Why Regular ENT Checkups Matter
Life can get hectic. Between caring for your family, managing work and tackling errands, your schedule may feel packed from morning to night. With so much going on, finding time to visit your ENT specialist can seem impossible—or easy to push aside. However, those checkups are more important than you might realize. Why Should I…
What to Expect During an ENT Exam: Tests and Procedures
Each year, nearly 27 million people in the U.S. visit these specialists for conditions ranging from chronic sinus infections to hoarseness and hearing problems. Let’s take a look at what to expect from your first ENT appointment to help you set expectations. Checking In When you arrive at the ENT office, you’ll start by checking…
How Are Nasal Inflammation and Asthma Connected?
The nose and throat are part of the upper respiratory tract, the system responsible for breathing. Since these areas are interconnected, an infection in one part often spreads to the other. For instance, a common cold can lead to both sinus inflammation and a sore throat. Building on this connection, the unified airway hypothesis proposes…
Why Is My Nose Burning?
A burning sensation in your nose, whether a mild irritation or a persistent stinging, can quickly turn into an irritating symptom. Let’s take a look at a few common causes of a burning nose and what you can do to prevent them. 1. Dry Air Dry air exposure, especially common during the winter when you…
Why Won’t My Sore Throat Go Away? 5 Causes of Chronic Throat Pain
Chronic pharyngitis is a sore throat lasting longer than 10 days or frequently returning. If you live with a chronic sore throat, you know how much the symptoms ruin your favorite meals or turn talking into an uncomfortable experience. Let’s take a look at five common causes of chronic throat pain and what you can…
What Does the Color of My Snot Mean?
Snot, that sticky, sometimes inconvenient substance, also known as nasal mucus, plays an important role in your body. It helps trap and keep out germs and harmful particles that would otherwise make their way into your respiratory system. A runny nose can happen for many reasons—colds, flu, allergies, sinus infections or chilly weather. But have…
ENT Health and Aging: What Seniors Should Know About ENT Care
As we age, certain aspects of our health become more vulnerable to issues, and ENT health is no exception. Age-related changes increase the risk of specific ENT conditions, impacting everything from hearing to throat function. Knowing how and when to seek appropriate care can help support senior wellness and improve quality of life. Common ENT…
How to Beat Congestion and Enjoy a Delicious Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is fast approaching. And with it comes savory turkey, tangy cranberry sauce and deliciously sweet pumpkin pie. With so many tasty foods just around the corner, you’ll want to make sure you’re in tip-top shape to enjoy them. One possible roadblock to enjoying Thanksgiving flavors is congestion. Let’s take a look at how congestion…
Exploring the Mouth Taping Trend: Why It’s Important to Know the Risks
A surprising sleep trend has recently emerged on social media: mouth taping. This practice involves placing a strip of tape over your lips before bed to encourage nasal breathing throughout the night. Advocates claim it helps reduce snoring, minimizes dry mouth and improves overall sleep quality. But while these alleged benefits might make mouth taping…
How Can I Find Relief From Sinus Pressure?
When you have sinus pressure, it can feel like a persistent, aching tightness around your face. This discomfort occurs when the membranes lining your nasal passages become swollen or irritated, often due to colds, allergies, environmental pollutants, mucus buildup or sinus infections. While sinus pressure typically centers around the eyes, nose, forehead and cheekbones, it…
What to Know About Deviated Septum
A deviated septum is a condition that many people may not even realize they have. However, if symptomatic, it can cause difficulty breathing and other issues. The septum is the wall dividing the center of the nose, separating the nasal passages. When this wall is displaced to one side, it is known as a deviated…
What To Know About Sleep Apnea
Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that affects 39 million U.S. adults. Characterized by pauses in breathing or shallow breaths during sleep, this condition can lead to health complications if left untreated. Let’s explore what sleep apnea is and potential treatment options. Understanding Sleep Apnea Sleep apnea occurs when the muscles in the throat relax…
How To Use Steam to Clear Nasal Congestion
Did you know that about 12% of Americans struggle with nasal congestion at any given time? While it’s often not a major concern, dealing with a stuffy nose can certainly put a damper on your day. Let’s delve into why congestion happens and how a simple home remedy can provide temporary relief. Understanding Nasal Congestion…
What To Know About Sinus Massage
Sinus issues are common, with nearly 29 million cases of sinusitis across the U.S., and can cause discomfort for many individuals. While there are several ways to alleviate sinus problems, one lesser-known but effective method is sinus massage. This type of massage focuses on the sinus areas to promote drainage and relieve pressure and can…
The Impact Of Smoking On ENT Health: Risks and Recovery
It’s widely acknowledged that smoking detrimentally impacts one’s physical health. Among the health risks associated with smoking are cancers of the head, neck and throat, as well as stroke, heart attack, emphysema and other conditions. The CDC identifies smoking as the primary cause of preventable death in the United States. Impacts on ENT Health Inhaling…
Causes And Treatments for Posterior Nosebleed
A posterior nosebleed takes place when bleeding originates in the posterior part of the nasal cavity. Epistaxis, the clinical term for a nosebleed, occurs when the interior nasal blood vessels are compromised and bleed. Persistent bleeding over 20 minutes, or bleeding that accompanies a trauma to the head, face or nose, usually indicates a posterior…
Home Remedies for a Sore Throat and When to See a Doctor
A sore throat is a common condition that sometimes makes it difficult to swallow, eat or talk. Sore throats can have various causes ranging from illnesses to allergies. They’re often not serious and can be treated with home remedies. Understanding the causes and available remedies can help you be prepared to treat one if it…
Why Does My Nose Run When I Eat?
A runny nose, while not a serious symptom, can be annoying when trying to enjoy your favorite burger at the Copper Spoon. Gustatory rhinitis is the medical term for a runny nose brought on during a meal or after eating food. Additional symptoms you may experience with gustatory rhinitis include congestion, postnasal drip (the feeling…
Why Do Your Ears Hurt When Swallowing?
Have you ever experienced that uncomfortable sensation of ear pain when swallowing? It’s a common occurrence that often leaves us wondering why our ears are affected by something as basic as swallowing a bite of our favorite breakfast plate at Lakeside Cafe. Let’s explore common causes of ear pain when swallowing and a few preventative…
How to Care for Your ENT Health During Holiday Travel
The holiday season is upon us, and with it comes the excitement of reuniting with loved ones and creating cherished memories. Amidst the joy and family times, it is crucial to prioritize your ear, nose and throat (ENT) health to ensure a pleasant and worry-free experience. Let’s look at some valuable tips on how to…
Why Is Your Nose Stuffy in the Morning?
While rarely a sign of a more serious condition, waking up with a stuffy nose is not a fun start to your day. Knowing the cause of your stuffy nose is the first step in treating it. Take a look at a couple of common stuffy nose triggers and their treatment options for a better,…
Can Sinus Problems Affect Your Eyes?
Sinus problems, specifically having a sinus infection, can be unpleasant and uncomfortable and lead to a host of different symptoms. In some cases, having a sinus infection may affect your eyes and your vision. However, in most cases, these issues are temporary and not serious. What is a Sinus Infection? A sinus infection is also…
Why Is My Nose Runny and How Can I Manage It?
While a fairly mild symptom on its own, a runny nose can quickly become an annoyance. Common frustrations accompanying a runny nose may include irritated or raw-feeling skin around the nose and mouth, needing to blow your nose frequently, poor sense of smell and trouble breathing. Let’s examine some common causes of a runny nose…
Can Chronic Sinusitis Affect Your Mental Health?
Dealing with chronic sinusitis symptoms isn’t just unpleasant. Research has shown that it can actually negatively impact your mental health. Chronic Sinusitis Signs and Symptoms Sinusitis is another term for a sinus infection. A sinus infection is considered chronic if your symptoms last longer than 12 weeks. Sinusitis is usually caused by a viral illness,…
Could Your Tooth Pain Be From a Sinus Infection?
Approximately 28.9 million U.S. adults were diagnosed with sinusitis in 2018. Sinusitis, also called a sinus infection, can cause congestion, runny nose, facial pain and pressure, sore throat, cough and even tooth pain. Tooth pain is less often associated with sinus infections, but because it can have more serious dental causes, it is important to…
What Are Your Treatment Options for Sinusitis?
Sinusitis, or sinus infection, occurs when mucus builds up in the sinuses that lead to the nasal cavity and causes irritation and inflammation. Symptoms of sinusitis may include nasal discharge, postnatal drip, facial pain, blocked or runny nose, sore throat, cough, tenderness and swelling and more. Sinus infections are a leading health complaint in physician…
Take These Steps To Keep Your Sinuses Healthy
Sinusitis, including chronic sinusitis, is a common condition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 28.9 million adults in the United States are diagnosed with chronic sinusitis. What Is Sinusitis? Sinusitis is another term for a sinus infection. It is an inflammation of your sinuses that is often caused by a viral…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…