Doggone snoring - Body: Q & A - Questions and Answers

Everyone tells me I snore. I think I even keep my dog up at night. Why do I, and how can I stop?

Loud, frequent snoring can definitely be a nighttime annoyance, but it could also be a serious health issue. According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, 1 percent of kids who snore suffer from sleep and breathing problems. If you struggle to breathe while snoring, you might have Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). If this is the case, see your doctor ASAP. Otherwise, Dr. Martin McVeigh of Atlanta says to restore peace and quiet by making some simple changes-sleep on your side instead of your back, or use a humidifier. Surgery might also help by removing tonsils and adenoids that prevent proper breathing.

I have this gross bump on my eyelid, and it's so painful. What is it?

Sounds like a sty--a red, painful lump, caused by a bacterial infection, at the root of your eyelash. It fills with puss and swells, but, fortunately, Dr. Maureen O'Neil of Santa Monica, Calif., says sties usually disappear in a few days. Meantime, relieve the pain by applying a warm, damp cloth to your eyelid 10 minutes, four times a day. To prevent further infections, keep the area clean and dry. Also, wash your hands frequently, and keep them away from your eyes. If the sty stays or affects your vision, see your doc. She might prescribe a topical antibiotic cream, or pierce the pesky lump to relieve pressure.

I have really bad acne scars on my face from popping pimples. Can I get rid of them?

Now you know not to pop a zit! It almost always makes the imperfection worse. Say you have a school dance, and a big red honker appears on the tip of your nose. Don't squeeze it to death. A dermatologist can inject a hydrocortisonelike cream to reduce redness and inflammation. Or she can open up the pimple. Neither procedure leaves scars. Keep that in mind next time you get the urge to squeeze. Dr. Ronald Davis, clinical professor of dermatology at University of Texas Southwestern says many scars improve with time. "Some scars are more noticeable initially because they are red," he says, "but they fade in time. They will improve as you get older." In cases of severe acne scars, Dr. Davis recommends microdermabrasion, a procedure that removes the outer layer of dead skin cells to gradually fade the scars. Also, a laser treatment is now being developed to stimulate collagen that helps fill the scars in and make them less prominent.

Sometimes my period is really light, and then it gets havey and even clumpy. How do I know if my flow is normal?

It's totally normal to have a rather light period one month and a heavier one the next. "The average menstrual flow tends to be four to five days of heavy flow," says Ob/Gyn Dr. Lee Ellen Morrone of New York City, "but you should not be soaking through a pad every hour." As for clumping, that is blood clotting. Small clots are not unusual, especially in the morning due to blood sitting overnight in your body. However, if you pass a lot of clots, or find a severe change in terms of duration or heaviness, see your doctor to rule out any hormonal problems or abnormalities.

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