There are many conditions that can affect the ears, nose and throat. Some are more common than others. In this post, we review symptoms of the more common ENT conditions to look out for this year.
Middle Ear Infections
Middle ear infections are the result of fluid becoming trapped in the middle ear due to inflammation of the Eustachian tubes, which are the passageways between the middle ears and the back of the throat. Sometimes, bacteria can grow in this trapped fluid, causing symptoms such as:
- Feeling of fullness in the ear
- Ear pain
- Drainage from the ear
- Warmth and redness around the ear
- Muffled hearing
- Ringing in the ear (tinnitus)
- Balance issues
- Dizziness or vertigo
- Nausea or vomiting
Hearing Loss
Hearing loss may be conductive, caused by a physical blockage preventing sounds from traveling through; sensorineural, caused by damage to the sensory cells within the inner ear; or mixed, caused by a combination of factors. Symptoms include:
- Trouble talking on the phone
- Turning up the TV volume much louder than others prefer
- Problems hearing high-pitch sounds
- Frequently asking people to repeat themselves
- Saying “huh” or “what” a lot
- Feeling as though others are constantly mumbling
- Difficulty hearing well in settings with a lot of background noise
- Having a “good ear”
- Ringing in the ears
- Sensitivity to certain sounds
Sinus Infections
Sinus infections are the result of mucus becoming trapped in the sinuses, which are the hollow pockets in the face that produce mucus that circulates through your respiratory system. This pooled mucus can grow bacteria. Symptoms of a sinus infection include:
- Facial pain or pressure
- Headache
- Nasal congestion
- Nasal discharge
- Postnasal drip
- Cough
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Dental pain
Allergies
Allergies are the result of your immune system overreacting to a normally-harmless substance called an allergen. When you’re exposed to an allergen, you can experience:
- Itchy, watery eyes
- Congestion
- Runny nose
- Sneezing
- Scratchy throat
- Wheezing
- Rash or hives
Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder characterized by pauses in breathing during sleep. This is caused by the soft tissues in the mouth and throat collapsing into the airway. Symptoms of OSA include:
- Loud snoring
- Gasping or choking noises during sleep
- Waking frequently
- Morning headache
- Dry throat
- Daytime drowsiness
- Mood problems
If you experience any of the symptoms listed above, it’s important to be seen by an expert ENT physician right away. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call Foothills ENT today.