Avenleigh wants to know what is in our vitamins and why do we take them, so she asks the pharmacist!

Laryngitis Laryngitis, known as inflammation of the larynx, is the most common cause of hoarseness and voice loss. It is very common in viral infections, such as a cold, flu, or adenovirus. Acute laryngitis is caused by an illness, while chronic laryngitis may be a secondary symptom of another problem like acid reflux, smoking, or severe thrush. Th…

Notes coming soon!By Cynthia Hendrix

Gag Reflex Basics The official name of your gag reflex is the pharyngeal reflex or laryngeal spasm. Trigger points for the gag reflex can be found on the roof of the mouth, back of the tongue, in the tonsil area, the uvula, and the back of the throat. The purpose of this reflex is to prevent objects from entering the throat that did not first progr…

Bad Breath Basics Halitosis, aka bad breath, can have many causes. Some bad breath you can prevent with the choices you make, but some bad breath can be a sign of a more serious issue or disease. Oral Health You should brush your teeth for at least 2 minutes twice a day, including the surface of your tongue, then rinse your mouth with an antibacter…

Dysphagia Basics Having difficulty swallowing or the inability to swallow is known as dysphagia. Symptoms of dysphagia include: Pain while swallowing The sensation of food stuck in the throat or chest Drooling Hoarseness Regurgitation Reflux Unexpected weight loss Choking, coughing, or gagging when swallowing Taking tiny bites Dysphagia by Phase Th…

The 3 Phases of Swallowing Oral Phase This phase includes chewing and saliva mixing with the food to form a bolus (a little glob of mashed up food). Then the tongue moves the bolus towards the back of the mouth. The tongue starts by pressing against the hard palate behind the front teeth. Then the sides of the tongue raise up to also press against …

What is a Tonsillectomy? A Tonsillectomy is a surgical procedure to remove the tonsils. Tonsil - immune system tissue in the back of the throat. -Ectomy = to remove something from the body. Removing the tonsils may be required if chronic tonsilitis is a problem. Chronic tonsilitis is defined as multiple infections in a row or an infection lasting 3…

Tonsils Basics Your tonsils can be found in the back of your throat. You can open your mouth and look in the mirror and see them on each side of your mouth behind your teeth and tongue. You can also feel them below your earlobes and behind your jaw bone. Tonsils are composed of lymph tissue since they are a part of your lymph system. They store whi…

Glossary Aguesia: no taste Hypoguesia: reduced ability to taste (no the same as when taste changes due to changes in ability to smell) Dysgeusia: dysfunctional taste - bad, salty, rotten, or metallic taste (metallic is the most common). Causes for Change Chemotherapy and radiation for cancer causes taste changes because the taste buds are rapid-cyc…

Review Smell plays a big part in your ability to taste. The bumps on your tongue that you can see are actually papillae. 4 Types of Papillae Filiform Filiform papillae are the most numerous papillae and are arranged in regular rows running parallel to the median sulcus. They are cone-shaped - either a single cone (like a volcano shape) or a frill o…

Burning Mouth Syndrome Burning Mouth Syndrome is defined as a burning sensation with no underlying cause. It may include dry mouth sensations with no true symptoms of dry mouth. BMS is accompanied by unremitting burning or pain but no mucosal changes or signs of injury or swelling. 3 Categories Increases throughout the day after waking Stays the sa…

Born With... Ankyloglossia is also known as a tongue tie. It is a result of a short frenulum. This issue is easily corrected if it interferes with eating and talking. Macroglossia is a large tongue. This is one of the identifiable characteristics of Down's Syndrome. It is described as the tongue appears to be bigger than space in the mouth. Infecte…

Tongue Basics Your tongue is made up of eight muscles. This is why it is called a muscular organ. It is the most important articulator in speech production. (A brief word dissection: articulate means to communicate something clearly. In medicine, articulate means to make a connection. It all makes sense!) The tip is called the apex. The crease down…

Teething Teething is mostly known as the phase of babies growing their first teeth. Eruption is when the tooth enamel shows through the gum tissue. A baby's first teeth grow in between 6 months and 2 years old. Before any of the teeth show, the gums can be swollen and bumpy. These symptoms can cause fussiness, sleeplessness, drooling, decreased app…

Types of Teeth Incisors: You have 4 on the top and 4 on the bottom. Yes, it sounds like "scissors"; they are the teeth and cut and tear food (or the enemy?). They are in the very front of your mouth. Canines: You have 2 on the top and 2 on the bottom. Yes, canine, like a dog; they are sharp and pointed. These teeth are good for gripping and tearing…

Mouth Issues Ulcers They are uncomfortable and mostly non-serious. Also known as "canker sores". Can take 2-3 weeks to completely heal. Anything lasting over 3 weeks should be checked out by your doctor or dentist. Ulcers can appear on the inside of the cheeks or lips, the roof of the mouth, or the tongue. A minor ulcer versus a major ulcer is dete…

Mouth Parts Lips: They are red due to blood flow. They have lots of nerve ending so they can be very sensitive. Our lips are used to manipulate food as we eat and make sounds as part of our speech. * The Divot above the center of your upper lip is called the philtrum. Gums: They are also known as the gingiva. Even though they are wet and look flesh…

Post-Manifesto Tidbits This is the heart and soul of why I have produced this podcast for 100 episodes. My Manifesto, if you will. The podcast is going to take a break for the summer to regroup and plan new and fun things! In the meantime, catch up on episodes you missed or re-listen to them all! If you want to stick close for sneak peaks of new ad…

Sneezing is very forceful in your body. Review: the inside of your nose is covered with mucous membranes, and that mucus traps up things so they don't get into your lungs. Some little particles float through the air and into your nose. They will land on those mucous membranes and irritate it. That irritation sends a signal to your sneeze center of …

Nose issues that cause your breathing to fail Congestion from allergies, viruses, or infections. Deviated septum - the septum (the bone that separates the nasal cavity and divides your nostrils) can get crooked and change the size and access of the nostrils or nasal cavity. Can be from trauma, or may gradually get crooked from chronic pressure. Tur…

Smell Basics Air goes in your nose and flows over the smell sensors. Your nose and sinus cavities act as a resonating chamber for your voice. That's why you sound funny when you hold your nose or when your nose is stopped up from a cold or allergies. This is important in talking and singing. What makes something smell? Volatile molecules evaporate …

Nose Basics Your nose is responsible for breathing and smelling. These things work better when it isn't stopped up. The part of your nose that you can see and touch is cartilage covered in skin. There is bone above it, beside your nose, below it, and right in the middle (inside your head). Part of the cartilage is stiff and hold shape, other parts …

PSA: Please don't stick things in your ear any larger than your elbow...and that includes your finger. Review Outer ear = the part that you can touch Middle ear = the area being the ear drum Inner ear = the cochlea and area responsible for your balance 3 common ear problems Ear infections (otitis media) Vertigo (and motion sickness) Tinnitus (ringi…

Ear Basics The auricle is the part of the ears you can see. It is made of cartilage (flexible tissue that doesn't have a large blood supply). Everything else requires a tool for the doctor to see inside. And the doctor can only see to the ear drum. The stuff behind the ear drum isn't visible because of the membrane that blocks it. The middle and in…

Allergy Basics Anaphylaxis = an out of control allergic reaction that can be life-threatening if medical treatment is not sought immediately EpiPens are a first-step self-treatment in the case of a major allergic reaction or anaphylaxis. My Allergy Testing Experience I got 33 injections!! Allergy testing started with a serum test as a baseline - ju…

Eye Conditions (not) in ABC Order Dry eye 48% of Americans over age 18 complain of dry eyes. Caused by environment, genetics, health conditions, eye procedures, medications. There are 2 reasons for dry eye: Inflammation blocks the free flow of fluid through the eye. Tear duct insufficiency - the ducts and glands don't produce adequate moisture for …

Eye Conditions in (not) ABC Order If something happens to your eyes that makes you want to ask the pharmacist if you should go to the doctor, the answer will most likely be "yes, go see a doctor." Even at emergency rooms, they will treat you and make you comfortable but always tell you to follow up with your eye doctor. Photopsias This is seeing th…

Eye Conditions in ABC order Color blindness It doesn't mean that someone sees the world in black and white. It's technically labeled as Red-Green color blindness, which means the world is seen in shades of yellow. The cones in your eyes (a certain shaped cells in your retina) are built to pick up different wavelengths of light (think ROYGBV). So th…

Eye Conditions in ABC order Your eyes work together so that the line of focus for each eye cross, and that is your most in focus image. So as your eyes make tiny adjustments, you can focus on things close up or far away. Amblyopia If you have a lazy eye, the muscles don't allow the eye to focus and coordinate with the strong eye. This can lead to d…

Remember: if a vitamin is good for one place in your body, it’s probably good for a lot of places in your body. It's a marketing ploy to call them eye vitamins. Eye Vitamins Thiamine (B-1): thiamine is used heavily in your liver, to help metabolize alcohol. Most well-known deficiency in alcoholics. Thiamine also helps nerves produce several neurotr…

*Disclaimer: most vitamins and minerals are good for ALL of your body. Eye Vitamins Vitamin C: helps make collagen, allows iron to be absorbed, and acts as a neurotransmitter co-factor (helps in the process of creating and sending messages). Vitamin E: antioxidant, it traps up free radicals so they don’t damage cells in important organs. Beta-Carot…

Eyes Your eyes are more complex than any camera on the planet! Cornea: a concave lens on the front of your eye that focuses light Iris: the colored part, a diaphragm that controls how much light comes in (the pupil is the hole the light enters = equivalent to the aperture of a camera) Lens: the "focuser", uses a process called accommodation to focu…

Brainstem Basics Your brainstem is the most basic area of the brain. The area of the brain that we have in common with almost all other levels of the animal kingdom. It extends right into the spinal cord. A lot of other whole body involuntary reflexes come from the spinal cord - that's another story for another day). 3 main parts Medulla oblongata …

Basics The blood brain barrier is the last layer of cells between what's in your blood and the extracellular fluid around your brain cells. You're born with it! It's main job is filtration. 2 ways things get through the blood brain barrier: Passive diffusion: small, neutral molecules (water, gases, lipid-soluble) Active transport: glucose, amino ac…

*Sorry again for crying baby* Male DNA In The News The news reported that scientists had discovered a link between male DNA found in the brain of the women who gave birth to sons. Microchimerism = DNA fragment of another organism that incorporates into you This particular microchimerism involves the Y chromosome (because otherwise, you wouldn't kno…

Cerebellum Basics Your cerebellum is a separate part of your brain that sits under the occipital lobe. It is responsible for unconscious motor functions, and is organized differently than the cerebrum. It is packed tightly together in neat folds like an accordion. And it has 3 lobes: Anterior (in the front) - it keeps the body visually "centered" a…

Occipital Lobe Review A brain lesion is a place in the brain that doesn't fire when it should or fires sporadically when it shouldn't. Occipital lobe lesions can lead to hallucinations that range from amorphous to extremely detailed. Field blindness: a lesion causes the occipital lobe to not translate the information from one or more spots of the v…

Occipital Lobe Basics The occipital lobe sits in the back of your head, it directly connects to your eyes. 2 Streams of messages that your eyes send to your occipital lobe. Ventral stream - translates "what" Dorsal stream - translates "where" and "how" It sends translated information to the necessary part of the brain to respond or react to what yo…

Temporal Lobe Problems Temporal lobe lesions can lead to dyslexia. Receptive aphasia: can't receive or translate speech meaning Word deafness: words are only noise Temporal lobe lesions can also lead to deafness. The ears are fine, but the wires that translate input as sound are damaged. (Possibly what happened to Helen Keller). Callbacks Meningiti…

Temporal Lobe Basics The temporal lobe is located on each side of your head by your ears. It helps you process auditory input and identify sounds. There is a special area called Wernicke's area. It helps identify the meaning behind speech and vocal tones. This is different from Broca's area, which is just able to identify some sounds as being words…

Sugar Basics Sugar in your blood = glucose Your body prefers glucose over any other sugar out there. -ose = sugar suffix GlucOSE FructOSE - fruit sugar SucrOSE - table sugar SucralOSE - Splenda Your body can turn any of these other sugars in to glucose. It can actually turn other carbohydrates, and even non-sugar molecules into glucose if it really…

Basics Brain lesion = a group of brain cells that look different from surrounding cells on a brain scan Dark lesions - an area where the brain cells are missing or an area where signal is not firing (damaged cells) Light lesions - an area where the signals are firing at the wrong times (like a shorted out wire). Seizure - when the brain fires the e…

Takeaway point Talk to the people at the practice at which you are wanting to start receiving care. If the doctor is not available for a direct interview, the office manager may be able to answer questions regarding the practitioners and their style of communicating with patients and their approach to care. Connect with Emily You can contact Emily …

Parietal Lobe It sits in the top of your head Responsible for translating: touch, temperature, and pain. So does it tickle? Or hurt? How does it hurt - throbbing, stabbing, sharp, dull? The way your body translates temperature is based on the relative temperature to the body part that is being touched. Proprioception - ability to know where you are…

Recap Frontal Lobe Motor cortex - voluntary muscle movements, including the muscles that control speech Language translation Prefrontal cortex - personality, judgment Dopamine The main chemical, or neurotransmitter, that functions in the frontal lobe is dopamine. Reward System and Addiction Dopamine is part of your brain's reward system. So think a…

**Many apologies for the screaming baby*** Basics Frontal Lobe - in the front of the brain (behind your forehead) This is the area that contains your personality. A stroke or brain injury or damage can alter someone’s personality drastically. We take personality tests, but they are too basic to take such a complex part of you and put it in a quadra…

Review Disease like Alzheimer's and dementia are grey matter issues - the creation and translation of messages are interrupted or dysfunctional. White matter is like the power cords that are responsible for sending the signals. White matter diseases Hypomylenation - cells are created with a low amount of myelin; premature, chromosome-linked defects…

Review Grey matter - neuron cell bodies that create and translate messages White matter - myelin-covered axons that transmits the messages across the brain Conditions that affect grey matter Dementia - memory starts to fail with age (due to the death of brain cells). Newest formed memories get lost first (Last In First Out), and it progresses until…

Brain Basics All brains are wrinkly. Wrinkles in your brain are a good thing. Wrinkles are biology’s way of maximizing surface area while conserving space. The plateaus of the brain are called gyri (or a gyrus). The smaller, sunken in wrinkles are called sulci (or a sulcus). Sunken in sulci - that’s how I remember it. The larger canyons of the brai…