Ears, Nose & Throat – Page 2

What to do when the world is spinning

October 24th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

If you also used to play on the merry-go-round, or spin yourself around when you were young, you would have felt that the world kept on spinning. This sensation is called vertigo, and it’s all fun and games when you’re 9 years old, but if the symptom doesn’t go away, it can be awful.

What is vertigo exactly?

Vertigo is a symptom, rather than a condition. It’s the sensation that you, or the environment around you, is moving or spinning even though you are standing still. In some cases, this feeling may be barely noticeable, but in others in can be so severe that doing everyday tasks, and sometimes even staying upright, can become a challenge.

Vertigo is often triggered by a change in the position of your head, and besides the sensations of spinning, tilting and swaying, other symptoms that accompany vertigo include

Nausea and vomiting
“Jerking” eye movements
Headache
Sweating

It can last only a few minutes to a few hours or more and may come and go.

What are the causes?

Vertigo is most commonly caused by a problem with the way balance works in the inner ear. Your inner ear is responsible for telling your brain if your body is upright, lying down or moving. If something goes wrong in the inner ear, your brain struggles to figure out what is happening with the position of your body.

There are several things that can affect the function of your inner ear:

BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo). This occurs when tiny calcium particles clump up in canals of the inner ear. The inner ear is responsible for sending signals to the brain about head and body movements relative to gravity, which help keep your balance. Deposits within the inner ear interfere with this process
Meniere’s disease. This is an inner ear disorder caused by a build up of fluid and changing pressure in the ear. It can cause episodes of vertigo along with tinnitus (ringing in the ears) and hearing loss
Vestibular neuritis or labyrinthitis. This is an inner ear problem usually related to a viral infection. The infection causes inflammation in the inner ear around nerves that are important for helping the body sense balance
Headaches and migraines

Can vertigo be treated?

In many cases, vertigo goes away without needing any treatment. Your body can use different mechanisms to maintain its balance – for example, messages from your feet and other senses can override the scrambled messages from the inner ear, which allows the brain to adapt and correct itself.

In more serious cases, however, the best treatment would depend on the underlying cause. Most common treatments include:

Vestibular rehabilitation. This is a type of physical therapy aimed at strengthening the vestibular system and training other senses to compensate for vertigo.
Canalith repositioning manoeuvres. These are specific head and body movements for BPPV, which are designed to dislodge the calcium deposits
This can be used to both relieve symptoms such as nausea, or to treat any underlying infection or inflammation

What to do during an episode of vertigo

If you’re familiar with vertigo, you’ll know that certain things can make you feel better and some can make you feel worse! Print out this list and keep it handy so you’ll be able to remember which is which:

sleep with your head slightly raised on two or more pillows
get up slowly when getting out of bed and sit on the edge of the bed for a minute or so before standing
avoid bending down to pick up items
avoid looking up quickly and extending your neck (e.g. reaching up to a high shelf)
move your head carefully and slowly during daily activities
do exercises that trigger your vertigo, so your brain gets used to it and reduces the symptoms (do these only after making sure you won’t fall, and have support if needed)

When to see a doctor

Home treatment is usually effective in relieving symptoms. However, make an appointment with your doctor if:

symptoms don’t go away or keep coming back
symptoms are accompanied by temperatures, headaches or severe vomiting

If you’re worried, why not chat to one of our doctors? They’ll give you advice you can trust. If you’re not a member yet, just sign up here.

References

https://www.webmd.com/brain/vertigo-symptoms-causes-treatment#1
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vertigo/Pages/Introduction.aspx
https://www.medicinenet.com/vertigo_overview/article.htm

What colour is your snot? This is what it could mean

May 16th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Mucus is important. This slimy substance lines your throat, lungs, nose, sinuses and mouth for protection and support. The moist film in your nose helps it to stay lubricated. Your mucous helps keep you healthy by protecting your lungs when you breathe as it helps get rid of dirty particles in the air. In fact, you produce up to one and a half litres (four to six cups) of mucus in a day!

What your nose debris says about you

Clear. This is normal. Your nasal tissues produce mucus that consists of water, protein, dissolved salts and anti-bodies.

White. You’re either congested, or it’s byproducts from dairy. Thick, cloudy mucus is caused by your nasal tissues becoming swollen and inflamed. This slows down the flow of your mucus. Your white boogers could be a result of allergies or dehydration.

Yellow. Your immune system is fighting off a bacterial infection or virus.

Green. Your immune system is fighting off the infection. If the colour persists for more than a week or you develop a fever, see your doctor.

Blue. A certain bacteria called Pseudomonas pyocyanea is the cause of blue snot. If it becomes thicker, see your doctor.

Pink or red. Your nasal tissues may have become dry, broken or irritated. The red colour is blood.

Brown. You may have inhaled something, or your blood has dried up. Smoking also causes this.

Black or grey. Dirt and pollution are the main causes. If you’re not a smoker, you may have a serious fungal infection. See your doctor.

Why do we get a runny nose in cold weather?

There are cells in your windpipe and nostrils called the cilia. It works to help sweep mucus down the throat. The cell becomes inactive in cold weather, and this little lapse in normal routine causes mucus to run down the nose.

Good to know

Snot is just dried-up mucus that comes out of your nose.
Phlegm is a mucus-based substance produced in the lungs and respiratory system. You can only cough up phlegm; it doesn’t come out of your nose.
Sputum is a coughed-up mixture of mucus and saliva.
Postnasal-drip is the substance that flows from the nasal cavity down the throat.

References

How to get rid of the ringing in your ears

April 15th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Tinnitus is the sensation of hearing sound when no actual external sound is present. It’s commonly described as a ringing in the ears, but can also be heard as buzzing, humming, clicking, hissing, and whistling.

The sound may come and go, or it may be present all the time. It may vary in pitch from a low roar to a high squeal, and you may hear it in one or both ears.

It is often worse when background noise is low, so you may be most aware of it at night when you’re trying to fall asleep. You may also notice that your hearing is not as good as it used to be or that you’re more sensitive to everyday sounds.

Is it dangerous?

Tinnitus isn’t usually a sign of something serious, but it can be annoying. Severe cases can be very distressing and may affect your quality of life. You may experience:

Sleeping problems.
Trouble concentrating.
Memory loss.
Irritability.
Fatigue.
Stress.
Anxiety.
Depression.

What are the causes?

The most common cause of tinnitus is prolonged exposure to loud sounds. Loud noises from heavy machinery, chain saws, and firearms, for instance, can damage the tiny nerve endings in the inner ear, and cause hearing loss. Tinnitus often occurs with hearing loss.

Other causes include:

Age-related hearing loss. Parts of the ear deteriorate in the context of natural ageing. This can impair hearing and lead to tinnitus.
Earwax build-up can cause a blockage in the ear. This can result in irritation and hearing loss, which can cause tinnitus.
Meniere’s disease is an inner ear disorder caused by abnormal inner ear fluid pressure. Tinnitus is an early symptom of the condition.
Otosclerosis is an inherited condition where an abnormal bone growth in the middle ear affects your hearing and causes tinnitus.
Head and neck injuries can affect the inner ear, hearing nerves, or brain function linked to hearing. These injuries usually cause tinnitus in just the one ear.
Certain medications may cause or worsen tinnitus. These include aspirin, antibiotics, antidepressants, diuretics, and cancer drugs. The higher the dose of these medicines, the worse the tinnitus.

High blood pressure, atherosclerosis, diabetes, allergies, and an underactive thyroid have also been associated with tinnitus.

Treatment

If your tinnitus is caused by an underlying condition, the first step is to treat it. For example:

If excess earwax caused the problem, removing it may help.
If an ear infection caused the ringing, your doctor might prescribe ear drops and an antibiotic to help fight the infection.
If tinnitus is a side-effect of medication you’re taking, your doctor may change dosages or recommend a different medication.

If an exact cause can’t be found, treatment will focus on managing and reducing the symptoms. This may involve:

Hearing aids may make the tinnitus less noticeable.
Masking devices generate a continuous, low-level white noise that suppresses tinnitus symptoms.
Tinnitus retraining therapy retrains the way your brain responds to tinnitus. It helps you tune the sound out and become less aware of it.
Cognitive behavioural therapy changes the way you think about your tinnitus, which can help you cope with it more effectively.

Avoiding loud noises and using ear protection can also help.

References:

What you didn’t know about earwax

April 13th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Ew… wax!
Earwax is perfectly normal. Also called cerumen, it’s a normal by-product of a health ear. Earwax is created by modified sweat glands deep inside the outer ear canal. Everyone produces earwax, although some people produce more than others – just like some people perspire more than others. Earwax actually serves a purpose; in fact it’s essential for the health of ear as it keeps the tissues of the ear canal lubricated and provides a sort of safety net that protects the ear drum from foreign objects. It is known that the amount of wax you produce is genetically determined.

Too much?
The healthy ear has a self-cleaning system: the tiny hairs that line the ear canal act as a conveyer belt and remove the wax very slowly as it accumulates. When you pull a small amount of wax from the opening of your ear canal, you are removing cerumen that has been moved several millimetres from where it was produced. It’s important to never disturb this self-cleaning system by placing a finger, Q-tip, or other small pointed object into the ear canal. Not only can this cause traumatic injury to the delicate tissues of the ear canal, but it will push the wax deeper and tighter into the ear canal.
Ouch, it hurts
If you’ve pushed wax deep into your ear, you might feel a lot of pain. The outer ear canal is very sensitive.

Even if you don’t have pain, you might notice a sudden loss of hearing, ear fullness or ear noise. All of these symptoms might be an indication that the ear wax is impacted deep in the ear canal. If this is the case see a doctor or an audiologist as soon as possible. A physician, nurse, or audiologist are all qualified to remove ear wax.

How a doctor removes wax
Wax build-up can cause symptoms like itchy ears, dizziness, a sensation of blocked ears and even a diminished sense of hearing. The first thing we reach for is a earbud or pin. Not only does using these implements worsen the problem, but cleaning your ears with pointed objects can damage the canal and the eardrum.

To solve the problem of blocked ears, best would be to visit your doctor for a proper syringing. Prior to your visit, put some wax-softening drops in your ear. Waxol drops work well.

Here’s how you get those nasty wax plugs out of your ears:

Place some wax softening ear drops in your ear canal for a day or two.
Get a suction bulb (like the ones used to suck mucus from a baby’s nose) and body-temperature water.
By softly aiming a gentle stream of water to the top part of the ear canal, you may manage to dislodge and wash some of the wax out.
Repeat the process a few of times.
If you don’t have any success, stop! Continuous washing may damage the canal or ear drum.

When should you NOT self-syringe:

If you have grommets
If you have or previously had a hole in your tempanic membrane
If you have ear pain
If your ear canal is exceptionally narrow
If you’ve experienced dizzy spells

REFERENCES:

http://www.health24.com/Medical/Hearing-management/About-hearing-management/How-a-doctor-would-remove-your-earwax-20150824

Sore throat soothers

March 16th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

A sore throat can be very painful and irritating, and may make it difficult for you to eat and drink.

Common causes of a sore throat include viral, bacterial and fungal infections, allergies, and dry air, irritants like pollution and smoking, and excessive shouting.

Fortunately, you can treat the pain, and perhaps resolve the sore throat without visiting your doctor. One of these simple, all-natural sore throat solutions may do the trick.

Garlic

Garlic has antibacterial and antiseptic properties that can treat and prevent a painful, irritated throat. It’s also antimicrobial, which means it can help fight the infection and kill the bacteria that causes the problem. Allicin, a chemical that’s released when garlic is cut, crushed or chewed, is your warrior against sore throats. As soon as you notice a tickle at the back of your throat, eat a raw clove of garlic. Can’t stand the pungent flavour? Eat it cooked instead.

Cinnamon and cayenne pepper

Cinnamon is packed with antiviral, antifungal, and antibacterial qualities that can soothe your sore throat. Cayenne pepper contains capsicum, which can contribute to reducing inflammation. Combine the two, and you have a powerful potion to alleviate throat pain and discomfort. For quick relief, add one teaspoon of cinnamon powder and one teaspoon of cayenne pepper into a glass of warm water. Gargle with the solution two to three times a day.

Tomato juice

Tomatoes contain lycopene, an antioxidant that can destroy bacteria and combat inflammation. Get long-lasting relief by gargling half a cup of tomato juice mixed with half a cup of warm water, twice a day. For an added kick, drizzle in a few drops of hot sauce. You can also drink tomato juice – the thickness of the liquid may be soothing on a sore throat.

Apple cider vinegar

Because of its high acidity and antibacterial properties, apple cider vinegar can help get rid of the bacteria that cause throat pain and irritation. When gargled, the apple cider vinegar forms an acidic coat on your throat. This can help keep germs at bay and give you instant relief. To make a gargle solution, mix one tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and one teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water. Gargle several times a day and add a dash of honey to make the treatment gentler.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a natural antiseptic and an anti-inflammatory, and can be used to treat many niggles, including a sore throat. This strong yellow spice works by reducing swelling and easing symptoms like burning, itching or that annoying scratchy feeling at the back of your throat. Mix half a teaspoon of turmeric powder and half a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water. Gargle twice daily. Alternatively, add one teaspoon of turmeric powder to a glass of hot water and drink daily until your symptoms go away.

If, however, your sore throat does not get better, or it gets worse, it may be time to visit your GP for medical interventions. Though there aren’t extensive studies to back the effectiveness of these natural alternatives, their relative risk is low enough that you could give them a try.

References:

Three home remedies for a runny nose

March 6th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

Reaching for the tissues every few minutes? Is your red nose giving Rudolph a run for his money? A runny nose is no fun, but there are simple home remedies to keep that nose from running away with you.

Salt water
Salt water is a fantastic remedy to help clear up a runny nose. It has antibacterial properties, is 100% natural, and you can even use it to help prevent a runny nose during allergy season.

Mix one-half teaspoon of table salt in two cups of warm water.
Using a dropper, place a few drops of the solution into each nostril with your head tilted back.
Inhale very gently to draw the solution further into your nasal passages. Then blow your nose to remove excess mucus and solution.
Do this a few times until you feel relief.
Repeat a couple of times each day until your condition improves.

Turmeric
Turmeric can help with many health conditions, including a runny nose. The herb has strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral properties that make it very effective for treating a runny nose, and a cold.

Soak one-half teaspoon of dry, ground turmeric in a cup of linseed oil. Hold the mixture over heat until it starts smoking. Slowly inhale the smoke through one nostril and then the other. Do this twice daily.
One-half teaspoon of turmeric powder can be taken two times a day. You can have it with some water. This will help loosen the mucus in your body.
Mix one teaspoon of turmeric powder in a glass of water and drink before going to bed. This could offer some relief from a runny nose, a cough, a cold or a sore throat.

Ginger
Ginger has various antioxidants along with antiviral and antibacterial properties. It helps loosen phlegm and also give you relief from respiratory discomforts.

Cut up a few slices of ginger and chew it raw. If you can’t tolerate its strong flavour, use some honey to make it more edible.
Make ginger tea to treat your runny nose. Dice up a small piece of fresh ginger. Place these slices in a cup of hot water. Let it steep for about 10 minutes. You may strain or leave the ginger pieces settled at the bottom. You may also add a little honey to this ginger tea.
Inhale steam after boiling some pieces of ginger in a bowl of water.

Although these are not scientifically proven cures, they all offer some symptom relief, with low risks. So that, while can’t yet cure the common cold, we can at least make ourselves a bit more comfortable!

References:

The ins and outs of earache

February 8th, 2017 by The Hello Doctor Team

A ringing sound in your ear? A dull ache? It may be an on-and-off pain or a persistent throbbing. Either way, an earache shouldn’t be ignored.

There are two categories of earaches to know about. A primary earache is due to some form of inner or outer ear disease. Secondary earache is due to or associated with problems elsewhere in the body, in which the pain is felt in the ear (this is known as referred pain).

Earache is very common in children, as the anatomy of their Eustachian tube makes them more susceptible to more infections. Earache is also common in children who are around smokers, and in summer, when allergies and swimming play a role.

Primary earache may be caused by conditions affecting the:

Outer ear canal: trauma, foreign bodies, infection, (otitis externa), impacted wax, malignancies, and allergies.
Middle ear (otitis media) acute or chronic infection, ruptured eardrum, and Eustachian tube dysfunction.

Have you got persistent earache? Speak to one of our doctors about how to fix it today.

You can also get an earache from:

A tooth infection.
Problems in the jaw joint (temporo-mandibular joint).
Parotid (salivary) gland disorders.
Tonsillitis, pharyngitis and sinusitis.
Cancer of the tongue, pharynx or oesophagus.

General treatment includes:

Stop smoking and keep children away from environmental cigarette smoke.
Take care to manage your allergies.
Keep the ear canals dry – for example, after swimming or hair-washing.
Avoid putting foreign objects like cotton-tipped buds into your ears.
Relieve the Eustachian tube discomfort in older children by chewing gum.
A combination of paracetamol and an anti-inflammatory (e.g. Ibuprofen) will relieve most earaches until it can be assessed by a doctor.

Quick relief
People often use ice packs or warm compresses, like a heating pad or damp washcloth, to relieve pain, and the same can be done for ear pain. This method is safe for both children and adults. Place the ice pack or warm compress over the ear.

Protect your ears

Avoid using objects to clean inside your ears. Your ears are self-cleansing. Cleaning inside your ear with an earbud, bobby pin or your fingernail may tear the skin. If you have excess ear wax build-up, have it removed by a healthcare professional.
Keep your ear canals dry: dry your ears after swimming and hair-washing, shake out excess water in your ears, wear earplugs while swimming.
Control your allergies. Inflammation caused by allergies can contribute to ear infection and ear pain.
Stop smoking and avoid exposure to second hand smoke. Cigarette smoke can increase the frequency and severity of ear infections.
Stay up to date with immunisations, including those for flu as ear infections often occur after flu.

It’s time to speak to Hello Doctor when:

You also have a fever, have recently had an upper respiratory tract infection, or if this pain is plaguing your child who is six months or younger. A fever indicates the possibility of a more serious infection.
You frequently develop otitis media; repeated bouts can lead to hearing loss or more serious infections.
You have hearing problems; the infection may be affecting hearing ability.
You feel nauseous or have bouts of diarrhoea accompanying the earache.
You have nasal congestion.
You are dizzy or imbalanced.
Your eardrum turns yellow or red and bulges.

References:

Heal your hearing

December 8th, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

It’s easy to take your hearing for granted, but pause for a moment and imagine a world where you struggle to hear ambient noise or follow conversations? As you age, you’ll experience a number of bodily changes. Hearing loss may be one of them.

Continue reading “Heal your hearing”

5 sore throat relief hacks

May 4th, 2016 by The Hello Doctor Team

Ugh! That scratchy feeling – like swallowing barbed wire – is often the first sign of a cold or flu infection. While only rest, time and plenty of fluids can get rid of a cold virus, here are 5 things you can do to soothe that awful sore throat: Continue reading “5 sore throat relief hacks”

Could you be damaging your ears?

August 4th, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

Heard yourself saying, “Please turn up the volume” or, “excuse me” a lot lately? Maybe it’s time to go for a hearing test! Continue reading “Could you be damaging your ears?”

To ear bud, or not to ear bud – That is the question!

June 22nd, 2015 by The Hello Doctor Team

For years the ear bud has been a constant fixture in most bathroom cabinets. Take a couple out, a quick dab in one ear, a quick dab in the other – what’s the harm? Well, the most obvious is getting part of it stuck in your ear! That aside, regular ear bud use can also lead to skin irritation, infection and even hearing loss.

Continue reading “To ear bud, or not to ear bud – That is the question!”