Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Ballon sinuplasty
Sinusitis is inflammation of sinuses. Mucus collects and blocks the sinus openings.
Symptoms are headache, facial pain,nasal discharge, nasal blockage and post nasal drip.
Aim of treatment is to open up blocked sinus passageways.
Balloon sinuplasty is true advance in the field of sinus care. It works on same concept as balloon angioplasty for the treatment of clogged coronary arteries.
A wire catheter (approved by FDA) is introduced through the nostril and moved towards blocked passageways. Catheter has a balloon in the front.Then balloon gradually inflated to open up blocked passageways, then it is deflated and removed. Sinus drainage is restored.
Balloon sinuplasty alone may eliminate the need for surgery in some patients and others may require concurrent endoscopic sinus surgery.
Balloon sinuplasty is safe, effective , minimally invasive, cost effective, takes less recovery time, has less patient discomfort, and has no side effects.
Studies confirm it's safety and efficacy and high patient satisfaction. But still it is under evaluation for long term success and further studies are needed to see it's effectiveness in presence of nasal polyp or when ethmoid sinus is involved.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
How to clean ear-wax?
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
General Ear-Care
General care:
- Outer ear can be wiped with a wash cloth or soft towel.
- If water goes in after head shower or swimming mere dabbing with towel with head turned to side, cleans water.
- You can use ready made preparation of alcohol based to dry the ear if you are sure that you don't have ear infection.
- Do not put anything in the ear, remember it is not only for pins; it is for ear buds and q-tips as well, believed to be safe and made for ear-cleaning( even most intellectual people think so).
- Ear is not a cooking-range, does not require oil, garlic and so on.
- Ear wax is not a disease, rather a protective secretion which comes out by it's own where it can be wiped out.
- Excess wax causing obstruction is to be removed by your clinician.
Air-travelling:
- During ascent and descent while air-travelling, swallow frequently to keep Eustachian tube open, infant can be put to bottle feeding.
- Avoid air-travel during cold/sinusitis, but if not avoidable use nasal/oral decongestant before ascent and decent.
Cold/sinusitis/Eustachian tube and ear:
- Do not blow nose forcefully during cold, it forces secretion towards middle ear via Eustachian-tube.
- Take care of upper respiratory tract infection/sinusitis to reduce risk of ear infection.
- During infant feeding , keep his head high to avoid milk/fluid entering middle ear via Eustachian tube as infants have short and horizontal tube.
- Turn down volume of MP3 player/television.
- While working in noisy area, rock concerts wear ear protection devices.
Visit your doctor:
- If you have excess itching, pain,blocked ear, ringing in the ear, drainage from ear, dizziness, uncontrolled URI/sinusitis, visit a doctor.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Home care for sinusitis
Infection of sinuses is called sinusitis. Sinusitis may be caused by anything that interfere with airflow into the sinuses and mucus drainage out of the sinuses, usually follow a viral infection, allergy, or irritants. Thus any treatment is aimed at thinning of secretions for easy drainage or reducing inflammation to open up blocked sinus passageways.
Home remedies effecvely reduce symptoms of sinusitis and reduce visits to doctors clinic.Home care for sinusitis-
Proper rest
Balanced diet rich in vitamin and minerals to boost body's defence mechanism.
Vitamin C, A and zinc.
Sleep with head elevated.
Maintain adequate hydration as it dilutes mucus.
Drink hot drinks like hot soups, and tea.
Steam inhalation- Plain water or medicated steam with menthol has soothing effect and helps in improving sinus drainage. hot shower also helps.
Hot fomentation-application of warm cloth, hot water bottle or gel pack to face for 5-10 minutes relieves pain and inflammation to some extent.
Saline irrigation- nose and sinuses should be washed by 1/4 tsf salt in 1 cup water using bulb syringe, alternatively commercially availabe saline nasal sprays can be used.
Avodance of allergen if any.
Avoidance of irriants/smoking/strong perfumes
Use of humidifier.
If symptoms persist visit your physician or otolaryngologist.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Nasal douching or "jala-neti" for sinusitis
Originally a yogic tradition nasal Wash, nasal douching, nasal irrigation or "jala neti" is very effective and safe in sinusitis-allergic or infective, post-nasal drip, and post-sinus surgery to clean nasal passages and easy breathing. As an E.N.T. specialist I have witnessed improved quality of life and reduced visits of patients to my clinic. Alternatively saline nasal sprays can also be used to clean the nose and sinuses. Randomized controlled trials ( General of family practice by Dr Rabago) shows that it improves smptoms of sinusitis and quality of life, with decreasing use of medications.
- **Hyper tonic saline used in nasal irrigation improves drainage of secretion by:-
- Improving mucocilliary clearance ( Sinuses are lined by respiratory epithelium with Goblet cells to secrete mucus (forming mucus blanket) and cilia (fine hair like structure) to help trap and propel pollutant and bacteria outward to nose through osteum (opening) of sinuses.
- Helps in thinning of mucus.
- Possibly reduce inflammation.
- **Procedure for "jala-neti"**
You will find so many articles written on procedure and some very cumbersome but believe me it is very simple, there is no need of sophisticated equipments- "It is saline that works not equipment".
It is amazing to see the smiling patients with easy breathing. Saline irrigation should be included in daily hygiene of people with sinusitis or post nasal drip with brushing of teeth.
Thursday, January 1, 2009
Noise induced hearing loss
- Noise level goes up with new year celebrations, social gatherings, party, music and fire works, and so does people visiting E.N.T. and audiology clinics with hearing problems or ringing in the ear(tinnitus).
- Children and teens listening to loud music are also more prone to develop hearing loss later in life.
- People with occupations involving exposure to noise above 85 decibel are also at risk.
Too loud noise damages sensitive nerve endings in inner ear and cause sensorineural loss. Sudden exposure to loud noise may cause temporary sensorineural hearing loss which usually recovers over 24 to 48 hours. But if sound is too loud, or loud sound is too close or loud sound is exposed over a long period of time(more than 85 db), permanent sensorineural hearing loss can occur. and 85 decibels is not as loud as you will think. Sound from an ipod shuffle is usually 115 db and with firework it goes at 150 db.
Protection from noise- Unfortunately physician can not do much in sensorineural haring loss except prescribing a hearing aid. So primary aim is prevention and early detection.
- Person working in noise above 85 db should use noise protection devices-ear plugs and ear muffs. It is as simple a concept as using goggles to protect your eyes from UV rays of sun.
- people with occupations involving noise exposure should undergo periodic hearing screening (audiometry test).
- On earliest sign of noise trauma like irritability, buzzing sound in ear or difficulty in hearing visit your physician.
- Turn down the volume of television and MP3 players.