eye is closed. Common causes for monocular double vision include irregularity in the thin film that keeps the eye’s surface moist; irregularity of the eye’s cornea or other lens abnormality; scarring of the cornea; a swelling or mass in the eyelid pressing on the eye’s clear covering; or a cataract, which scatters the light as it passes through the lens and prevents proper focusing. Generally, an ophthalmologist manages treatment for monocular double vision.

Binocular double vision originates in both eyes. (However, the double vision stops when either eye is closed.) Binocular double vision suggests that the eyes may be poorly aligned or that a possibly serious underlying medical issue may be present. It can be related to any of several conditions that affect the nerves, such as diabetes; hypertension; multiple sclerosis; brain injury; Grave’s disease, a disorder of the thyroid gland; or myasthenia gravis, an autoimmune disorder.

A sudden onset of double vision also may indicate a serious concern such as tumor, stroke or ruptured blood vessel in the brain (aneurysm.) Emergency medical care is necessary if sudden head pain occurs with double vision. These symptoms may be associated with infection or a tumor in the head. Identifying the underlying disorder and treating it may resolve the double vision.

Lingering Hoarseness Shouldn’t be Ignored

ROCHESTER, Minn. -- At some time, most people “lose their voice” due to a cold or exuberant cheering at a sports event. Symptoms usually improve with home care: plenty of liquids, sucking on hard candy or lozenges, and resting the voice.

But when symptoms last longer than two weeks, hoarseness shouldn’t be ignored, according to the September issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. The hoarseness could be the result of other health conditions, some of them serious.

The Mayo Clinic Health Letter covers common causes and treatments for hoarseness.

Repeated irritation of the vocal cords: Smoking, repeated overuse of the voice, corticosteroid inhalers used to treat asthma, frequent heartburn, excessive alcohol use or chronic coughing are among the causes of vocal cord irritation. Ongoing irritation can cause sores, callus-like patches on the vocal cords, and sometimes swelling. These conditions often will heal once the source of the irritation is removed. In some cases, surgery may be needed to remove anomalies that don’t resolve with conservative treatment.

Aging of tissues: Vocal cords lose tension and fullness with aging. Treatment may include injecting a substance into the vocal cords to help restore fullness.

Cancer of the larynx: People over age 60 who smoke or consume excessive amounts of alcohol are at highest risk for cancer of the larynx. Detected early, vocal cord cancer often can be successfully treated with surgery or radiation.

Complications of other health concerns: Hoarseness can be due to underlying health conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, hypothyroidism, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Treating the underlying condition may improve hoarseness. When nerves don’t recover, surgery can help realign the vocal cords, or injected agents can be used to form more permanent, artificial vocal cords.

Spasm of the vocal cord muscle: Spasms put undue tension on the vocal cords. Botulinum toxin (Botox) injections can help stop muscle spasms. Symptom relief usually lasts three to six months, and treatment needs to be repeated.

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.