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ENT DOCTOR BLOG
Posts for category: ENT Conditions
Dealing with a sinus infection? Dealing with them rather frequently? Feel like you’re constantly battling a sinus infection? If so, an ENT doctor can provide you with the appropriate treatment options, regardless of whether you are dealing with an acute or chronic infection. Here’s what you should know about treating your sinus infection,
You May Be Able to Treat it Yourself
If you are dealing with acute sinusitis you may be able to manage your symptoms on your own with saline nasal sprays, over-the-counter pain relievers and decongestants. If your sinus infection is due to allergies, you may be able to make simple lifestyle changes that can improve your allergies, which in turn can improve your infection. Other at-home sinusitis treatment options include,
- Drinking lots of water to flush out toxins
- Using a humidifier in your bedroom
- Applying warm compresses to the face
- Using a neti pot to flush out bacteria and germs from the sinuses
- Getting lots of rest
- Stocking up on vitamin C
So, when is it time to turn to an ENT expert for your sinus problems? It’s time to turn to a specialist if,
- You aren’t sure if your symptoms are due to a sinus infection or something else
- Your symptoms are accompanied by a fever that lasts more than 3 days
- Your symptoms persist for more than 10 days
- Your symptoms are getting worse
- Your symptoms return
There isn’t a Single Way to Treat Sinus Infections
First and foremost, we need to determine what’s causing your infection and whether you’re dealing with an acute or chronic case. Acute cases may be treated with prescription-strength steroid and nasal sprays or oral allergy medications, while chronic sinusitis may require more intensive treatments. Chronic sinus infections may be caused by nasal polyps, a deviated septum or allergies, and it’s important to figure out the cause before we create a treatment plan. Chronic sinusitis is often treated with,
- Nasal, oral or injectable corticosteroids
- Medications used to shrink nasal polyps
- Immunotherapy (aka allergy shots)
- Balloon sinuplasty, a procedure that opens up blocked sinuses (an alternative to sinus surgery)
- Sinus surgery
If you are dealing with a sinus infection that isn’t getting better and isn’t responding to at-home care then a call to your ENT doctor may be the best approach. An ENT doctor can determine the best strategies for managing and treating any sinus problems.
By William R. Bond, Jr. M.D.
March 17, 2022
Category:
ENT Conditions
Tags:
ENT Doctor
Otolaryngologist
Could you benefit from turning to our ENT team?
Are you are dealing with any conditions or problems that impact your ears, nose or throat? If so, your general practitioner may have referred you to our Washington, DC, ENT doctor Dr. William Bond, Jr. After all, an otolaryngologist is going to be the perfect doctor to add to your team if you are dealing with any of these issues,
Chronic Sinusitis
Having a sinus infection probably isn’t a reason to head right to our office; however, if your sinus infection persists for at least 12 weeks, this is what we call chronic sinusitis. You may also find that this infection doesn’t respond to normal over-the-counter remedies. If you suspect that you might have chronic sinusitis, our Washington, DC. ENT doctor Dr. Bond and his team have a full range of treatment options.
Allergies
Battling allergies can be miserable, especially when the only way you find temporary relief is with over-the-counter medications. Even worse, what happens when these medications don’t work? If you are dealing with seasonal or year-round allergies that cause a stuffed up or runny nose, itchy, watery eyes, hives and other issues, you might want to make a trip to our office so we can provide you with better ways to manage your symptoms.
Recurring Tonsillitis
Tonsillitis, or inflammation of the tonsils, is a painful throat problem that can affect not only kids but also adults. The bigger issue is when you find yourself dealing with recurring tonsil infections. If you have dealt with seven infections in a year, five infections per year for two years or three infections per year for three years, our Washington DC, ENT doctor may recommend having your tonsils removed.
Repeated Ear Infections
Yes, ear infections are common for children, so if your child keeps dealing with them, feel free to bring them to our practice, as well. Dr. Bond and his team also work with kids and teens. If you find yourself dealing with persistent ear infections as an adult this could also be a sign of more serious issues, so it’s worth having the issue looked at.
Hearing Loss
If you find yourself unable to hear people as clearly as you once did, this is another reason to schedule a trip to our Washington, DC otolaryngologist. Hearing loss can occur gradually so it may start with simply feeling as if you have to ask people to repeat themselves more often or you have to turn up the volume on the TV to hear it. Don’t ignore these early signs.
Are you looking for the leading ENT doctor in Washington, DC? If so, Dr. Bond has helped countless individuals living in and around the Washington, DC, area. If so, call (202) 726-7770 to schedule an evaluation.
When winter comes, Jack Frost can certainly nip at your nose, but he can also lead to dry, cracked noses, too. If this is something that you deal with throughout the winter months, an ENT doctor can recommend certain lifestyle changes and simple yet effective treatment options to help combat that uncomfortable and sometimes painful dry nose.Turn Down the Heat
Okay, so we know this isn’t going to be a popular tip for many people, but if you crank up the heat in your house this could be drying out your nose and leading to nasal congestion, nosebleeds, and other uncomfortable symptoms. If indoor heat is the culprit, we simply suggest turning down the temperature in the house and then wrapping up in more layers to compensate so you can still feel perfectly warm but without the dry, painful nose.
Apply Petroleum Jelly
This is another simple home remedy that most people have in their medicine cabinets already. Apply a very small amount of petroleum jelly to the inside of the nose to keep it moisturized. This shouldn’t be used regularly or for extended periods but can be helpful when you are dealing with a severely dry nose that needs immediate relief.
Use a Humidifier
A humidifier can certainly put moisture back into your home’s dry air, especially during the winter months when you have the heat running all day and night. Sleeping with a humidifier can improve the humidity and moisture in the room to give your poor dry nasal passages a bit of a soothing break.
Enjoy a Steam
Another way to open up nasal passages and soothe dry noses is by giving the nostrils a good old steam. You can do this by using your gym’s sauna room a few times a week or you can simply boil some water and place your face above the water to let the steam into the nostrils (cover your head with a towel to trap steam). A hot, steamy shower can also help.
Use Nasal Sprays
Over-the-counter saline nasal sprays can also be a great way to remove any dirt and germs that may be in the nasal passages while also keeping the nose wet. If you find yourself also battling congestion on top of a dry nose, saline nasal sprays can be a great option. Plus, unlike other types of nasal sprays, saline sprays can be used daily.
If you find yourself dealing with a severely dry nose that is cracking or leading to persistent nosebleeds, it may be a good time to consult with an ENT doctor who can provide you with more effective treatment options when home care just isn’t enough.
You’ve heard of kidney stones. You may have even heard of gallstones, but tonsil stones? Tonsils are the soft tissue that lies on either side of the back of the throat. It’s also one of the body’s key immune defenses, preventing germs from entering the body; however, sometimes tonsils can deal with issues, too. One such problem is tonsil stones.What are tonsil stones?
Tonsil stones are also known as tonsilloliths, and they are calcified clusters of bacteria and other debris that form on the tonsils. The tonsils have folds and nooks where bacteria and dead cells can get trapped. If this happens, the debris calcifies in these little nooks within the tonsils.
Who gets tonsil stones?
Those with chronic tonsil inflammation or infections like tonsillitis are more prone to getting tonsil stones; however, this condition can happen to anyone.
What are the symptoms of tonsil stones?
If you have small tonsil stones, then you may not even experience any symptoms. Sometimes an ENT will only be able to diagnose tonsil stones through an x-ray. However, for those with larger tonsilloliths, you may experience these common symptoms:
- Bad breath
- Sore throat
- Ear pain
- Problems swallowing
- White tonsils
- Swelling of the tonsils
Can you prevent tonsil stones?
Since the majority of patients who experience regular tonsil stones are those who have chronic tonsillitis, the only way to truly prevent tonsil stones from happening is to remove the tonsils altogether; however, a tonsillectomy is performed under general anesthesia and may cause a sore throat for a few days after the procedure.
How are tonsil stones treated?
Your treatment plan will depend primarily on the size of the tonsil stones and the symptoms you are experiencing; however, for many patients, treatment may not be necessary. This is particularly true for those who do not have any symptoms or discomfort. For those who need relief, gargling with warm salter water can ease the pain of tonsillitis and tonsil stones.
Antibiotics can also be prescribed to treat tonsilloliths. While antibiotics can be effective, they will not prevent tonsil stones from happening in the future. For patients with extremely large or painful tonsil stones, surgery may be necessary; however, this is a simple outpatient procedure that can be performed under local anesthesia.
If you have tonsil stones or you are dealing with recurring tonsillitis, it’s important that you turn to an ENT doctor to find out why you are dealing with these symptoms and how to best treat them.
More than 66,000 people in the US will develop head and neck cancer this year, according to the CDC. While head and neck cancer can happen to anyone, men are twice as likely to develop this form of cancer than women. One of the best ways to catch head and neck cancer early is to recognize warning signs and risk factors. If you’re concerned, an ENT doctor can help.What are the symptoms of head and neck cancer?
Here are some of the common signs and symptoms of head and neck cancer:
- Tender red or white patches in the mouth
- A painful lump in the neck or mouth
- Persistent or recurring sore throats
- Hoarseness or other vocal changes
- Trouble chewing or swallowing
- Frequent nosebleeds, often on one side
- Ear pain
- Jaw pain
- Blood in saliva
- Unexplained and sudden weight loss
- Fatigue
If any of these symptoms persist, it is important that you turn to your doctor right away for a proper diagnosis. While these symptoms may be a sign of head or neck cancer it’s also important to recognize that other conditions can cause some of these same symptoms. If you are worried that you might have cancer an ENT doctor can perform the proper tests to rule it out.
What can an otolaryngologist do for me?
An ENT doctor has received specialized training to be able to provide valuable insight and to create custom treatment plans for patients dealing with head and neck cancer. Additionally, an otolaryngologist usually has advanced imaging tests right here in their office to diagnose or rule out cancer. They will collaborate with your current doctors to come up with the very best treatment options and care to remove benign or malignant tumors. For patients who are dealing with structural changes as a result of tumor or growth removal, an ENT doctor may also be able to provide face and neck reconstructive surgery.
We understand just how scary head and neck cancer can be. Our goal is to provide patients with the supportive, respectful, and understanding care and support they need from our whole team. If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of head and neck cancer, it’s important that you turn to an ENT doctor right away for proper diagnostic testing to determine what’s causing your symptoms. The sooner you turn to an otolaryngologist the better.
