How To Use Ear Drops Correctly
Ear drops are an effective medication to treat a variety of common ailments. They are available both over the counter or through a prescription at places like Fort Wayne Custom Rx. Let’s take a look at some common types of ear drops, the conditions they treat as well as how to use them safely. Conditions…
How Is Eustachian Tube Dysfunction Treated?
The Eustachian tubes are the passageways that connect your middle ears to the back of your throat. Their jobs are to allow fluid to drain from the middle ear and equalize air pressure between your middle ear and the environment. If your Eustachian tubes aren’t functioning correctly, you may be diagnosed with Eustachian tube dysfunction….
What to Eat When You Have a Sore Throat
According to an article published in the journal BMJ Clinical Evidence, “About 10% of people present to primary healthcare services with sore throat each year.” If you’re experiencing a sore throat now, you may be wondering what you can do to relieve it. In fact, some of the foods you eat and beverages you consume…
What Should I Do if Water Gets Stuck in My Ear?
A common ear infection caused by water getting trapped in the ear canal is called swimmer’s ear, or otitis externa. According to an article published in the National Library of Medicine, “Approximately 10% of people will develop otitis externa during their lifetime.” To prevent swimmer’s ear, it’s essential that you remove the water in your…
Wireless Technology for Unparalleled Sound Quality and Convenience
Hearing aids have become very sophisticated over the years, with features undreamt of just a generation ago. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the advent of wireless connectivity. Thanks to the proliferation of Bluetooth® technology, today’s hearing devices are more versatile than ever, and feature unparalleled sound quality and convenience. What is Bluetooth? Bluetooth…
What to Know About Getting Your Ears Cleaned by an ENT
If your ears become impacted with earwax—in other words, if earwax becomes stuck in your ear canals—it can be uncomfortable. When this happens, it’s important that you don’t attempt to remove the wax yourself, especially in an unsafe way. Instead, you should schedule an appointment with an ENT (ear, nose and throat) physician to have…
Why Am I Dizzy?
Understanding the Symptoms & Treatment of Vestibular Conditions like Vertigo Dizziness or imbalance is a common complaint that can affect people of all ages. It is the reason for many emergency room (ER) visits and further visits to primary care providers. Symptoms of dizziness can be described as a room-spinning sensation, lightheaded feeling, disorientation, tilting/rocking…
Tips for Managing a Stuffy Nose
While not serious, nasal congestion or a stuffy nose can be annoying to deal with and interfere with your day-to-day activities. Let’s look at a few of the best ways to manage your symptoms and get you feeling well again. Six Ways To Relieve Nasal Congestion Shower. Steam from a hot shower can help to…
Inspire® is here to change the way you sleep
Maybe you’ve struggled with sleep apnea for many years and didn’t realize you had a problem. Has your spouse or partner ever woken you up to ask that you stop snoring? Have you struggled to get a much needed night of rest because the person next to you cannot stop snoring? This may be due…
What Causes Tightness in the Throat?
Several conditions can cause tightness in the throat. Let’s look at a few of the more common causes, as well as when to seek treatment. Common Causes of Throat Tightness GERD/Acid reflux. Reflux occurs when stomach acid flows back up into the esophagus and often causes heartburn. If it happens regularly, it’s known as gastroesophageal…
Why Do My Ears and Throat Hurt Simultaneously?
All of us have experienced a sore throat or ear pain at some point in our lives. If you currently find yourself dealing with both at the same time, you may be confused as to what is causing your symptoms. Let’s take a look at a few conditions that can cause discomfort in both the…
How to Prevent ENT Disorders
Otolaryngologists, also known as ENT physicians, diagnose and treat conditions that affect the ears, nose and throat. While an ENT physician is happy to care for these types of ailments, you may want to save yourself the trip and remain healthy by taking the following measures to prevent common ENT disorders. Ear Infections An ear…
3 Main Concerns for First-Time Hearing Aid Users
If you’ve considered hearing aids for a while but are avoiding a consultation, you’re not alone. Many people who experience hearing loss will wait to get a consultation for years. That’s many years of trying to distinguish the mumbles from your family, feeling left out of conversations, having a hard time on the phone and…
When Your Child Should See an ENT: 3 Top Reasons Children Visit the Doctor
Ear, nose and throat concerns are among the top reasons that children see their doctor. This is because they are especially sensitive to issues like ear infections and food allergies, in addition to certain congenital disabilities such as cleft palates requiring treatment at a young age to prevent complications later. The most common conditions we…
Snoring: NothingTo Joke About
People who snore are often the brunt of jokes, but it’s no laughing matter. Chronic snoring is a real problem that can cause relationship tension, drowsiness and fatigue, and lead to lapses in memory and concentration. Often, it’s an indication of a serious health disorder such as sleep apnea. If you are a snorer, you’re…
Should I Fly With an Ear Infection?
The holiday season usually brings with it more travel and unfortunately, more people coming down with colds and other illnesses. This may mean that you or your child might be heading to catch your flight at Fort Wayne International Airport with an ear infection. Ear Infection Causes and Symptoms An ear infection is caused by…
Winter is Coming: Know the Difference Between Indoor Allergies, COVID & the Flu
While many people dread the coming of winter, allergy sufferers often sigh in relief, confident that their seasonal allergies will go away once cold weather sets in. This isn’t always the case—especially for those who suffer from mold and dander allergies. While pollen counts drop in the winter months, indoor allergens such as mold and…
How To Know if You Have Throat Cancer
Throat cancer is a type of head and neck cancer that develops in your throat or voice box. It can be hard to identify, especially in the early stages of the disease, as many of the signs and symptoms can mimic other conditions. What Are the Early Signs of Throat Cancer The earliest sign…
Can Antibiotics Treat a Sinus Infection?
Sinus infections are no fun. If you have one, you may be wondering if antibiotics might help you get over your infection and recover quicker. Unfortunately, in most cases, antibiotics are unlikely to help treat sinus infections. What Causes a Sinus Infection? A sinus infection, also known as sinusitis, is an inflammation of the sinuses…
Do You Know Your Baseline?
Why Routine Baseline Hearing Tests Are Important To Overall Health It’s common for people to schedule routine dental cleanings, physical exams, eye exams and other health screenings. Yet, regular baseline hearing tests are far less commonplace, despite 15% of adults or 1.9% of children having some difficulty hearing, according to the CDC. What is a…
What’s Causing Your Chronic Sore Throat?
Sore throats are a common ailment that brings millions of people to the doctor every year. Often, it’s not a sign of any serious condition and will resolve itself in a few days with rest and/or proper treatment. However, if you are suffering from a chronic sore throat that lasts weeks or even months, or…
Children & Ear Infections
If your child suffers from an ear infection more than once, it’s not an unusual situation. Over 80% of children experience at least one ear infection by the age of three. Multiple infections are common. In fact, ear infections are the primary reason parents seek medical care for their kids. Your Child’s Developing Body Children…
Acid Reflux: Is It GERD or LPR?
Many Americans suffer from acid reflux every year. It occurs when stomach acid travels up into your esophagus and often causes the telltale symptom of heartburn. If you experience acid reflux more than a couple of times a week, you likely have a chronic condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). However, some people with…
How Do Allergy Shots Work?
Do you have severe allergy symptoms – like itchy, watery eyes, congestion, sneezing, postnasal drip, scratchy throat or hives – when exposed to dust mites, feathers, mold spores, pet dander or pollen? If so, you may be a good candidate for allergy shots. Below we review everything you need to know about allergy shots. What…
What to Know About Strep Throat: Symptoms, Causes & Treatments
Strep throat is a common infection that can affect both children and adults. In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Up to 3 in 10 children with a sore throat have strep throat, about 1 in 10 adults with a sore throat has strep throat.” Below we review everything you need…
What Causes Chronic Sinusitis?
According to an article published in the National Library of Medicine, “Chronic sinusitis is chronic inflammation of the sinus or nasal passages occurring for more than 12 weeks at a time… [It] is diagnosed when at least two of the following four symptoms are present and occur for more than 12 weeks: Purulent drainage [white,…
Learn More About Why You Sneeze
Sneezing is an incredibly common occurrence with many causes. The occasional sneeze is nothing to worry about. However, frequent sneezing, especially when accompanied by other symptoms, may indicate certain health conditions. How Often Does the Average Person Sneeze? A comparative study had 80 hospital employees and medical students who were not currently sick or dealing…
How Are ENT Disorders Diagnosed?
Otolaryngologists, more commonly known as ENT physicians, are experts in diagnosing and treating ear, nose and throat disorders. Below we review some of the questions your ENT physician may ask you to diagnose your symptoms and how some common ENT disorders are diagnosed. What Questions Will an ENT Physician Ask? Some questions you can expect…
Four Unusual Facts About Your Ears
It’s easy to take for granted all the amazing things our ears let us experience. They let you enjoy our favorite music, hear your grandchildren laughing and playing at Waynedale Park and help keep you balanced and standing upright. However, even though our ears play a vital role in our lives, there’s a lot most…
What Are the Warning Signs of Sleep Disorders?
Everyone has trouble sleeping once in a while, but if you experience persistent sleep problems, you could have a sleep disorder. Below we review the warning signs of sleep disorders, classifications of sleep disorders and how sleep disorders are diagnosed. Warning Signs of Sleep Disorders The following list includes the most common signs you have…
Earwax 101
Earwax, also known as cerumen, is a substance the ears naturally produce. It comprises oils, sweat, dead skin cells and dirt. This combination may sound yucky, but earwax plays a very important role in the ear’s health. We review everything you need to know about earwax below. What Does Earwax Do? Earwax has several important…
What is Sublingual Immunotherapy?
Not a huge fan of going in and getting a monthly allergy shot? Don’t worry—we have just the thing for you: sublingual immunotherapy, better known as Allergy Drops. Allergy Drops are an alternative to treating your allergies without the use of injections. Unlike regular allergy shots, Allergy Drops allow patients to stay home to administer…
What Causes Swollen Earlobes?
Swollen earlobes can have many different causes. Some of these can be treated at home, while others require medical attention. Let’s examine the causes and how to remedy them. Piercings If you or your child recently had their ears pierced, it could cause swelling in the earlobes. A new piercing is a wound and swelling…
Is It Ever Safe to Use Q-Tips in Your Ears?
Earwax, known by ENT physicians as cerumen, is a substance produced by the outer part of the ear canal. Its job is to lubricate the ear canals and protect the ears by trapping debris. Most of the time, old earwax is moved out of the ears through natural jaw movements when talking and chewing. However,…
How Hypothyroidism Can Impact Your Life & Ways of Treating It
Hypothyroidism, or an underactive thyroid, is a condition that occurs when the thyroid gland doesn’t produce enough hormones. There are many ways in which hypothyroidism can impact your life, which we review below. Fortunately, hypothyroidism, like many thyroid and parathyroid conditions, is a treatable condition, which we also discuss. Symptoms of Hypothyroidism Some of the…
Three Common Causes of Ear Pain
There are several different conditions that can cause ear pain in adults. Let’s look at three possible causes and what you can do to relieve your symptoms. Middle Ear Infections Though ear infections are much more common in small children, adults can still get them occasionally as well, especially those with a history of ear…
Are Your Symptoms the Result of Laryngitis?
Laryngitis is the inflammation of the larynx, also known as the voice box. Let’s take a look at some of the common symptoms and causes of laryngitis as well as what to do if you believe you have the condition. Symptoms of Laryngitis Laryngitis often affects the way your voice sounds. You may notice hoarseness…
What Is a Ruptured Eardrum?
Your eardrum, also known as the tympanic membrane, is a thin tissue that divides the ear canal and middle ear. Its job is to vibrate when soundwaves enter the ear – the vibrations are then sent to the bones within the middle ear. If your eardrum becomes ruptured, it can cause hearing problems. What Causes…
How Your Diet Can Limit Acid Reflux Symptoms
Many of us have experienced the occasional case of acid reflux. However, others experience symptoms such as pain or burning in their chest after almost every meal or a chronic cough caused by irritation. If you’re someone who suffers from regular acid reflux symptoms, let’s look at ways altering your diet can improve your condition….
How to Prepare for Your Child’s First Visit with a Speech Therapist
If your child has been diagnosed with a communication, feeding or swallowing disorder, they may have been referred to a speech-language pathologist (SLP). SLPs are trained and licensed professionals who can help your child overcome these types of disorders. If you’re on the fence about speech therapy, know that one study found that, “An average…
The Link Between Hearing Loss & Chickenpox
Chickenpox is a viral infection that is characterized by an itchy rash and small blisters. For most people, chickenpox is a mild disease, but for those who aren’t vaccinated and who haven’t had it before, it can result in hospitalization and even death. Fortunately, the number of cases and hospitalizations have dropped dramatically since the…
What are Voice Disorders and How are They Treated?
Research indicates that voice disorders affect 1 in 13 adults every year. They impact your ability to speak normally and interfere with your ability to communicate. However, many people don’t seek treatment for voice issues. Let’s examine some common symptoms and causes, as well as what can be done to treat your voice condition. Symptoms…
Is Your Headache from Acid Reflux?
Acid reflux, also known as gastroesophageal reflux, occurs when a person’s stomach contents flow back up into their esophagus. If you experience chronic or severe acid reflux, you may be diagnosed with gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Some symptoms of this condition include regurgitation, heartburn, sore throat, chest pain, nausea, pain or difficulty swallowing, hoarseness, chronic…
Can Honey Really Help Seasonal Allergies?
You may have heard the myth that consuming honey from Fort Wayne Farmers Market can help relieve your allergy symptoms. Unfortunately, this is simply not the case. We review what the research says about this topic below. What Is Honey? Bees produce the thick, sweet golden substance known as honey by collecting pollen and nectar…
Can Allergen Immunotherapy Prevent Pediatric Asthma?
Symptoms of asthma include episodes of wheezing, breathlessness and chest tightness. In addition to taking medications and avoiding triggers, like pollen in Fort Wayne Parks, to prevent symptoms, research has found that undergoing allergy immunotherapy is a great way to prevent the development of asthma in children. What Is Allergy Immunotherapy? Allergy immunotherapy is a…
How Allergies May Affect Your Hearing
Common allergy symptoms you may experience after visiting The Fort Wayne Riverfront include itchy eyes, congestion, runny nose, sneezing and headache. Another lesser-known symptom is hearing loss. There are several ways allergies can contribute to hearing loss, which we review below. What Causes Allergies? Your immune system works to protect your body from diseases, viruses…
If You Lost Your Sense of Smell Due to COVID-19, This May Be Why
Loss of taste and smell is common for people infected with COVID-19. But for some, the symptom lasts long after they’ve cleared the infection. Researchers have found that this has to do with how COVID-19 affects the brain. We review more about what the research shows below. About the Study A study published in the…
Thyroid Cancer is on the Rise in Women: Signs and Symptoms to Watch For
Women are more likely to be diagnosed with thyroid cancer than men. In the past few decades, this gap has widened even further. However, the reasons for the increase may be more complex than you might initially think. Why is Thyroid Cancer More Common in Women? One of the main reasons thyroid cancers and other…
Can Nasal Cautery Help Stop My Child’s Nosebleeds?
Many children will experience the occasional nosebleed that requires no additional medical attention. However, if you have a child that experiences recurrent nosebleeds, nasal cautery may be necessary. Common Causes of Nosebleeds Causes of recurring nosebleeds can include: Picking or blowing nose Colds or allergies Injury Dryness Structural problems in the nose Certain medications Abnormal…
Tips for Relief From Cat Related Allergies
Many people face the dilemma of wanting a cat, even though they are allergic to them. Or maybe they didn’t know they were allergic until they brought their new kitten home from Humane Fort Wayne and now can’t imagine parting with their pet. If you are struggling with cat-related allergies, it’s important to know what…