This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 11th, 2016 and is filed under Blog by AENT Associates
You might be familiar with otolaryngologists, or more commonly known as ENTs, but some new patients might not know what they treat. Otolaryngologists treat disorders related to nose, ear, and throat, and specialize in the surgical treatment of the head and neck. If you have a sore throat, congestion, hearing loss, or suffer from a headache, visiting an otolaryngologist can help determine if the root cause. This is particularly important as if ignored, the issue can be the sign of a much bigger problem. In this post, we list five warning signs that point towards the need of consulting an otolaryngologist, no matter whether you are in Houston or any other part of the world. Learn more about what conditions an otolaryngologist treats.
1. Sore Throat
A sore throat is usually the result of cold or flu and accompanies stuffy or running nose, sneezing, and cough. Other factors that lead to a sore throat include bacterial infection and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). If the soreness in your throat does not reduce in a couple of days and you notice a progressive hoarseness or voice loss, you should immediately consult an otolaryngologist.
2. Congestion
Sometimes, something as simple as congestion can be a sign of a bigger issue that an otolaryngologist can help resolve. Besides allergies, hay fever, and environmental irritants, congestion may also happen due to viral and bacterial infections, which results in headache and dizziness. In certain cases, however, an ongoing congestion can be the result of a deviated septum and require immediate medical attention.
3. Sinus Pressure
Sinusitis means congestion in the areas behind your eyes, ears, nose, and forehead. It is commonly a result of allergies that obstruct normal nasal congestion or lead to drainage. If, however, you experience severe pain in your upper ear, teeth or face, this may be indicative of a more serious issue that you need to treat.
4. Hearing Loss
Sudden hearing loss can stem from a range of issues. Excess wax or fluid buildup in your ear may cause pain, besides creating temporary hearing problems. Conductive hearing loss, however, happens when there is an issue within the eardrum, ear canal, or the three bones connected to the ear. This condition usually occurs in conjunction with sensorineural hearing loss, where the inner ear, basically, the cochlea and its related structures develop an issue.
5. Nasal Polyps
Large nasal polyps, which are swelling of the fleshy part within the nose, often leads to airway blockage. Even viral infections and deviated septum can cause breathing problems among patients. To figure out which of these are the underlying reasons in your case, consult an otolaryngologist.
The Bottom Line
Any issues related to ear, nose, or throat issues, if prolonged more than a week, you should immediately see an ENT. The reason, persisting symptoms as mentioned above, may lead to serious health issues. An otolaryngology specialist can get you relief from all the listed problems through appropriate treatment. If you have observed any of the discussed symptoms, and need to consult an otolaryngologist in Houston, TX, you can book an appointment by clicking here.
Tags: ear, Hearing Loss, nose, Otolaryngologists, Sinus, Sinusitis, Throat