A New York City ENT doctor deals with a variety of different conditions from performing sinus surgeries to diagnosing ear, nose & throat problems.
Nasal
Sleep Apnea—What to Look Out For
05 years ago
Obstructive sleep apnea is a serious disorder where breathing may be halted or slowed during sleep. It occurs when the windpipe is obstructed by any of a number of things: This can include excess flesh, muscle problems, tongue or tonsil obstruction or other issues. These cause the windpipe to be temporarily blocked. The prevention of air to the lungs causes alarm within the body and a person is awakened. Cases where sleep apnea is severe show that this halt in breathing can happen hundreds of times during one night. Due to the fact that it is potentially life threatening, it is a good idea to know the signs and find out if one has sleep apnea.
For many, snoring is just a part of life. Partners and families learn to sleep through whatever chorus of sounds one may produce. However, it is important to know when snoring may mean something else. Snoring should not be ignored when it is loud and constant. There are other symptoms to look out for that can help determine if one has obstructive sleep apnea.
Besides snoring, there are other signs and symptoms that could alert you to the possibility of having obstructive sleep apnea. Waking up during the night and gasping for air should not be disregarded; chest pain during the night is another symptom that shouldn’t be taken lightly as well. The more obvious ones are directly related to not getting sufficient rest. One may feel excessively tired or drowsy—a mental fog may settle in, making it difficult to make decisions or think clearly. Other signs include high blood pressure, irritability, memory trouble, weight gain and restless sleep.
It is important to talk to your doctor if these signs are noticed, even if they may not appear to be that severe. Left untreated, sleep apnea greatly increases risk of heart disease, stroke or other serious issues. Treatment options are available to help manage sleep apnea. So don’t take snoring or restless sleep lightly; it may be that your body is trying to tell you something.
Nosebleeds during Pregnancy
05 years ago
by Social Media Team
in Nasal
Pregnancy can bring about a barrage of changes, experiences and symptoms. For many expectant mothers, nosebleeds can be one of those things. It is not often brought up with the subject of pregnancy, but it can certainly happen. Nosebleeds are not normally dangerous, but they can make a new mom nervous; at the very least, it is an unpleasant side effect. The instance where a woman may need to seek medical attention is if the bleeding does not stop within half an hour. However, for the most part, this is nothing serious or something to be nervous about, and there are things that can be done to lessen the occurrences.
So, why are nosebleeds common during pregnancy? Basically, there is an increased amount of blood in the body to compensate for the need to nourish enlarged organs and a new baby. However, with the extra blood comes added pressure on the vesicular walls. Especially for finer, smaller vessels, this can cause damage or rupture, which in turn can lead to a nose bleed. The good news is that there are simple things that can be done to keep this from happening.
It is always a good idea to keep hydrated, and this is especially true while pregnant. Increasing water intake helps keep delicate membranes well hydrated and aid in preventing nosebleeds. It also helps to dab some lotion or petroleum jelly on to the nostrils. This, in addition to increased water intake, goes a long way to keeping the area in and around the nose protected and well hydrated.
Pregnancy is a wonderful and beautiful time in a woman’s life, and there are going to be unexpected surprises along the way, some good and some not so pleasant. In the case of nosebleeds, there are ways to help prevent them and remove at least one unpleasantry from that list.
Winter: The Season of Nosebleeds
05 years ago
by Social Media Team
in Nasal
As winter approaches, we expect certain ailments to come along with it: colds, the flu, nosebleeds… Nosebleeds? Yes, winter is the season of the nosebleed.
Why are nosebleeds more common during the wintertime, and should you be concerned?
The common nosebleed, or epistaxis, is a hemorrhage from the nose. A person may lose just a little blood or lose quite a bit, and sometimes the condition occurs almost at random and just one time. For others, it can be a fairly regular occurrence.
During winter, the cold temperatures and dry conditions may cause the tiny blood vessels in the nose to crack. This can result in bleeding from the nostrils. The condition may seem more severe if the person has severe sinus problems or allergies that have aggravated the nose due to frequent blowing. Having taken an aspirin can also cause blood loss to be more severe, thus making the condition seem worse than it actually is.
If you experience a nose bleed with significant blood loss, be sure to sit down in case you get woozy. Pinch the nose high up, and don’t lean your head back. It’s better for the blood to drain out of the nose than down your throat. After you stop the bleeding, try not to blow your nose for up to a day. Stay away from anything that could make your blood thinner and avoid things like hot liquids, which can also thin the blood and start the bleed back up.
For severe cases—or recurring nosebleeds—you may need medical attention. You can be given a gauze pack once the wounded area is located; this will help it to heal more quickly. As a general rule, however, nosebleeds are not dangerous unless they are a symptom of a more dangerous condition, such as high blood pressure. Most winter nosebleeds are merely a result of the change in weather and are nothing to be too concerned about.
Winter: The Season of Nosebleeds
05 years ago
by Social Media Team
in Nasal
As winter approaches, we expect certain ailments to come along with it: colds, the flu, nosebleeds… Nosebleeds? Yes, winter is the season of the nosebleed.
Why are nosebleeds more common during the wintertime, and should you be concerned?
The common nosebleed, or epistaxis, is a hemorrhage from the nose. A person may lose just a little blood or lose quite a bit, and sometimes the condition occurs almost at random and just one time. For others, it can be a fairly regular occurrence.
During winter, the cold temperatures and dry conditions may cause the tiny blood vessels in the nose to crack. This can result in bleeding from the nostrils. The condition may seem more severe if the person has severe sinus problems or allergies that have aggravated the nose due to frequent blowing. Having taken an aspirin can also cause blood loss to be more severe, thus making the condition seem worse than it actually is.
If you experience a nose bleed with significant blood loss, be sure to sit down in case you get woozy. Pinch the nose high up, and don’t lean your head back. It’s better for the blood to drain out of the nose than down your throat. After you stop the bleeding, try not to blow your nose for up to a day. Stay away from anything that could make your blood thinner and avoid things like hot liquids, which can also thin the blood and start the bleed back up.
For severe cases—or recurring nosebleeds—you may need medical attention. You can be given a gauze pack once the wounded area is located; this will help it to heal more quickly. As a general rule, however, nosebleeds are not dangerous unless they are a symptom of a more dangerous condition, such as high blood pressure. Most winter nosebleeds are merely a result of the change in weather and are nothing to be too concerned about.
Information on Balloon Sinuplasty
05 years ago
There is a health condition that afflicts more Americans annually than common conditions like asthma and heart disease. It’s called a sinus infection, or sinusitis. Perhaps you have been plagued by this affliction. A person suffering from sinusitis will experience stuffiness, headaches, pain in the temples and cheeks, a colored nasal discharge, difficulty breathing through the nose and perhaps even a fever. These symptoms may persist. While the common prescription for sinusitis is an antibiotic, as many as one in five of those afflicted do not respond to the treatment and experience recurring sinus infections. What can be done?
A recurring sinus infection is called chronic sinusitis. It may be corrected with a surgery that is very minimally invasive. This surgery is called Balloon Sinuplasty. It uses balloon-like devices to gently alter the size and shape of the sinus cavities, thus providing relief from sinusitis symptoms and helping to prevent recurrence of the disease.
Balloon Sinuplasty involves the placement of an FDA approved catheter type devices into the sinus areas to keep them open. They are inflated gradually (hence the term balloon) and gently move the bones and tissue that would be removed in traditional sinus surgery. The open sinuses don’t retain as much material that can become infected and result in sinusitis. This is usually an outpatient surgery and is performed in less than one hour.
You ear, nose and throat doctor (otolaryngologist) can receive specialized training to learn how to perform such a surgery. It is vital for someone suffering from chronic sinusitis to see such a specialist. If antibiotics have not provided relief from your sinus infections, be sure to ask your doctor to recommend an otolaryngologist for you to see.
That Annoying Nosebleed
05 years ago
by Social Media Team
in Nasal
In general, nosebleeds are not dangerous. They can be a little worrisome, especially if you’ve never had one before, but once you are used to them, they are more frightening to others around you than to your nose can put on quite a show sometimes. Nosebleeds most frequently occur in young children. Then grown ups over 50 seem to see a resurgence.
There are basically two kinds of nosebleeds. Nearly all of them are anterior, which is the easier type to stop. This involves blood coming from the nostrils. Posterior bleeds will run backwards down the throat and can be harder to deal with.
A lot of blood hangs out in the nasal region since it’s a warm and humid part of the body. For those who experience nosebleeds, the cause usually is not known, and they may seem to occur at very odd or random times. Of course, external factors can cause the bleeds as well. Nose picking is the most common, so listen to your mom and keep your fingers out of there. Or you may also have a nose bleed-causing allergy or an infection.
Generally, you can deal with a nosebleed without medical attention. Don’t blow your nose very hard for a while after the bleed stops. Avoid aspirin, which thins the blood. Generally pinching the nose will stop it from continuing to bleed. You may need to hold it for several minutes until the bleeding completely subsides.
Occasionally, a bleed will continue for an extended amount of time. In those cases, medical attention may become necessary. If you have high blood pressure, don’t ignore a nosebleed as it may be a sign of a sharp rise in pressure.
Debunking the Green Mucus Myth
05 years ago
You’ve probably heard it said that you can tell if you have a virus or a bacterial infection by the color of your mucus. Clear means you just have to wait it out. Greenish yellow means it’s time to head to the doctor for some antibiotics. But is this always the case? No.
Many times, discolored mucus is the result of a sinus infection. The problem is that some sinus infections are viral, and the great majority are caused by a fungus. If your sinus infection is fungal or viral, antibiotics won’t help. You may feel some lessening symptoms if you get bed rest and drink plenty of fluids, but it isn’t the antibiotic that is helping. More likely the antibiotic is what is causing your stomach discomfort. At the same time, your body is building up resistance to the antibiotic. Now, if you actually get a bacterial sinus infection, the same antibiotic may not be able to fix the problem.
So what is up with the green mucus? It’s actually caused by iron, which gives off a greenish color. When you have an infection, your body produces extra white blood cells to fight it off. These cells produce an enzyme which breaks down the bacteria. Iron is found in the enzyme, resulting in the discolored mucus. The longer it hangs out in your sinuses, the more green it will appear when you finally expel it. In fact, early morning mucus can be discolored just because you’ve been sleeping all night and haven’t been able to clear it out. So don’t assume you have a bacterial infection just because your first nose-blowing session in the morning creates a discolored mess.
The only time to really get worried is when your mucus resembles pus when you blow it out or cough it up. Just taking a couple of days off to rest and drink fluids is usually enough to get past sinusitis. Try a nasal decongestant or a sinus rinse to recover more quickly. If your symptoms persist for over a week, then a doctor’s visit is prudent.
Are Recurring Nosebleeds a Bad Sign?
05 years ago
by Social Media Team
in Nasal
If you get a nosebleed, even if you get them fairly frequently, the likelihood that it is something to be concerned over is slim. Many different factors can result in a nosebleed, and hardly any of them are serious. About three out of every five adults will experience a nosebleed, but fewer than one in 10 will need medical help for the underlying condition.
The only serious conditions that can cause a nosebleed are high blood pressure, a tumor or a bleeding disorder. Barring those rare conditions, what may be causing your nosebleeds? The most common cause of nosebleeds is pretty embarrassing. Nose picking tops the list. The blood vessels in your nose run through the septum and are easy to damage. One wrong pick, and you can spring a leak for sure.
Extremely dry air is another condition that can cause a nosebleed. That’s why some only have the problem in the winter, or in the summer when they spend a lot of time indoors with the AC at full blast. Some sinus and allergy medications dry up more than just mucus and can result in the inside of the nostrils drying out. This creates the perfect conditions for a nosebleed. A sinus infection may also be the culprit, especially if it has you blowing your nose frequently and with a lot of force. That’s all it may take to disrupt the sensitive nasal blood vessels. Seasonal allergies may also be responsible for the same reasons.
Of course, another more serious problem would be illicit drug use. Snorting cocaine can definitely cause a nosebleed. If this is the cause, then your nosebleeds are not the primary problem. Get help to break free from the addiction, and you won’t have to worry about the nosebleeds anymore.
If nosebleeds are frequent, it may be time to get things checked out just to rule out more serious conditions.
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This is a topic that is close to my heart... Best wishes!
Where are your contact details though?
5 years ago