Sore throat, nasal congestion, or clogged ears. Aren’t these conditions often trivialized by us? While these afflictions can be easily associated with seasonal allergies or outbreaks of cold and flu, there are certain signs that you should always lookout for! Generally, it is believed that issues that are related to your throat, nose or ear, don’t possess any serious risk to your health. But shortness of breath, worsening pain, lump in throat, hearing disorders are some of the symptoms that you shouldn’t take lightly. Nearly half of the patients prefer to visit primary care facilities rather than a specialist, either due to fear or lack of knowledge about who to approach.
Just remember, if any of your issues persist for a longer time than expected, then it’s important to see an ENT specialist.
Find out more about what an ENT specialist can treat and how they can help you with specific health conditions.
What is an ENT Specialist?
An otolaryngologist, commonly referred to as an ENT specialist, is a well-trained physician in the medical and surgical management and treatment of patients suffering from certain diseases of the ear, nose, throat (ENT) along with the structures of the head and neck. An experienced specialist is able to perform appropriate diagnosis for issues related to sinuses, larynx, oral cavity, and upper pharynx and will suggest suitable treatment options.
When do you need to visit an ENT Specialist?
As a first line of action, it is perfectly fine to consult your general physician. Yet, there are several conditions that demand you to visit an ENT specialist without any delay!
Let’s look at them closely;
1. Chronic Sinusitis
Often symptoms of sinusitis are mistaken for a common cold that leads to an easy progression of the disease. You might feel a discomforting pressure around the nose or teeth, or pain while eating. Sinusitis pain can be acute or chronic and can cause distressing symptoms including headache, fever, fatigue, blurred vision, difficulty smelling, and dental pain. Depending on the patient’s age, it can become severe. However, an ENT specialist can control the early signs and help you stay out of the risk of complications.
2. Persistent Ear Infections
Ear infections are relatively common in children, due to underlying issues such as seasonal cold, excessive mucus, allergy or sinus. In adults recurrent ear infections could be a bit concerning! If you experience frequent ear infections and have constant pain in your ears, it is advisable to see an ENT to manage and treat such issues on time.
3. Recurrent Tonsillitis
Persistent inflammation of the tonsils is quite common in children but it shouldn’t be ignored when it brings along high fever, sore throat, swollen lymph nodes and visible white spots on the tissue of the throat and tonsils. Repeated episodes of tonsillitis require a complete evaluation to find out the possible reasons and best treatment approach.
4. Difficulty Swallowing
Are you taking more time in swallowing your food than usual? Or does it take strenuous effort to sip your drinks without experiencing any throat infection? In such situations, consultation with an ENT specialist is a must as early detection could help in finding out the root cause of such issues.
5. Tinnitus
Tinnitus (ringing in the ears) is usually characterized as a temporary condition where a person may be able to hear sound in the ears even when there is no external source. It can happen when you hear loud sounds for a long time, such as in concerts or clubs. However, if the episodes of tinnitus increase or start to impact your day-to-day life, seek advice from an ENT specialist to improve the symptoms.
6. Prolonged Hoarseness
Any change in the pitch of your voice shouldn’t be neglected especially if it persists for more than a week. If you are experiencing a couple of signs such as difficulty in speaking, dryness/irritation in the throat along with persistent hoarseness, then it’s worth speaking to an ENT in order to get a proper diagnosis of the issue. It can occur due to inflammation, infection, or overuse of the voice box, or it may be an indication of acid reflux disease.
7. Gradual Hear Loss
If you ask people to repeat themselves, or constantly increase the volume of TV, then you may need to make a visit to an ENT specialist to get a thorough check-up. Often, hearing issues are temporary and are caused due to infection, hearing loud music for long hours, or due to excessive ear wax. The severity of the damage can be only examined by the specialist who will provide an effective solution based on the individual case.
Conclusion-
The diagnosis and treatment performed by the specialist wouldn’t be offered at the general physician. If not diagnosed it could take a huge toll on the overall health. Know that having strong support from the specialist allows you to combat the issues in a better way!
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