Four Reasons You Need to Visit an ENT Doctor
An ENT, or an ear, nose, and throat doctor, is a vital member of the medical community. You visit your general doctor for annual checkups, but for specific health problems you need to see a specialty doctor who can more precisely diagnose and resolve the issues you are facing. If you are facing any of the problems below, an ENT should be the next person you call.
Hearing Problems
Hearing loss can impact a person of any age, though it is most common in senior citizens. Adults and children alike may find themselves needing a hearing exam. If you have trouble hearing in a restaurant, need to turn the TV up louder than others in the room, and often ask others to repeat what they said, then it’s time to visit an ENT to determine the problem. Your ENT will use at least one of the six different hearing exams to diagnose your hearing problem. A digital hearing aid, audiologic rehabilitation class, earwax removal, or tinnitus management may be prescribed as the best solution.
Sinus Issues
The sinuses make up a connected system of hollow cavities in the face. Two sit above the eyebrows, two to the sides of the nose, and others running up the bridge of the nose. They are normally empty, except for a thin layer of mucus, and serve to humidify inhaled air and enhance voice quality. However, millions of people suffer from sinus issues that can cause numerous unpleasant side effects. A sinus infection often leads to headache, fever, discomfort, and respiratory stress. An ENT can accurately diagnose a sinus problem and resolve the issue with anything from a septoplasty to a turbinoplasty.
Allergies
Whether it’s from pet dander, pollen, mold, or food, allergies have the potential to really disrupt your life. That’s why an ENT can test for allergy type and then help with one of many treatment options, including avoidance therapy, medication, immunotherapy shots, and sublingual therapy. Once you receive treatment, you can enjoy your life once again without the constant fear of an allergic reaction.
Sleep Problems
If you struggle to sleep well at night and then suffer from extreme drowsiness during the day, it’s very possible that you have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. This sleep condition causes you to stop breathing in your sleep, then resume breathing again with a giant gasp or snore. You’re likely not aware that it’s happening, but nonetheless you spend all night, every night, bouncing in and out of a very poor, oxygen-deprived sleep. Your ENT can help test you for sleep apnea, teach you how to minimize your sleep apnea with strategic lifestyle changes, and provide a CPAP to wear at night to ensure steady breathing.
