Your ears, nose, and throat, like any other part of your body, can suffer from a wide range of problems. From issues with sleeping to swallowing, these problems can be detrimental to your health. Some issues you can’t always identify yourself, which is why it’s essential to get a proper look from an ENT doctor. They can properly diagnose your health issue and lead you down the path to recovery. Discover the most common problems in the ears, nose, and throat ahead.
Tonsillitis
Inflammation that occurs in the throat is most often caused by tonsillitis. Your tonsils form two oval shapes, and they’re located in the back of your throat. A bacterial infection causes tonsillitis, and it’s a common illness children suffer from. Some signs that point to tonsillitis include the following:
- Sore throat
- Swollen tonsils
- Issues swallowing
- White or yellow coating on the tonsils
- Swollen neck glands
- Bad breath
- Fever
In some instances, people need to have their tonsils removed if they keep suffering from bacterial infections—this surgery is called a tonsillectomy. Surgery becomes necessary if someone frequently suffers from sore throats or other tonsillitis symptoms. If you don’t remove them, it can lead to more severe issues down the line.
Ear Infections
Inflammation can also occur in your ears; cold and flu viruses often cause the pain. This is another common problem an ENT doctor may treat. Some symptoms that could point to an ear infection include the following:
- Ear pain
- Fever
- Irritation
- Sleeping issues
It’s important to know the distinction between ear pain caused by allergies and ear pain caused by an infection. The ability to identify these symptoms with an ENT specialist will allow you to treat it accordingly. If the problem gets more serious, otolaryngologists may also perform an ear tube placement to treat the infection.
Sinus Infections
A common problem people have with their nose are sinus infections. Around 31 million people suffer from this problem in the U.S. alone. Sinus infections are very similar to colds and have similar symptoms, but bacteria causes sinus infections. Treatment for a sinus infection usually involves antibiotics to kill the germs responsible. Some ways you can identify if you have a sinus infection includes the following:
- Headaches
- Postnasal drip
- Discolored nasal discharge
- Teeth pain
- Coughing
- Fever
- Congestion
- Stuffiness
- Bad breath
You can have some nose and sinus work done to combat this, such as a rhinoplasty, a complex revision rhinoplasty, an excision of skull base tumors, and a complex revision sinus surgery. If necessary, there are also some comprehensive management options for nasal congestion, which includes nasal valve reconstruction, septoplasty, turbinate reduction, functional endoscopic, and balloon sinuplasty.
Allergies
Many people suffer from allergies, and there are so many different types you can suffer from. Sources for different allergies include medication, pollen, food, mold, dust, pets, and insects. These sources can trigger multiple symptoms, and they can be dangerous. Many allergies can also cause long-term problems in your ears, nose, or throat. People who have allergies can suffer from any of the following symptoms:
- Coughing
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Sneezing
- Headache
- Shortness
- Fever
An ENT allergist can help diagnose a specific allergy with a test, so you if you feel you suffer from the symptoms listed above, you should get checked out. If you’re diagnosed with an allergy, you may have to take medicine to treat it.
Sleep Apnea
Getting a healthy amount of sleep is a huge part of your health, and the same goes for the quality of sleep. Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that can be incredibly dangerous if you don’t act. Sleep apnea occurs when a limited amount of air gets to your lungs. This can be life-threatening because the airway blockage can cause you to stop breathing as you sleep. Some ways you can detect sleep apnea includes the following:
- Snoring
- Chocking sounds
- Insomnia
- Headaches in the morning
- Memory loss
- Pauses in breathing
- Overweight
Hearing Loss
Another problem you may experience in your ears can be hearing loss. You only get one set of ears in a lifetime, which is why it’s critical that you take care of your ears properly. Loud noises and age typically cause hearing loss more than anything else. With the help of an ENT doctor, they can treat hearing loss and give you necessary tools, such as hearing aids, to treat the issue.
Vertigo
Vertigo makes your body will feel like the environment moves or spins. Vertigo can actually stem from inner ear illnesses such as acute labyrinthitis, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and Ménière’s disease. If you have vertigo, you may also experience ringing in the ears, nausea, or vomiting.
Acid Reflux
Acid reflex is also a common problem people can get treated at an ENT. This problem, mostly associated with heartburn, causes a burning chest pain. Acid reflex impacts the throat when stomach acid comes up into the esophagus. A main contributor to acid reflex has to do with someone’s diet.
Cancer
In extreme cases, ENT issues can lead to cancer. The cause of ear cancer is currently unknown. While it isn’t necessarily common, tumors can be found in the ear canal, the middle, and the inner ear. For nose cancer, exposure to chemicals or dust can cause it. Some types include squamous cell carcinoma, melanoma, sarcoma, inverting papilloma (benign tumors), and midline granulomas. You can also get cancer in your larynx or pharynx in your throat, and there are other types that can affect the esophagus or mouth. A common cause of cancer in these areas typically comes from smoking.
If you notice any recurring issues that align with the ones mentioned above, you owe it to your health to get these problems figured out as soon as possible. Some problems may be minor, while others could lead to something major; identifying these symptoms, and going to an ENT allergist near you, is the best thing you can do.
