John Austin, MD, FACS

Brownsville & Harlingen ENT Physician

Mouth Breather – Causes, Symptoms and Treatments

mouth breather

Image credit

If you are a mouth breather, you may assume that the worst side effect is getting grief from others about your habit. However, as a mouth breather, there are some serious and significant problems associated with your breathing. 

Breathing, even if you don’t think of it often, is a complex process which must be coordinated at all times. Your nose is a vital organ despite what you may think. As the American Academy of Otolaryngology states, the nose “…processes the air you breathe before it enters your lungs. Most of this activity takes place in and on the turbinates, located on the sides of the nasal passages.” Consider the last time you had a cold. Most likely your sleep was disrupted during the night leading to reduced cognitive functioning, low energy levels and change in mood the next day. This is the constant battle facing a person who is a mouth breather.

What Causes one to be a Mouth Breather?

There are three types of mouth breathing: obstructive, habitual and anatomic. The most common cause of mouth breathing is obstructions. Nasal airway passageways may be partially or completely obstructed. Some women find that during the third trimester of pregnancy they experience what is known as pregnancy rhinitis. Frequent causes of mouth breathing include:

Chronic Allergies

Particularly in children, chronic allergies lead to nasal airway obstruction. Though everyone experiences either allergies or a cold that causes mouth breathing, chronic allergies lead to mouth breathing being the normal way of getting air.

Adenoid Hypertrophy

Your adenoids are composed of tissue that connects the nasal cavity to the throat. Adenoids exist to fight off infections due to viruses or bacteria that enter your body through the nose. However, sometimes adenoids can be enlarged and when this happens they can lead to mouth breathing. Other complications from enlarged adenoids include loud snoring, sleep apnea and breathing that sounds labored.

Turbinate Hypertrophy

Turbinates are masses of tissue in your nose that warm and moisten the air you inhale. When your inferior turbinates become abnormally large they can cause a nasal obstruction that leads to mouth breathing. Other experiences that may appear with turbinate hypertrophy are a persistent runny nose, and nasal obstruction that worsens when you lay down.

Deviated Septum

The septum is a wall that separates the left nasal cavity from the right nasal cavity. Your septum is composed of cartilage in the front and bone in the back. It is completely normal to have one nasal cavity to be larger than the other, in fact nearly 80% of people experience a deviated septum according to the American Academy of Otolaryngology. However, there are some deviated septums are so severe that they lead to nasal obstruction. When you cannot breath properly through your nose, you become a mouth breather.

What Symptoms Does a Mouth Breather Experience?

Mouth breathers often wake up with a dry mouth and throat. Dryness is also experienced in the daytime as well, but can be temporarily remedied by moistening the lips. While a dry mouth and throat seem annoying but harmless, other symptoms mouth breathers experience are far more problematic to their health. Symptoms of mouth breathing include:

  • Poor quality of sleep
  • Daytime fatigue
  • Low energy
  • Reduced cognitive functioning
  • Excessive snoring during sleep
  • Habitual bad breath
  • Sore throat
  • Dental conditions
  • Gingivitis

Additionally, a mouth breather has an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Mouth breathing reduces the amount of oxygen found in the blood, which can lead to high blood pressure and other heart complications.

What Treatments are Available to Mouth Breathers?

Mouth breathing is not a new medical threat. In a paper published by the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Medicine in 1913, W.W. James states that: “[t]he ill effects produced by nasal obstruction and mouth-breathing are so significant that in all branches of medical science the establishment of normal respiration is regarded as of the utmost importance.”

In children it is often the dentist who notices and diagnoses mouth breathing. A child mouth breather exhibits gingivitis and possible facial and dental development. Treatment for mouth breathers is performed by an ear, nose and throat doctor. The treatment necessary for mouth breathing is dependent on the cause of mouth breathing. Some of the possible treatments for mouth breathing are:

  • Septoplasty – During a septoplasty, your doctor will straighten and correctly position the septum.
  • Rhinoplasty – Not always done for cosmetic reasons, a rhinoplasty operation reshapes and modifies the nasal bones and cartilage.
  • Turbinate Reduction Surgery – Turbinate reduction surgery often takes place at the same time as a rhinoplasty. These surgeries, as the name implies, reduce the size of the turbinates. There are several options for turbinate reduction surgery. One possibility is radiofrequency reduction, which shrinks the size of your nasal turbinates without having to remove any nasal tissue or bone.
  • Adenoidectomy – This surgery is most often performed on children and is completed at the same time as a tonsillectomy. During an adenoidectomy, the adenoids are completely removed.

If you are a mouth breather, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible to rectify the cause of your mouth breathing. A trusted ENT doctor, Dr. John Austin, has been practicing as an Austin ENT for 20 years. Dr. Austin has a broad range of expertise and treats patients who suffer from many ENT conditions, including mouth breathing. Contact one of his three office locations today to begin the process of normal respiration.

Turbinate Reduction Surgery

turbinate reduction surgeryImage credit

Turbinate reduction surgery is a procedure that aims to reduce the size of nasal turbinates (or nasal concha) to increase airflow through the nasal passages. This surgery is minimally invasive and does not require a lengthy recovery time. Dr. John Austin is highly skilled at providing patients with relief from nasal obstruction due to enlarged turbinates. 

What are Turbinates?

The United States National Library of Medicine and National Health Institute states: “The inside walls of the nose have 3 pairs of long thin bones covered with thin tissue. These bones are called nasal turbinates.” John’s Hopkins Medicine describes the job of nasal turbinates as “to clean and humidify the air as it moves through your nose into your lungs.”

Turbinate hypertrophy is a condition in which the nasal turbinates become enlarged. When turbinate hypertrophy occurs, the result can be nasal obstruction. Nasal obstruction is a problem as it:

  • Leads to congested and labored breathing
  • Increases trouble breathing during sleep
  • Can induce chronic nosebleeds
  • Can cause chronic sinus infections

Turbinate Reduction Surgery

The goal of turbinate reduction surgery is to “correct the problem of nasal obstruction by reducing the turbinate size and thereby decreasing airway resistance while preserving the natural function of the turbinates,” according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. Turbinate reduction surgery aims to improve airflow through the nasal passages. The surgery may also help reduce both nasal drainage and post-nasal drip.

Some patients who require turbinate reduction surgery might undergo a surgical septoplasty at the time of the turbinate reduction surgery. A surgical septoplasty “is performed to straighten a deviated, or crooked, nasal septum.” A deviated septum is an incredibly common occurrence, indeed it is rare for a doctors to see septums that are truly straight. Surgical septoplasty may be performed simultaneously with turbinate surgery in order to further improve airflow and reduce nasal discharge and post-nasal drip.

The methods for surgical turbinate surgery vary from case to case. However, most frequently the procedure is done using a nasal endoscope. A nasal endoscope is a thin tube that is inserted into the nose and provides the doctor with a magnified view of the area during surgery. Turbinate reduction may be done under both local or general anesthesia.

Johns Hopkins Medicine describes the surgical procedure, saying: “Your surgeon makes an incision in the lining mucosa of the turbinate and carefully removes the underlying bone of the turbinate. Your doctor may elect to use a micrdebrider to thin the tissue around the turbinate. Alternatively, they may be cauterized with radio frequency or electrical current (cautery or radiofrequency surgery).”

Benefits to Turbinate Reduction Surgery

The first major benefit to turbinate reduction surgery is the improved airflow and relief from nasal obstruction. Also, the surgery may reduce the amount of nasal drainage and post-nasal drip. Turbinate reduction surgery is completed entirely via the nostrils, so there is no facial scarring to worry about. Most patients are able to return home the same day they have the surgery.

The Provider You Can Trust

Dr. John Austin has been serving the Austin area as an ENT expert since 1995. In 1997, Dr Austin became the first ENT physician in the Austin area to become certified by the American Board of Facial Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Surgery. Dr. Austin is also a board certified Otolayrngologist.

Dr. Austin and his staff provide the care and convenience you desire. With three office locations in the Austin area, there is sure to be one located near you. Dr. Austin provides turbinate reduction surgery in addition to a vast list of other ENT conditions. Stop suffering and start your journey to wellness and a healthier, happier life by contacting Dr. John Austin today.

Endoscopic Sinus Surgery

Endoscopic Sinus Surgery Image credit

Endoscopic sinus surgery is performed on individuals with severe, chronically blocked sinuses or other nasal problems. Patients who undergo endoscopic sinus surgery can expect better drainage and increased airflow through the nose as a result of the procedure.

What is Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?

John’s Hopkins Medicine defines endoscopic sinus surgery as “a surgical procedure used to remove blockages in the sinuses.” Endoscopic procedures were first used in Austria in the 1970s, but did not become common in the United States until the 1980s. The American Rhinologic Society elaborates on the required tool for this procedure:  “The nasal endoscope is a small lighted metal scope placed into the nostril, which allows the surgeon to visualize the nose and sinuses.”

During the actual procedure, the surgeon inserts a nasal endoscope with the goal being “to identify the narrow channels that connect the paranasal sinuses to the nasal cavity, enlarge these areas and improve the drainage from the sinuses into the nose.” The surgery may be performed under local or general anesthesia and is generally done on an outpatient basis.

Who is Eligible for Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?

The American Rhinologic Society lists chronic rhinosinusitis as  one of the most common reasons for endoscopic surgery. “Chronic rhinosinusitis is a term applied to various nasal processes which involve inflammation of the nose and sinuses that do not adequately improve with medical management.” However, there are other indicators that sinus surgery is necessary. A sampling of these indicators include, but are not limited to: sinusitis, recurrent infections, chronic and complicated sinus infections, tumors of the nasal and sinus cavities, chronic sinus headaches, nasal polyps and nasal obstruction.

What are the Benefits of Endoscopic Sinus Surgery?

When other medical interventions or therapies are not effective at treating your sinus or nasal problems, there are many benefits to endoscopic sinus surgery. The first benefit of the surgery is that it opens the nasal passages and allows for better airflow and drainage. The surgery should also drastically reduce the number, severity and duration of sinus infections experienced.

The American Academy of Otolaryngology states the advantages to an endoscopic sinus surgery succinctly saying: “The advantage of the procedure is that the surgery is less extensive, there is often less removal of normal tissues and can frequently be performed on an outpatient basis.” Because nasal endoscopes are inserted into the nostril, there is no need to cut facial skin for this procedure, which eliminates any facial scarring. Another important advantage to an endoscopic sinus procedure is the reduced recovery time.

The ENT Expert you can Trust

Dr. John Austin has a simple goal:  “to give my patients the life they want and deserve.”  Dr. Austin has been treating patients in the Austin area since 1995. In 1997, Dr. Austin became the first Austin physician to be certified by the American Board of Facial and Reconstructive Surgery. He is also board certified in Otolaryngology.

Dr. Austin has the experience, skill and compassionate care that you deserve. With 20 years of experience in the Austin area alone, Dr. Austin gives his patients superior medical treatment. Dr. Austin maintains three offices in Central Texas: Central Austin, Round Rock and Lakeway. Stop suffering from sinus problems and contact one of Dr. Austin’s three convenient locations.

Deviated Septum

deviated septum

What is a Deviated Septum?

The nasal septum is the thin walled structure between your nasal passages. It is highly common to have a nasal septum that is not perfectly centered, leaving one nostril larger than the other. The American Academy of Otolaryngology states that nearly 80% of septums are not centered. A displaced nasal septum is referred to as a deviated septum. Often, a crooked septum is not a cause for concern. However, there are instances where the nasal septum is so displaced that it causes difficulty breathing or contributes to a tendency for crusting or bleeding along the nasal passages as the drying effect of breathing occurs. Causes of deviated septums include a birth defect or a nasal injury.

What are Symptoms of a Deviated Septum?

Most cases of a displaced septum result in no symptoms at all. In cases of severe septum deformities, the following symptoms may be present:

  • Nostril obstruction
  • Facial pain
  • Nosebleeds
  • Tendency to sleep on a particular side
  • Loud breathing while asleep

If any of the following symptoms are present, it is important to visit an ENT:

  • Frequent nosebleeds
  • Obstructed nostrils
  • Chronic or recurring sinus infections

How is a Deviated Septum Treated?

There are several ways to manage symptoms caused by an off-center septum. Some of the treatments intended to manage symptoms include:

  • Decongestants
  • Antihistamines
  • Nasal Spray

In order to actually correct a deviated septum, surgery is required. The two surgeries used to treat crooked septums are:

  • Septoplasty – During a septoplasty, the surgeon will straighten and correctly position the septum. In order to do this, your surgeon may need to remove pieces and replace them.
  • Rhinoplasty – A rhinoplasty is surgery that reshapes and modifies the shape of the nasal bones and cartilage.

If you are experiencing symptoms such as frequent nosebleeds or chronic sinusitis, a deviated septum could be to blame. Contact Dr. John Austin today to schedule an appointment for the correction of your deviated septum.

Nasal Airway Obstruction

nasal airway obstructionImage credit

Nasal airway obstruction impacts daily activities such as breathing, eating and sleeping. Dr. John Austin is experienced in treating patients with nasal airway obstruction. 

 

The Nasal Cavity

Your nasal cavity is an air-filled space in the interior of your nose. The nasal cavity is lined with a mucous membrane  and is separated, ideally in the center, by a wall of cartilage and thin bone, known as the septum. The septum is what creates your right and left nostrils. Additionally, there are six curved bones covered by expansile tissue in the nasal cavity that are called turbinates, or nasal concha. These paired turbinates function to cleanse, condition and heat (or cool) the air you breathe. Once the air has passed through your nostrils, it travels via the respiratory tract to your lungs.

Causes of Nasal Airway Obstruction

There are several common causes for nasal airway obstruction. The most frequently experienced causes include:

  • Enlarged Turbinates – Known as turbinate hypertrophy, enlargement of the turbinates can be a cause of nasal airway obstruction. Turbinate hypertrophy is an incredibly commonplace condition, though it is not a large cause for concern in many. The enlarged turbinates can make breathing through one, or both, nostrils nearly impossible.
  • Deviated Septum – The American Academy of Otolaryngology estimates that as many as 80% of Americans experience an off-center septum. While this is not a problem in many instances, it can increase the likelihood of chronic sinusitis and be a contributing factor to nasal airway obstruction. A septum being crooked makes breathing with one of the nostrils significantly more difficult.
  • Nasal Polyps – Polyps are benign growths that appear on the lining of the nasal cavity. These growths can congest the nasal cavity, making it harder to breath.
  • Enlarged Adenoids – The adenoid tissue, located in the back of the nose, generally shrinks late in the teen years. If the adenoid tissue does not get smaller, it can contribute to chronic sinus infections and airway obstruction. Enlarged adenoids are not just problematic in terms of airway obstruction; they may also indicate the presence of a tumor.

In addition to these causes of nasal airway obstruction, the condition can also occur as a result of a foreign object, swollen nasal lining due to allergies and certain medications, such as nasal decongestant sprays.

Treatments

Ultimately, the treatment for your nasal airway obstruction is determined by the cause of the problem. Often, the condition can be treated with the use of nasal corticosteroids or topical antihistamines. Other causes of nasal airway obstruction require surgery to treat. Potential surgeries used to correct obstruction of the nasal cavity include:

  • Septoplasty – When the cause of the obstruction is a deviated septum, surgery to correct the deviation is a treatment. During this surgery, the crooked cartilage and bone of the septum are straightened.
  • Surgery of the Turbinates – These surgeries are commonly known as turbinate reduction surgery or turbinate resection. Often these procedures occur at the same time of a septoplasty. Some methods, such as radiofrequency reduction, shrink turbinates without removing tissue or bone. In some instances, it may be necessary to remove a portion of the turbinate.

Dr. Austin has served the Austin area since 1995. His experience and care make him the leading choice for your Austin ENT doctor. Contact his office today to learn more about your nasal airway obstruction and how it can be treated.

Thyroid Surgery and Choosing a Thyroid Surgeon

Thyroid Surgery

Many people have masses in their thyroid gland known as nodules. Most thyroid nodules are benign. Nodules are more common in women than men and are usually discovered on the 4th and 5th decade of life. Some are noted during a routine physical exam, many are detected with a screening ultrasound.

Depending on the size of the lesion and whether or not it is associated with multiple nodules or is just a single nodule determines how much of an evaluation is needed. Most nodules do not affect the function of the thyroid gland. Some doctors will test thyroid hormone levels when a nodule is detected, while others will not.

Between 5 to 15% of solitary thyroid nodules are malignant. Because of this risk most nodules over 1 cm in size need to be biopsied to determine if they are malignant. Risk factors associated with a nodule being cancer include: a hard nodule, a painful nodule, a rapidly enlarging nodule, age over 50 years, known radiation exposure and a family history of thyroid cancer.

Detecting malignant thyroid nodules and determining the need for thyroid surgery

The most common way to detect if a nodule is malignant is with an ultrasound guided needle biopsy of the nodule. A skilled physician can anesthetize the neck over the nodule and with the direction of the ultrasound can guide a needle into the nodule and sample the cells.

The sampled tissue is then examined by a cytopathologist skilled in the evaluation of thyroid disease. Most times the pathologist can provide a diagnosis of what type of tumor is present. This includes if is benign or malignant, and if malignant what type of malignancy of the thyroid it is.

If there is diagnosis of malignancy then thyroid surgery is recommended for most patients. Thyroid surgery will entail removal of the entire thyroid gland and usually the associated lymph nodes that drain from the thyroid gland. Sometimes if the needle biopsy is equivocal then most thyroid surgeons will recommend just removing the half of the thyroid gland that the nodule is in. This is called a thyroid lobectomy.

Choose the right surgeon for your thyroid surgery

When choosing a thyroid surgeon a patient with a thyroid nodule should find a thyroid surgeon skilled in all types of surgery of the neck. A patient should want a thyroid surgeon who has performed thyroid surgery hundreds if not thousands of times.  Most ear, nose, and throat (ENT) surgeons are skilled in all types of neck surgery, including thyroid surgery. Some ENT doctors are further trained in a subspecialty known as Head & Neck Surgery which is a 1 or 2 year fellowship level training after residency.

Dr. John Austin has extensive thyroid surgery experience

Dr. John Austin performed his Fellowship in Head and Neck Surgery at the prestigious University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. After his training he served as an Assistant Professor for four years in the Head and Neck Surgery Department, at MD Anderson.  He has performed an extensive amount of thyroid operations through his combined training in Los Angeles, Houston, and his clinical practice in Austin, Texas.

If your primary physician, surgeon, or endocrinologist has recommended thyroid surgery and you want to work with an Austin ear, nose and throat doctor, make an appointment with Dr. John Austin, please call us to schedule an appointment.

Tonsillectomy – Should You Have Your Tonsils Removed?

Tonsillectomy - Have tonsils removed?

A common question I am asked is; Doctor why do I need to have my tonsils removed? Or, why does our pediatrician say my son or daughter should have their tonsils removed? The answer is always complex and includes many different factors all of which play an important role in the answer.

The tonsil is lymphoid tissue that helps in the development of the body’s immune antibody development. In most people as they age the function and the size of the tonsils will decrease. In some people the tonsils continue to enlarge and they can become continually infected or harbor subclinical bacterial contamination. Sometimes if they continue to enlarge they can produce difficulty with speech, swallowing and breathing. Large tonsils can be a precursor to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Tonsillectomy In Adults

Adults, for this discussion someone 25 years of age or older, often times have their tonsils removed for reasons of repetitive strep throat infections, obstructive symptoms, snoring, swallowing problems, bad breath, or possibly even a severe tonsil infection called a peritonsil abscess. Sometimes adults who have suffered repetitive viral pharyngeal infections will develop chronic pain in their throat which is improved with a tonsillectomy.

Tonsillectomy in infants and children under the age of 4

A tonsillectomy in an infant or child under the age of 4 is uncommon and requires a special evaluation by the pediatrician and otolaryngologist. Often times other physicians are involved in the decision to perform a tonsillectomy in a child this young. These may include a pediatric: neurologist, pulmonologist and infectious disease expert.

Tonsillectomy in children over the age of 4

Children over the age of 4 most commonly have their tonsils removed because of repetitive throat infections most often from the bacteria streptococcus. This is commonly referred to as strep throat. Strep throat is most often associated with a very sore throat, malodorous breath, a high fever, and difficulty with drinking and eating. Strep throat is most often diagnosed with a rapid strep test, or a throat culture. It is almost always treated with antibiotics and can be very contagious affecting other family members.

Other reasons children over the age of 4 have their tonsils removed can include heavy snoring with obstructive type symptoms. Sometimes these children will have a sleep study that documents obstructive breathing patterns during sleep. If children have had multiple treatments with various antibiotics there is a concern that they may develop bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. More and more antibiotic resistant infection mount a serious health challenge to clinicians and patients.

Tonsillectomy Surgery

Having tonsils removed is done through a surgical procedure called a tonsillectomy. It is often accompanied by removal of the adenoid tissue. The adenoid is lymph tissue in the back of the nose. Surgical removal of the tonsil and adenoid is always done with general anesthesia. Surgery takes about 30 minutes and is most often done as an outpatient. Both adults and children over the age of 4 can usually go home the same day as surgery.

Recovery after a Tonsillectomy

The recovery after surgery takes about seven to ten days. Younger children will recuperate quicker than an adult. Physical activity and travel is strictly limited after surgery. Most surgeons recommend 2 weeks of no travel and restricted activity.

Diet after a tonsillectomy is predominantly hydration drinks and cool soft foods. Hot food and hard chewy food or spicy food is to be avoided. A liquid narcotic pain medicine is prescribed after surgery and most patients will use a narcotic medication for about 10 days, although younger children do recuperate quicker. Adults are recommended to not drive while taking prescription pain medicine and to avoid important business and personal decision making situations.

Once completely recovered from surgery patients are most often free from future bacterial infections of the pharynx. The tonsil and adenoid do not grow back, although some people may develop some lymphoid tissue in the same location as the tonsils and adenoid.

Chronic Ear Infections (Otitis Media)

Commonly seen in children, ear infections – also known as otitis media – can also affect adults.

Symptoms of Chronic Ear Infections

As most people can tell you, ear infections are no fun. Ear infections are common and quite uncomfortable. If you are experiencing an earache and think it may be an ear infection, check your symptoms against this list.

Symptoms of chronic ear infections in adults include:

  • Earache – a sharp, sudden pain or a dull, continuous pain
  • Warm drainage from the ear canal
  • A feeling that one’s ear is clogged or full
  • Nausea
  • Muffled hearing

Symptoms of chronic ear infections in children include:

  • Tugging at the ear
  • Sleeping poorly
  • Fever
  • Ear drainage
  • Being irritable, restless, or crying while lying down

What distinguishes an ear infection as being acute or chronic is the number of times one experiences the symptoms. If this is your first time experiencing these symptoms, you likely have an acute ear infection. If you have these symptoms multiple times per year or if your symptoms last for weeks on end, you are likely experiencing chronic ear infections.

Causes of Chronic Ear Infections

The ear canal is a part of your sinuses. When your ears are healthy and working properly, air is allowed to flow freely from behind your nose and through the Eustachian tube, which keeps the middle ear clean and dry. When the Eustachian tube is blocked, moisture can become trapped in the middle ear and cause bacteria to collect. This leads to a most unpleasant ear infection.

Ear infections become chronic when moisture repeatedly gets trapped in the middle ear. This is most common in adults and children who swim frequently or have persistent allergies.

What Can I Do?

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, visit your doctor. He or she will likely take a look inside your ears. If the middle ear is red and inflamed, your doctor will likely diagnose you with an ear infection.

Ear infections are caused by either bacteria or a virus. If the cause is bacterial, your doctor may prescribe you with antibiotics. However, if the cause is viral, your only option is to treat the symptoms of your ear infection as there is no cure against viruses.

To ease the discomfort of an ear infection, you can:

  • Take acetaminophen or ibuprofen to reduce fever
  • Apply gentler heat from a heating pad to reduce pain
  • Do something to help you relax or take your mind off of the pain such as lighting a candle and resting your eyes, or reading

To prevent another ear infection from happening, be sure to have good personal hygiene habits such as washing your hands. Stopping the spread of bacteria and viruses will go a long way to reducing your risk of getting another ear infection. Talk to your doctor about any ideas he or she might have that are tailored to your specific situation such as wearing ear plugs while swimming.

Sleep Apnea and Snoring: What your Body is Telling You

Sleep Apnea and Snoring

Does your spouse complain of your snoring? Your sleeping partner isn’t the only one. Snoring is a sign that your body is suffering as well.

Learn about Somnoplasty

Causes of Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a medical condition in which one stops breathing briefly while sleeping. When you are awake, the muscles in your throat and neck are rigid and provide a nice open channel for you to breath through. When you sleep, these muscles naturally relax, which causes that channel to narrow. Normally, this is not a problem as your heart rate and breathing slow when you are sleeping. However, for some people this channel becomes closed or blocked, which can lead to sleep apnea.

Common causes for this channel to become blocked include:

  • Most Common: being overweight – if you are carrying excess weight around your chin and neck, this weight can put pressure on your throat, causing it to close
  • Moderately Common: having large tonsils or a large tongue – larger than average organs in your throat can cause a blockage while you sleep
  • Rare: the presence of a neurological disorder in which your brain fails to tell the muscles in your throat to stay open while you sleep

Causes of Snoring

Snoring is much more common than sleep apnea and has many more potential causes. Snoring occurs when there is a full or partial obstruction in the airway. As one inhales and exhales, the air is forced around the obstruction, making the sound of a snore.

Some of these causes include:

  • Having an obstructed nasal passage – nasal passages that are inflamed due to allergies or having a cold, or the presence of a deviated septum could cause an obstruction in the nasal passages
    Poor muscle tone in the throat – for some people the muscles of the throat and the tongue become too relaxed while they sleep, causing a narrower channel through which to breathe
  • Larger than average tissue – some people have larger than average throat muscles, tonsils, or tongue; all of which can narrow the breathing channel and cause snoring
  • Drinking alcohol – alcohol is a sedative and can cause the muscles in the throat to relax too much, causing an obstruction
  • Being overweight – excess tissue around the chin and throat can put unnecessary pressure on your throat and cause it to become more narrow

What Can I Do?

Now that you know what the potential causes of sleep apnea and snoring are, speak with your doctor about which one is likely plaguing you. Many doctors will recommend a sleep study in order to properly diagnose sleep apnea. Sleep studies allow doctors to see what a typical night of sleep is like for you.

Your doctor will likely refer you to a sleep lab where you will be assigned to a private bedroom and monitored by special machines. The machines will detect changes in your breathing, brain activity, muscle activity, and heart rate. While it may seem like a lot of uncomfortable equipment, most sleep study patients state that they fall asleep rather quickly.

In the morning your doctor will have a print out of what your body was doing while you were sleeping. If at any point during the night you stopped breathing, your doctor may diagnose you with sleep apnea.

Many treatments for sleep apnea also help patients with snoring. Your doctor may recommend any number of the following non-medication treatments:

  • quitting smoking
  • avoiding alcohol, sleeping pills, and other sedatives before bed
  • avoiding heavy meals within two hours of laying down to sleep
  • avoiding caffeine after about 4pm
  • maintaining a regular sleep schedule
  • sleeping on your side
  • propping up your head with some comfortable pillows or blankets
  • opening your nasal passages before bed by using a nasal dilator, saline spray, breathing strips, or a neti pot

If none of these home remedies seem to work, you and your doctor may decide to try medical treatment options. Dr. Austin recommends an appointment with an Ear, Nose, and Throat physician at the initial concern over sleep apnea. A thorough examination of the nose, mouth, and throat will help make sure that an anatomic or medical condition is addressed, and treated before ancillary testing is performed. This examination is thorough, painless, and may include the use of flexible fiber-endoscopy to evaluate the anatomy of the patient’s airway.

Some patients with sleep apnea require supplemental oxygen while sleeping while other patients decide to use breathing devices. If your sleep apnea is caused by a heart or neuromuscular disorder, you and your doctor may need to discuss treatment options for the underlying condition.

Sinusitis Causes Symptoms and Treatment Options

sinusitis causes symptoms and treatment

Sinusitis is a common complaint. According to the CDC, over 37 million Americans will have at least one bout of sinusitis every year.

A Rose by any Other Name Would Smell as Sweet

Unless, that is, you have a sinusitis. Then you may not be able to smell anything. Sinusitis can do more than make you feel bad; it can actually lead to a full-blown, chronic sinus infection that lasts for weeks at a time. In short, sinusitis can make you truly miserable and lead to other problems.

What is Sinusitis?

Sinusitis is an inflammation (and or infection) of the sinuses. The sinuses are air-filled cavities that are located above your eyebrows and below your eyes.

Sinusitis Causes Symptoms and Treatment Options

What Causes Sinusitis?

The most common cause of sinusitis is a viral infection. Viruses, allergens or other environmental irritants cause an irritation to the delicate mucosal lining of the sinuses. The body then responds by rushing fluid to the affected area (causing swelling).

Moreover, when irritated, the natural response of the sinuses is to produce larger quantities of mucus (in order to flush out the irritant or viral agent). However, if the sinuses become overwhelmed and cannot drain, the pressure continues to build, causing pain.

Secondary Infections

Furthermore, because the area is moist and warm, bacteria may be able to increase in number, leading to a sinus infection that can become chronic or extend for four or more weeks.

Other underlying causes may also make patients more susceptible to sinusitis. These include fungal infections, allergies, nasal polyps, and the presence of a deviated septum (which can block nasal passages and or slow the normal drainage).

What are the Symptoms?

Symptoms of sinusitis include:

  • Swelling of the nasal passageways
  • Fever
  • Sinus pain and pressure
  • Excessive mucus or mucus that appears cloudy, yellow or greenish
  • A feeling of increased pressure or pain when leaning forward
  • Dental pain

What Treatments are Available?

Your doctor can diagnose and treat sinusitis. He or she will determine the underlying cause and then prescribe a course of treatment. This may include medications to relieve the congestion, decrease mucus production, or antibiotics to fight the infection.

He or she may also prescribe other medications to reduce the reaction to allergens or corticosteroids to reduce the swelling. In some cases, such as when polyps are present, he or she may recommend a surgical procedure in order to treat and or prevent future infections.

If you are Experiencing the Pain of Sinusitis

You may be able to gain some temporary relief of your symptoms by using over-the-counter medications and nasal sprays. If, however, the symptoms worsen, you begin to run a fever, or you begin to notice a change in the color of the mucus (yellow or green), or the symptoms simply interfere with your daily life, contact your doctor for an appointment.

Image Credit for Sinusitis Causes Symptoms and Treatment Options: Spring Dew

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510 Victoria Ln.
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Harlingen, TX 78550

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