Blog & Columns
Useful information about health and Korean medicine.
Total 207 posts
Why we look all the way down to your feet when jaw treatment doesn't last
Their jaw feels stiff and their neck and shoulders are always tight. They've had just those areas treated at several places, but it comes back before long. In cases like this, looking only at the upper body won't give an answer. So we look at the whole body.
Why we check your jaw when you come in for neck and shoulder pain
They say that every afternoon the back of their neck stiffens and their head starts to throb. Massage or physical therapy makes it better that day, but it's back the next. Most people assume it's their posture.
When your child's jaw clicks and they complain of headaches
Their jaw makes a sound every time they open their mouth, and they come home from school and rest because of a headache. Some children also say they hear sounds in their ears. Children aren't good at describing pain.
When chewing hurts so much you've switched to soft foods
They say their jaw hurts sharply when they open their mouth or chew, so they've started avoiding tough foods and eating only soft ones. Mealtimes have become a burden. Many come to us after trying several other places.
When heat rushes to your face and keeps you from sleeping well
Their face flushes hot, they sweat only around the head, they wake several times a night, and they feel even more tired after sleeping. Many come in worried that menopause has started. Sometimes it has, and sometimes it hasn't. We sort that out first.
When your child goes to bed late and can't get up in the morning
They fall asleep at 1 or 2 a.m. and get up at 7, day after day, and are always tired during the day. During exam periods, they even get stomachaches. Parents come in thinking it's a stamina problem. But when we look closely, lack of sleep often comes first.
For people who sweat a lot and sleep lightly
They sweat a lot from the hands and feet or all over, and wake up with their clothes damp. They also say it takes more than an hour to fall asleep after lying down. Some come in for sweating, and when we ask, it turns out sleep is the problem — and sometimes it's the other way around.
When your heart pounds as soon as you lie down and you can't fall asleep
If you have chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness as if you might faint, or a pulse that is very fast or irregular, heart tests come first. Have your thyroid function checked as well. It's a common cause of palpitations and sleep problems happening together.
When ringing in your ears keeps you from sleeping
If you suddenly lost hearing in one ear or a sound suddenly appeared, see an ENT doctor first. In that case, a few days can change the outcome. Sound in only one ear, sound with dizziness, or sound that beats like a pulse also needs that care first.
When waking up to use the bathroom at night is really a sleep problem
Your sleep keeps getting broken by several trips to the bathroom at night. Many also say they keep feeling the urge even though they don't pass much urine. We need to tell apart whether you wake because of the bathroom, or go to the bathroom because you woke up.
Why we press on your abdomen when you come in for sleep problems
Because many people who can't sleep also have an uncomfortable stomach. When your digestive system is still working at night, sleep becomes shallow. People are often puzzled when we say we'd like to press on their abdomen, so we explain why first.
What do we look at when you sleep but don't feel rested?
You spend plenty of time in bed, yet your body feels heavy in the morning. Many people also mention vivid dreams all night. People like this rarely use the word "insomnia," because they think they do sleep.