Nosebleeds happen to most of us at some point during our lifetime. While it can be startling, nosebleeds are typically harmless and nothing to worry about. Of course, if you battle nosebleeds rather regularly you may be wondering what’s going on and whether you should turn to an otolaryngologist for an evaluation. Here’s what you should know about getting a nosebleed.

Common Causes of a Nosebleed

The blood vessels within our nose are very delicate, which means that they are prone to bursting and causing nosebleeds. Therefore, the two most common causes of nosebleeds are nose picking and dry air. Dry air can dry out the nasal passages, which leaves the area prone to infection and cracking.

Other causes include:

• Repeated nose blowing
• Allergies
• Broken nose
• Acute or chronic sinusitis (a sinus infection)
• Common cold
• Irritants
• Certain allergy medications (these medications can dry out the nose)
• Traumatic injury to the nose
• Deviated septum
• Bleeding disorders
• High altitude
• Excessive use of blood thinners or anti-inflammatory medications

There are two main types of nosebleeds: anterior and posterior. An anterior nosebleed is a bleed that originates in the septum of the nose (the wall that separates the two nasal passages). These nosebleeds are minor and can be treated with home care. If your child experiences nosebleeds an anterior nosebleed is usually the cause.

Posterior nosebleeds occur further back in the nose where the artery branches are located. This type of nosebleed is much heavier, occurs more often in adults and may require medical care. While rare, it is possible for a posterior nosebleed to be a sign of high blood pressure or a blood disorder (e.g. hemophilia).

When to See a Doctor

While most people will be able to treat a simple nosebleed on their own without having to seek medical care, it’s important to see a doctor right away if:

• Your nosebleed is affecting your ability to breath
• Bleeding lasts more than 20 minutes
• Your nosebleed is the result of a traumatic injury or accident
• There is a significant amount of blood

While it’s not considered an emergency situation, it is a good idea to talk with your ENT doctor if you or your child experiences nosebleeds often. During an evaluation an ear, nose and throat doctor can ask you questions about your symptoms, perform a quick examination of the nose and determine the underlying cause of your persistent nosebleeds.

If you are concerned about you or your child’s nosebleeds then it’s best to play it safe and to schedule an appointment with an otolaryngologist. Call our office today.

It's easy to overlook issues with your thyroid gland. After all, it's not unusual to feel tired if you have a busy, hectic life. When fatigue is coupled with sudden weight loss/gain, palpitations, gastrointestinal issues, or changes in your skin or nails, however, there is a good chance that a thyroid disorder may be to blame. Fortunately, your Washington, DC, ENT, Dr. William Bond, diagnoses thyroid disorders and offers treatments that will help you manage your condition. Read on to learn more!

Hyperthyroidism symptoms

Hyperthyroidism occurs due to an overproduction of hormones produced by your thyroid gland. This small, butterfly-shaped gland is located in the lower part of your neck above your collarbones.

If you have hyperthyroidism, the gland can become enlarged, although you may still experience symptoms even if the thyroid gland isn't enlarged. Overproduction of thyroid hormones can cause heart palpitations or irregular/rapid heartbeat. Your metabolism may also change, resulting in sudden, unexplained weight loss.

Other symptoms can include:

• Thin skin
• Hunger
• Insomnia
• Sweating
• Fatigue
• Bulging eyes
• Changes to your menstrual cycle
• Hot flashes
• Frequent bowel movements
• Anxiety
• Nervousness
• Hand tremor
• Sweating
• Brittle hair
• Bulging eyes

Hypothyroidism symptoms

Hypothyroidism occurs when thyroid hormone levels drop. Lower-than-normal hormone production can cause you to gain weight even though you haven't been eating any more than usual.

Many people who have hypothyroidism report that their joints hurt and their muscles ache and feel stiff and weak. Decreased hormone production can also cause sensitivity to cold temperatures and hoarseness. Furthermore, without sufficient thyroid hormones, your skin can become dry and itchy, and your nails may break easily.

Fatigue can be an issue, as can memory issues and depression. Other symptoms may include constipation, menstrual changes, enlarged thyroid, or a puffy face.

Thyroid disorder treatment options

Treatments vary depending on the type of thyroid disorder. If you have hypothyroidism, your Washington ENT may prescribe a synthetic thyroid hormone.

Hyperthyroidism can be treated with medication to suppress the effects of the excess hormones. Radioactive iodine treatment to destroy the thyroid gland or surgery to remove it may be recommended in some cases. If your gland is destroyed or removed, you'll need to take thyroid hormone medication daily.

Although thyroid disorders may make your life miserable initially, treatments can restore your normal hormonal balance and relieve your symptoms!

Concerned? Give us a call

Do you have any of the symptoms of a thyroid disorder? If so, call your Washington, DC, ENT, Dr. William Bond, at (202) 726-7770 to schedule an appointment.

Also known as canker sores and ulcers, mouth sores usually result from bite injuries or allergic reactions. They can also be a symptom of an underlying health condition. Unlike cold sores, which are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HS1 and HS2) and develop on the lips and the skin around the mouth, non-Herpes related mouth sores can form on the gums, tongue, lips, the lining of the cheeks and throat. Canker sores are not contagious, and usually clear up on their own. They tend to be painful and can be treated with topical over the counter analgesics, mouthwashes and rinses. If mouth sores do not resolve on their own and last longer than three weeks, it may be necessary to seek treatment from an ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor.

Common Causes of Mouth Ulcers and Canker Sores

Accidental biting is the most common cause, along with friction from toothbrushing, orthodontics or dentures. Diet can also play a role, in the form of food allergies to anything from coffee, chocolate and highly acidic foods and citrus fruits. Deficiencies of essential vitamins and minerals like folic acid, B12, iron, folate and zinc can also cause mouth ulcers. Sodium lauryl sulfate in toothpaste and oral bacteria like Helicobacter pylori (which is also responsible for stomach ulcers) can cause lesions in the mouth as well.

Lifestyle factors like smoking and elevated stress levels are another cause. Ulcers that persist for more than a few weeks, do not respond to self-care and over the counter treatments and are accompanied by additional symptoms like fever, excessive pain, swelling and difficulty eating and drinking, can be a sign of an underlying medical condition.

Schedule an appointment with an ENT (ear, nose and throat doctor) if you are experiencing any of the following symptoms:

• swollen lymph nodes
• fever
• difficulty swallowing or speaking

Is an Underlying Medical Condition Causing My Mouth Sores?

Persistent and chronic mouth sores can sometimes be a symptom of immune deficiencies or inflammatory conditions like lupus, Celiac, Behcet's and Chron's Disease. Contact an ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) for more information on treatment options and symptom relief.

While swimmer’s ear may sound akin to having a lucky rabbit’s foot, the opposite is actually true. This painful condition, also known as acute otitis externa, causes infection and inflammation of the outer ear. As you may be able to guess from the name alone, this ear infection is often the result of too much water getting into the ears, whether you are an avid swimmer or you just drenched yourself in a hot shower for too long. Of course, there are other reasons why you may be prone to these infections.

Sure, this infection tends to be more common in children and teens, but if you happen to clean your ears regularly with cotton swabs, if you end up damaging or cutting the skin of the ear canal or if you’ve been diagnosed with eczema of the ear canal, then you too could be at risk for developing this type of ear infection.

Once the water is trapped inside the ear canal, it leaves the ear susceptible to bacteria and infection. If you have swimmer’s ear, you most likely know it because the inflammation causes pain. Since it is indeed an infection, it’s important that you turn to your otolaryngologist for proper medical attention. Not only will the treatment help eliminate your pain and discomfort but it will also stop the infection from spreading.

Besides pain, you may also notice that your ear feels as if there's fluid in it, which may also be drained. Since swimmer’s ear is an infection, you may also notice that the lymph nodes around the neck and ears are swollen. Some patients even report minor hearing loss. Of course, a young child can’t often describe their symptoms, but you may notice your little one tugging at their ear, unable to sleep, or more irritable and cranky. If you notice these symptoms then it’s time to take your child to the ENT doctor.

What can happen if swimmer’s ear isn’t treated properly? You may experience chronic or recurring infections. You may find that even if the condition clears up that your hearing loss has not fully returned. There may even be damage to the bones and cranial nerves.

When you come in to see your ENT specialist, they will most likely prescribe eardrops to treat the infection. They may also clean out the infected ear canal. These eardrops will serve to kill the bacteria and reduce pain and inflammation. Make sure to follow the instructions for your medication and continue to use it even once your symptoms have gone away, or according to what your physician has prescribed. This will ensure that all the bacteria are destroyed and that you won’t develop another infection.

Protect the health of your ears. If you think you may have swimmer’s ear, or if you are experiencing any kind of ear pain, it’s a good idea to play it safe and visit an ear, nose and throat specialist right away for care.

You may have allergies that show up in the spring when plants are flowering and grass is growing. You’ve grown used to the itchy, allergies watery eyes and sneezing. But now, you have allergies in winter too, when you’re indoors because of bad weather. Your ENT specialists want you to know that allergies aren’t just seasonal. They can affect you all year long.

Hay fever, also called allergic rhinitis, is common during the spring and summer months and is caused by an allergic response to tree or grass pollen and various other flowering plants. But allergies aren’t confined to just spring and summer. When you are indoors during the fall and winter, you can experience allergies to pet dander, dust mites, mold and many other indoor irritants. You can also be allergic to certain foods and not even realize it.

Your first step in dealing with allergies is to learn what you are allergic to. Your ENT doctors can test you for food allergies and a variety of both indoor and outdoor allergens. Once you’ve found out what you are allergic to, your doctors may prescribe:

Allergy shots—typically given once a week with either a single injection or multiple injections depending on how many things you are allergic to.

Sublingual drop therapy—a convenient option for people on the go, or those who don’t want injections; your doctors mix up a custom treatment solution which you can take at home and use daily, as a drop under your tongue.

There are also some remedies you can try at home to get relief from allergy symptoms, such as:

• Irrigating your nasal passages with a saline solution
• Over-the-counter antihistamines and decongestants
• Using allergy-proof pillowcases and linens
• Using allergy or HEPA filters in your house, especially in the bedroom
• Vacuuming your carpets regularly
• Keeping your pets off of furniture and out of your bedroom

If you have irritating allergies, you already know they can affect your life. They can keep you from doing the things you like, and worst of all, they may not be just seasonal. But now there’s help just a phone call away from your ENT specialists. Call today and get some relief from your allergies!