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Welcome to the Patient Education Library of Midwest Chest Consultants
We invite you to explore our comprehensive list of resources and educational materials designed to help educate you about the various pulmonary and sleep conditions treated by this practice. Simply click on a topic below to learn more.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your condition or treatment, please feel free to contact Midwest Chest Consultants in St. Charles, Missouri at (636) 946-1650. To request an appointment, use our secure online appointment request form.
This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation, examination, or the medical advice of your doctor. This information should not be relied upon to determine a diagnosis or course of treatment.
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Allergies
An allergic reaction occurs when the immune system overreacts to a normally nonthreatening substance. There are many types, causes, and symptoms of allergic reactions. Different areas of the body can be affected depending on the allergic trigger. Some allergic reactions ... Read More
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Anaphylaxis & Anaphylactic Shock
Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction with rapid onset of symptoms. Anaphylaxis usually occurs in people after they are exposed to a substance they are severely allergic to such as foods, medications, and insect stings. It has been estimated that up to 15% ... Read More
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Asthma
Asthma is a lung disease. Asthma causes the breathing tubes in the lungs to temporarily narrow. People with asthma have difficulty breathing air in and out of their lungs. An allergen or irritant in the environment usually triggers an asthma flare-up. ... Read More
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Bronchitis
Bronchitis is a condition of inflammation of the large air passages in the lungs. It occurs when the mucous lining in the airways becomes irritated and swollen. Cigarette smoking, air pollution, and upper respiratory infections are common causes of bronchitis. ... Read More
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is an irreversible lung condition. Diseases classified as COPD cause swelling of the large airways in the lungs, which obstructs or blocks the flow of air. Symptoms of COPD include shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, ... Read More
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Common Cold
Colds are a very common medical condition. There are over two hundred viruses that can cause the common cold. The viruses are easily transmitted from person to person. Coughing, sneezing, a sore throat, and a runny nose are typical cold ... Read More
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Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure or CPAP (pronounced “see – pap”) is a treatment used for breathing problems where mild air pressure flows constantly into the patient’s mouth and/or nose to keep airways open. A machine works in conjunction with a ... Read More
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Emphysema
Emphysema is a lung disease. The condition of emphysema makes it difficult to exhale air and empty the lungs when breathing. In turn, the lungs are unable to completely fill up with fresh air when inhaling. This leads to a ... Read More
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Environmental Allergy
Runny noses, itchy watery eyes, and sneezing bother many Americans with environmental allergies, especially during pollen season. While outdoor allergies from grass, weeds, and trees may be seasonal, indoor allergies from dust mites and pet dander can cause problems all ... Read More
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Flu and Flu Shots
The flu is a respiratory disease that affects the nose, throat, and lungs. The influenza virus type A, B, or C causes it. The flu is very contagious. Symptoms include fever, chills, body aches, cough, and a lack of energy. ... Read More
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Hoarseness
Hoarseness can make it sound like you have a “frog in your throat.” Your voice may sound rough and change throughout the day. In most cases, hoarseness is not the sign of a serious problem and is easily treated by ... Read More
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Idiopathic Hypersomnia - Sleeping 10+ hours
Idiopathic hypersomnia is a serious sleep disorder. People with idiopathic hypersomnia sleep for long periods during the night, may nap during the day, and still feel excessively sleepy no matter how much they sleep. The cause of idiopathic hypersomnia is ... Read More
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Insect Sting Allergy
Itching and swelling from insect stings annoy millions of Americans each year. For some people, stings from certain insects can cause allergic reactions. While most stinging insects do not cause an allergic reaction, honeybees, yellow jackets, hornets, wasps, and fire ... Read More
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Insomnia
Insomnia is the inability to achieve a restful and sustained night’s sleep. You may have trouble falling asleep, staying asleep, or waking up too early in the morning. A lack of sleep may make you feel tired during the day, ... Read More
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Lung Cancer
Lung cancer occurs when cells in the lung grow abnormally out of control and form tumors. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. Smoking causes the majority of lung cancer cases. Early stages of ... Read More
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Medication Allergy
Many people have experienced unwanted side effects of medications, but an allergic reaction to a medication is not the same thing as a side effect or adverse effect. An allergic reaction is an immune system response that can be mild ... Read More
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Napping
In the United States, we are all familiar with young children requiring afternoon naps and older adults occasionally falling asleep after a meal. In recent years, napping for active adults has become more and more popular. Many adults find themselves ... Read More
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Narcolepsy
Narcolepsy is a neurological sleep disorder that consists of sudden unexpected episodes of daytime sleepiness. The episodes typically last about 15 minutes, and a person may have several episodes at any time or place during the day. Uncontrolled narcolepsy is ... Read More
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Nightmares
Nightmares or bad dreams are commonly experienced by children as a natural part of growing up. They may occur in adults from time to time as well. People experiencing stressful life events or sleep disorders or who use alcohol, illegal ... Read More
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Nocturia - Excessive Nighttime Urination
Nocturia is a condition that causes people to wake up numerous times during the night and urinate. Nocturia is a common cause of insomnia, the inability to sleep at night. There are many simple and not so simple causes of ... Read More
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Obesity & Sleep: Obesity Hypoventilation Syndrome (OHS)
People with significant obesity are at risk for developing obesity hypoventilation syndrome (OHS). OHS results when the body does not receive enough oxygen and does not eliminate enough carbon dioxide while breathing during sleep. OHS can cause extreme daytime sleepiness ... Read More
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Older Adults and Sleep Problems
Sleep problems are common among older adults. Medical conditions, sleep disorders, and lifestyle factors can contribute to a reduction in sleep quality. Older adults may have problems falling asleep and remaining asleep or awakening too early in the morning. Lifestyle ... Read More
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Pediatrics - Asthma
Asthma is a lung disease. Asthma causes the breathing tubes in the lungs to temporarily narrow. People with asthma have difficulty breathing air in and out of their lungs. An allergen or irritant in the environment usually triggers an asthma ... Read More
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Pneumonia
Pneumonia can be a serious life-threatening illness that needs medical attention. Pneumonia results from germs that cause an infection in the lungs. Many people with pneumonia are treated with prescription medication at home, but others require more intensive treatment and a ... Read More
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Restless Legs Syndrome
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition that causes odd sensations in the legs and an urgency to move the legs. The symptoms become worse while resting or lying down to fall asleep. RLS is not a life-threatening condition, but ... Read More
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Sinusitis
Sinusitis is a fairly common condition. It can develop following a cold, upper respiratory infection, or allergic reaction. Environmental irritants, certain medical conditions, and structural abnormalities can contribute to sinusitis. Sinusitis causes pressure and pain in the head and face. It can ... Read More
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Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a common and under-diagnosed sleep disorder. It causes repeated episodes of stopped breathing (apneic episodes) and startling or gasping for air during sleep. People with sleep apnea frequently do not realize that they have it. The consequences ... Read More
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Sleep Deprivation
Everyone may experience sleep deprivation at one time or another but ongoing sleep deprivation can lead to serious problems. Sleep deprivation causes excessive daytime sleepiness and decreases your ability to perform your regular activities. Ongoing sleep deprivation can lead to ... Read More
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Sleep Walking
Sleepwalking is a disorder that causes people to sit up in bed, walk, or perform tasks while sleeping. The person’s eyes may be open, and they may appear to be awake. Sleep walking occurs more frequently among children. Sleep walking ... Read More
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Sleep: How it Works
Sleep is vital for healthy living and life, just like eating and breathing. Sleep allows your body to rest. During sleep, your muscles and tissues grow and repair. Researchers believe that during sleep your brain performs important functions, such as ... Read More
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Snoring
Snoring is very common among adults. During sleep, the airway muscles in the throat relax. As you breathe in, the airway vibrates, making noise. Snoring frequently results from turbulent airflow and narrowing in the nose or throat that creates noise ... Read More
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Women and Sleep Problems
All women may experience problems sleeping from time to time, but hormonal changes during specific times of life, such as with premenstrual syndrome, pregnancy, perimenopause, and menopause may create an ongoing problem. Certain medical conditions and lifestyle factors can contribute ... Read More
Copyright © - iHealthSpot Interactive - www.iHealthSpot.com
This information is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It should not be used in place of an individual consultation or examination or replace the advice of your health care professional and should not be relied upon to determine diagnosis or course of treatment.
The iHealthSpot patient education library was written collaboratively by the iHealthSpot editorial team which includes Senior Medical Authors Dr. Mary Car-Blanchard, OTD/OTR/L and Valerie K. Clark, and the following editorial advisors: Steve Meadows, MD, Ernie F. Soto, DDS, Ronald J. Glatzer, MD, Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, Christopher M. Nolte, MD, David Applebaum, MD, Jonathan M. Tarrash, MD, and Paula Soto, RN/BSN. This content complies with the HONcode standard for trustworthy health information. The library commenced development on September 1, 2005 with the latest update/addition on February 16, 2022. For information on iHealthSpot’s other services including medical website design, visit www.iHealthSpot.com.
