Tonsil stones are small lumps of hardened calcium, other mineral salts, bacteria, and food debris that develop on the tonsils. They are usually harmless, but they may lead to foul-smelling breath and can occasionally cause discomfort. They tend to resolve without treatment, though a surgeon can remove the tonsils to treat uncomfortable stones, if necessary.
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Jessica Lee, MD, practices general otolaryngology at Charleston ENT and Allergy in South Carolina. After several years in clinical and surgical practice, Dr. Lee wanted to learn more about the impact of nutrition, activity, and sleep on general health and ear, nose, and throat health, so she pursued additional training in integrative, lifestyle, and functional medicine topics and became board-certified in lifestyle medicine in 2021.
Her practice centers on first addressing the lifestyle causes of disease and chronic illness, with the understanding and ability to use medical and surgical care for more acute concerns. She is also the co-founder and director of the Keto Hope Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to helping families use the ketogenic diet as medical treatment for epilepsy
Lee enjoys cooking, strength training, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
David L. Causey, MD, is a board-certified internist who spent his medical career working in the Department of Veterans Affairs system. During his tenure, he worked in the primary care and disability evaluation divisions, piloted one of the system's first telehealth programs, and worked in the home health and hospice divisions.
Prior to pursuing his medical degree, he worked in healthcare administration and as a medical writer and editor for such organizations as Healthology, Revolution Health, and Healthwise. Dr. Causey has participated in medical missions to Ghana, Tonga, the Dominican Republic, Peru, Nigeria, Brazil, Fiji, Vanuatu, Haiti, and the U.S. Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina.
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