What is Laryngitis?

What is Laryngitis?

Laryngitis is an inflammation of the voice box that causes a change in the air flow to your throat. The change in air flow leads to your voice to become hoarse. Laryngitis is usually not serious and symptoms typically go away on their own within two weeks. On rare occasions, laryngitis can become chronic.

What Causes Acute Laryngitis?

Acute Laryngitis typically occurs from an underlying cause. Most common causes include:

  • Viral infections, similar to the flu or a cold
  • Inflammation of the larynx caused by yelling or overusing your voice
  • Rarely, laryngitis can be caused by diphtheria, which is a bacterial infection

What Causes Chronic Laryngitis?

Chronic laryngitis is defined as laryngitis that lasts longer than three weeks. More often than not, chornic laryngitis is caused by vocal cord injuries and strain. Vocal cord injury is caused by:

  • GERD ( Acid Reflux)
  • Chronic Sinusitis
  • Excessive Smoking
  • Overusing Vocal Cords while singing or yelling
  • Excessive Alcohol Consumption

Diagnosing and Treating Laryngitis

Laryngitis can usually be diagnosed by a doctor noticing common symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, tickling in the throat, swollen lymph nodes and shortness of breath. Based on your symptoms, your physician can tell you the proper way to treat it. Most cases of laryngitis include resting the vocal cords, drinking a lot of fluids and avoiding smoking. In cases where laryngitis is caused by a viral infection, physicians might prescribe antibiotics to speed up healing.

Everything you need to know About Earwax

Everything you need to know About Earwax

Earwax is produced by the glands in the ear canal to trap small particles that could potentially harm the eardrum. While everyone produces ear wax, certain factors, such as the size of the ear canal and age, can impact the amount of ear wax produced.

Outside Factors that Influence Wax Buildup

Six percent of people suffer from earwax blockage that is caused by a range of issues, including:

  • Ethnicity – Typically, people of Asian descent have more dry earwax buildup, which can cause more irritation.
  • Hearing aids – Regular use of hearing aids or ear plugs can cause ear wax blockages.
  • Over-cleaning – Over-cleaning ears with Q-tips can remove superficial wax buildup, but it can also push the rest of the wax deep into the canal.

Symptoms and Treatment for Earwax Buildup

Earwax buildup can cause uncomfortable symptoms such as decreased hearing, dizziness, ear pain, ringing in the ear and itching. If you suffer from symptoms caused by earwax, an ENT doctor will be able to properly diagnose and treat the condition. Common treatment options are:

  • Professional cleaning by an ENT physician – During the cleaning, a physician removes ear wax with a plastic spoon, called a curette.
  • Over-the-counter drops – Over-the-counter wax softening drops, such as Debrox or Murine may be used to clean the ear. Drops are placed into the ear and allowed to drain for five minutes while holding your head to the side. Sitting up causes the drops to drain out by themselves.
  • Bulb-type Syringe Flush – Use a bulb-type syringe to gently flush out your ear with warm water. Make sure the water is at body temperature or it could cause extreme dizziness.

Consult Dr Sriharsha for information on ear wax buildup treatment options.

Appointments at 98857 45454

Does Smoking Harm Your Sinuses?

Does Smoking Harm Your Sinuses?

Everyone knows smoking is bad for you. Not only does it cause various kinds of cancers, impact your immune system and increase your risk of developing cardiovascular disease, but it’s also harmful to your sinuses and your throat.

How Smoking Harms Sinuses

Your nose and sinuses help keep you healthy by producing mucus that protects the respiratory system. Typically, mucus will travel to the back of the throat and the cilia will help you swallow and break down the mucus. However, smoking causes the cilia to stop working, leading to a back up of mucus in the sinuses.

What ENT Issues Can Smoking Cause?

Inhaling cigarette smoke, ammonia and formaldehyde irritates your upper airway immediately. Because of the impact the harmful gases have on your airway, it can cause a range of ENT hazards, including:
1. Chronic Sinusitis – Smoking causes a backup of mucus in your sinuses, which can lead to
chronic sinusitis. The chance of chronic sinusitis also increases if you continue to smoke when you have a sinus infection.
2. Increase in colds and allergies – Producing more mucus also makes you more susceptible to colds and allergies.
3. Decrease in sensitivity of senses – Regular smoking often leads to a decrease in the sense of taste and smell.
4. Cancer – Repeated exposure to cigarette smoke can not only lead to lunch cancer, but it can also cause nose and sinus cancers
5. Sleep disorders – Smoking leads to snoring and respiratory problems, which impact sleeping.
Consult your ENT physician for more information on how smoking affects sinuses.

What Causes Chronic Sinusitis?

Do you have congestion, tenderness around the eyes and cheeks, and a reduced sense of smell? You might be one of 37 million Americans living with chronic sinusitis.

Chronic sinusitis is a common condition that causes the cavities around the nasal passages to become inflamed. Though it’s normal for sinuses to become inflamed from time to time, if your sinuses are inflamed for more than eight weeks, it could be considered a chronic sinus condition. There are a few conditions that can cause sinuses to become blocked for weeks at a time, including:

  • Nasal Polyps – Nasal polyps are small tissue growths that might block the nasal passages and sinuses.
  • Allergies – A lot of people who have allergic reactions to common ailments, such as pollen, mold, and ragweeds, might also experience chronic sinusitis symptoms.
  • Deviated Septum – A deviated septum is a condition in which the nasal septum is crooked. This can cause different issues, including difficulty breathing and chronic sinusitis.
  • Trauma to the face – A broken facial bone could cause the sinuses to become blocked, which will eventually lead to recurring sinus problems.
  • Complications from pre-existing medical conditions – Complications with conditions such as cystic fibrosis or other immune-system-related diseases may result in nasal blockage.

Are There Treatment Options for Chronic Sinusitis?

The treatment your ear, nose, and throat doctor chooses depends greatly on the cause of your sinusitis. The most common treatment options include:

  • Saline nasal irrigation
  • Decongestants
  • Oral or injected corticosteroids
  • Immunotherapy (Only if allergies are the cause)
  • Surgery (If you have large nasal polyps that need to be removed)

Dr Sriharsha Tikka will help you find relief from chronic sinusitis. Call 98857 45454 to schedule an appointment at our Madhapur Clinic.

Everything You Should Know About Nasal Polyps

If you deal with constant runny noses and congestion, you may have more than the common cold.

What are Nasal Polyps?

Nasal polyps are benign tumors that grow in your nasal passages. If the polyps grow large enough, they can cause blockages in your airways. They are often a side effect of another health condition like allergies or an infection. Though nasal polyps are possible in everyone, they most commonly form in people with:
• Allergic rhinitis
• Sinusitis (Chronic sinus infections)
• Cystic fibrosis

Symptoms of Nasal Polyps

Nasal polyps are often ignored due to the fact that the symptoms are similar to the common cold. Symptoms often include:

• Sinus pressure
• Runny nose
• Decreased sensitivity to taste and smell
• Chronic sinus headaches
• Chronic nasal congestion

Can Nasal Polyps Be Treated?

Yes, nasal polyps can be treated with several different options, including nasal sprays, oral medications, nasal polyp surgery and antibiotics. Though these treatment options may decrease the effects of nasal polyps, polyps usually come back.

For more information about nasal polyps, consult us by calling at 98857 45454.

Dysphagia: Symptoms and Treatment Options

Dysphagia: Symptoms and Treatment Options

Swallowing is so simple to a majority of people. However, an estimated 15 million people in the United States suffer from Dysphagia, or trouble swallowing.

What are the Kinds of Dysphagia?

There are two kinds of Dysphagia:

  • Esophageal Dysphagia – Esophageal dysphagia is caused by the esophagus, the tube that connects the throat to the stomach, being damaged. Common symptoms of esophageal dysphagia include:
    • Weight loss
    • Lack of interest in food
    • Pain in the chest after swallowing
    • Excessive coughing in the middle of the night
    • Nausea after swallowing
  • Oropharyngeal Dysphagia – Oropharyngeal dysphagia is caused by an abnormality affecting the throat or mouth. Symptoms of  oropharyngeal dysphagia include:
    • Taking a long time to chew food
    • Getting food stuck in the throat often
    • Drooling
    • Weight loss
    • Lack of interest in food
    • Difficulty breathing while eating
    • Frequent coughing while eating

Treatment Options for Dysphagia

Treatment options for dysphagia depend greatly on the type of dysphagia you are suffering from and what is causing the dysphagia. Common treatment options for dysphagia include:

  • Exercises for swallowing muscles. These often include retraining muscles to work together to help you swallow.
  • Changing your diet. Your doctor may give you specific foods you are able to eat that make swallowing easier.
  • Medicines. If your dysphagia is related to GERD or heartburn, your doctor may prescribe medication to help prevent stomach acid from entering the esophagus.

If you believe you may have dysphagia, consult an ENT by calling us at 98857 45454.

Do you Have a Deviated Septum?

Eighty per cent of people suffer from a misalignment of the nasal septum. However, most don’t even know it!

A deviated septum is a common condition where the bone and cartilage that divide the nasal cavity are off-centre and/or crooked.

Symptoms of a Deviated Septum

So, how do you know if you have a deviated septum? The most common symptoms of a deviated septum include:

  • Nasal congestion, with one side being more congested than the other.
  • Recurrent sinus infections
  • Frequent headaches
  • Localized facial pain, typically occurring above the eyes
  • Snoring during sleep
  • Postnasal drip

What Causes a Deviated Septum?

A deviated septum can occur for many reasons, the most common of which is impact trauma, such as a blow to the face. Other causes for a deviated septum include a congenital disorder and bone shifting during puberty.

Treating a Deviated Septum

In some cases, deviated septum symptoms can be fixed with medications, such as decongestants and nasal sprays. However, more serious cases require surgery, known as septoplasty. A septoplasty is performed quickly and patients usually recover within two days to four weeks.

Consult your ENT doctor today for more information on fixing a deviated septum.

Cholesteatoma: Rare Growths That Affect Hearing

One of the most critical parts of a person’s ear is the eardrum. This thin piece of tissue separates the air-filled outer and middle ears from the liquid-filled inner ear. Cholesteatoma is a growth that develops on or inside any part of this membrane, leading to hearing loss, among other symptoms.

Causes of Cholesteatoma

Cholesteatoma is caused by an abnormal buildup of skin cells and fluids on the eardrum. There are several forms of cholesteatoma, each with a distinct cause.

Types of cholesteatoma include:

Congenital Cholesteatoma

Congenital cholesteatoma occurs when a fetus is developing in the mother’s womb. This disorder causes a defect that allows skin cells inside the ear canal to migrate into one or both middle ears and cause cholesteatoma.

Post-traumatic Cholesteatoma

Post-traumatic cholesteatoma occurs after an injury, such as a skull fracture or punctured eardrum. The injury causes an opening inside the ear canal that allows skin cells to migrate into one or both middle ears and cause cholesteatoma.

Primary Acquired Cholesteatoma

When the eustachian tube is not correctly draining or equalizing pressure, a primary acquired cholesteatoma may form. Improper drainage and pressure from the ear can cause the eardrum to be pulled to the middle of the ear canal, leading to a buildup of skin cells on the membrane. 

Who is Most at Risk?

Cholesteatoma occurs in about 1 in 20,000 people. It mainly occurs in people who were affected by chronic middle ear infections as children. However, it can also affect those who have not had any infections in the past.

A physician will typically perform an otoscopic exam and use imaging tests such as CT scans to diagnose cholesteatoma.  

Symptoms of Cholesteatoma

Seeing or having a growth in the ear can be scary, but it’s not always something that needs to be taken care of right away. The first sign you may have cholesteatoma is hearing loss. 

Other symptoms of cholesteatoma include:

  • Dizziness
  • Ear pressure
  • Ear pain
  • Numbness on one side of the face
  • Tinnitus 
  • Muscle spasms in the face
  • Reoccurring watery discharge from the ear

Treatments for Cholesteatoma

The most common treatment for cholesteatoma growth is the removal of the growth itself. This usually involves a surgical procedure where an otologist will remove the membranes from inside your ear canal, followed by packing to stop any bleeding or discharge that may occur afterwards.

The dead skin cells that accumulate in the ear provide a favourable condition for bacteria and fungus to grow, causing further infections. If the cholesteatoma is left untreated for an extended period of time, it can cause permanent damage to your ear canal and eardrum. 

Other risks of untreated cholesteatoma include:

  • Inner ear swelling
  • Meningitis
  • Brain abscesses

The good news is cholesteatomas are rarely life-threatening if they are taken care of properly and in time. Although cholesteatoma can be dangerous if left untreated, removing it can help prevent further complications and improve your quality of life.

Once the growth has been removed, the patient will usually receive a warm saline wash and antibiotic ear drops. People who have had cholesteatoma should watch for new cholesteatoma growths as it is not uncommon for them to form again. Ear and hearing tests along with regularly scheduled visits to an otologist can help catch any new growths early.

Contact US

Sahasra ENT Institute specializes in managing and treating conditions of the ears, nose, and sinuses. If you are experiencing cholesteatoma growth or any other ear-related issues, oiur experts can help. Call us at 98857 45454 to schedule an appointment

Are you Listening To Music That is too Loud?

A recent poll of parents found that over 80% say they are concerned that misuse of personal audio technology is damaging the hearing of children.  Hearing loss can result from too much exposure to sound from any source that is above 85 decibels. Many new technologies such as stereo systems, handheld listening devices and even televisions can produce sound well above the level to be able to cause damage.

What is Hearing Loss?

Hearing loss can be either a sudden or a gradual decrease in your ability to hear. Depending on the cause it can either be mild or severe and temporary or permanent. Many individuals who have hearing loss may not even realize it because it happens gradually over time.

How Do I know if I’m Experiencing Hearing Loss?

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms you should contact a doctor. Common symptoms may include:

  • Feeling as if your ear is plugged, similar to having water in your ear.
  • Difficulty listening to things in your environment such as individuals speaking, a radio or television.
  • If you notice that you tend to listen to the television or a stereo at a higher volume then you previously used to.

If these symptoms are left unchecked they can lead to more severe symptoms and conditions such as:

  • Ringing of the ears, known as Tinnitus
  • Any uncomfortable feelings from irritation to severe pain
  • Symptoms of vertigo (feeling as if your surroundings are spinning)

How to Prevent Hearing Loss

Follow these basic steps to avoid and damage to your ears:

  • Avoid loud noises in your environment such as motorcycles, loud music, or industrial machines.
  • When you cannot avoid loud noises in your environment, make sure to wear hearing protection.
  • Lower the volume of what you listen to.
  • Limit the amount of time that you spend listening to music or television.
  • Wear headphones that go completely around or deep inside the ear in order to limit outside noise. By limiting outside sounds it will reduce the need to increase the volume of what you are listening to.

Learn more about hearing loss.

Why Have I Lost My Sense of Smell?

The sense of smell isn’t something we typically take for granted, but it can affect everyday life when it’s gone. If you can’t smell, it may be more difficult to taste food, and may even lead to dangerous situations if you can’t detect smoke or a gas leak.

While it is possible for someone to permanently lose their ability to smell, it is much more common for it to only happen for a period of a few days to a couple of weeks. Anosmia (the complete loss of smell) and hyposmia (partial loss of smell), affect thousands of Americans each year.

How Does the Nose Work?

To understand why anosmia and hyposmia can occur, it is important to understand how a healthy nose works. Individual molecules become suspended in the air and are inhaled through the nose. Once inhaled, some molecules attach to receptors in the mucus membrane. These nerves connect to the brain and the brain processes certain molecules as smells. When there is a blockage in these receptors, the act of smelling can be affected.

What Can Cause the Loss of Smell?

Most cases of anosmia and hyposmia come from the congestion of the mucus membranes. This means that the most common causes of this issue are associated with:

  • Colds
  • Allergies
  • Sinus infections
  • Nonallergic rhinitis

While much less common, other possible causes include:

  • Injury to the nose: if you have suffered a broken nose or any sort of trauma, it may have damaged the nerves.
  • Nasal polyps: these are non-cancerous growths that can block the nasal passage as well as receptors.
  • Natural aging: just like hearing and eyesight, getting older can affect how well you can smell.
  • Exposure to chemicals: if you’re using harsh cleaning chemicals or outdoor landscaping chemicals, inhaling the molecules from these solutions may damage cells inside your nose.

When to See Your Fort Worth ENT Doctor

The loss of smell can be caused by a lot of common, non-threatening issues. Most of the time, anosmia or hyposmia will clear up in a few days to a few weeks. However, if you are experiencing symptoms for longer than this period of time, or if your sense of smell doesn’t return, it may be time to consult with a doctor.

If you would like to make an appointment with Dr Sriharsha, please call 98857 45454