Four Medical Symptoms that Warrant a Visit to the ENT Doctor

Are you tired of the constant sinus infections and allergy symptoms that you get every winter? While over the counter medications might relieve the symptoms for a few hours, it generally does not correct the problem. Instead of pushing off the symptoms, it might be time to visit an ear, nose, and throat specialist, or an ENT doctor. An ENT doctor can help with the following problems.

Chronic sinus problems

Many people chalk sinus problems up to weather changes. Although the weather can definitely affect your sinuses, this does not mean that you should have to deal with the symptoms all year long. Your ENT doctor might be able to find another cause of the sinus problems. They can perform certain medical procedures, like a rhinoplasty which can provide significant relief. Rhinoplasty was the third most popular cosmetic surgical procedure performed in 2016, but it can also be done for medical reasons.

Chronic ear problems

Children are known for having chronic ear problems. In some cases, their ears have not yet grown large enough for sufficient use. They might get an increase of ear infections and even hearing problems. However, adults can also suffer from ear problems and may be more hesitant to go to an ENT doctor. While pediatric ENT doctors work primarily with younger children, there are also ENT doctors that specialize in adult?s treatment.

Sleep problems

You might be surprised to learn that your poor sleep habits are caused by an ear, nose, or throat problem. ENT doctors also treat patients with snoring treatments and sleep apnea treatments. An estimated one out of every five adults in the U.S. has an undiagnosed case of mild sleep apnea. Leaving sleep apnea untreated can make it difficult to get a good night of sleep. It can also be extremely dangerous, leading to much more serious of medical conditions. Work with your ENT doctor on diagnosing of a possible case of sleep apnea.

A cold or the flu that just does not go away

Have you ever felt like you were ill for an entire season? At first, you thought maybe you were continuing to get new illnesses, but then you realized that you were simply never getting fully better. Ear, nose, and throat problems can easily mimic that of the common cold or flu. While you do not need to run to your physician or the ENT doctor for every cold or flu symptoms, you should seek medical consultation when you have an illness that does not go away, especially after many weeks. Sinusitis especially, is known for lasting a long time. Acute sinusitis may last up to four weeks, while chronic sinusitis can last anywhere from 12 weeks to multiple years.

Chronic sore throats

Sore throats seem to be common during certain times of the year, especially the cold, winter months. However, if you notice that you keep getting sore throats and that they take a long time to go away, it might warrant a visit to the ENT doctor. Young children tend to get a lot of sore throats and as a result, it is usually recommended that they get their tonsils taken out. This is a low risk and minimally invasive medical procedure that can also be completed on adults. However, you will need to work with your ENT doctor on evaluating if removing your tonsils will help with your throat pains.

We are often taught that sore throats, ear aches, and sinus problems are just something to expect. Many people never even see their primary physician for any of these problems. Instead, they rely on over the counter medications and hope for symptom relief. An ENT doctor specializes in these very conditions and could be extremely beneficial in not only providing you with immediate relief, but also giving you a solution to a chronic ENT problem.