NetWellness Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders

The pinna

Ravi Samy MD, FACS — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:11:00 EST

Question: Why does �cupping' the pinna with your hand or a headphone provide better protection from loud sounds than ear plugs?"

Answer: Ear plugs do a good job for most kinds of noise exposure (depending upon the type of ear plug), but the hand can provide additional protection to the ear. For very loud sounds, ear muffs can also help and are some times used more frequently.

Ask an Expert: Ravi Samy MD, FACS, Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders

Nasty Tongue/Tonsils/Throat/Gums

Lee Zimmer MD — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:11:00 EST

Question: I have had a mild sore throat for almost 3 weeks, and have had a feeling of general malaise. Yesterday, I looked down my throat with a flashlight and was shocked. My right tonsil is swollen. The back and side of my tongue has both blood blisters and white blisters and huge raised red bumps. I have s . . .

Answer: The symptoms you are describing can be from an upper respiratory infection, mono, or a bacterial infection of the tonsils. A visit to your primary care physician would be warranted. If the symptoms do not resolve despite an initial intervention (say over 2 weeks), an evaluation by an ENT would be wa . . .

Ask an Expert: Lee Zimmer MD, Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders

Cystic nodular lesion

Lee Zimmer MD — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 19:11:00 EST

Question: Hello,

About a month ago, my dad passed away and i cried a lot and was overstressed. And suddenly i felt like my uvula was bumping on something. I checked and noticed a bump on the very back of my throat not on the tongue right behind the uvula. It`s not painful, i don`t really feel it, it`s mo . . .

Answer: A lot of times these cystic lesions are blocked mucus glands. Rarely are they cancers. I believe your PCP is following the appropriate protocol.

Ask an Expert: Lee Zimmer MD, Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders

Home treatment for allergy stuffed up ears

Allen Seiden MD — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:11:00 EST

Question: I have had this on off problem for yrs. I am 65yrs old.Does peroxide have benificial affects for my ears?I dont like to take antibiotics.

Answer: Peroxide will only be helpful if your stuffiness is due to a build up of wax in your ears, which may well be the case. On the other hand, if you have eustachian tube dysfunction, such as might occur from allergies or post nasal drip, then peroxide drops in your ears will not help. Your b . . .

Ask an Expert: Allen Seiden MD, Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders

Loss of smell and taste

Allen Seiden MD — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:11:00 EST

Question: My husband lost his smell & taste about 4 years due to taking atenolol. He has been off of it for 8 months but no chagne yet. Is there a Dr. any closer to. We live 45 miles from any city.

Answer: I'm not aware of any cases of taste or smell loss from atenolol, so the reason for your husbands loss may be more involved. Your best bet is to consult a physician associated with a taste and smell clinic. I'm not certain where you live, but such a clinic is located at the University of . . .

Ask an Expert: Allen Seiden MD, Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders

Ringing in the ears

Ravi Samy MD, FACS — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:11:00 EST

Question: I RECENTLY READ AARTICLE IN THE DAILY MAIL THAT A DOCTOR HAD FOUND THAT PUTTING A DROP OF SUPERGLUE ON THE MEMBRANE OF THE EAR DRUM STOPPED THE RINGING IN THE EAR COULD YOU GIVE ME ANY INFORMATION ON THIS TREATMENT THANK YOU

Answer: That is not the case for all causes of tinnitus. I recommend that you see an otolaryngologist and obtain a hearing test. Your tinnitus could be due to medications, aging, loud noise exposure, etc. You may need hearing aids. At the least, you should mask your tinnitus with more pleasant background (w . . .

Ask an Expert: Ravi Samy MD, FACS, Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders

Concern re: repeating deviated septum proced.

Allen Seiden MD — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:11:00 EST

Question: I had procedure as a young teen about 30 years ago, and was conscience for about a minute or so (could hear talking as something was being jammed deep in my nostril ... doc told me I was dreaming) and experienced trauma / pain. Have significant deviation again with nearly no air passage in one nostr . . .

Answer: In Cincinnati these days the procedure is almost always done under general anesthesia, so nothing is placed into your nose until you are asleep. Speaking for myself, we do not keep the nose packed after this surgery, so there is no gauze packing. Most ENT physicians in the Cincinnati are . . .

Ask an Expert: Allen Seiden MD, Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders

Loss of taste and smell

Allen Seiden MD — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 10:10:00 EST

Question: I have just about loss all taste and smell and need to know if you can help me.

Answer: That would depend upon what caused the loss, and whether it is truly a loss of smell (more common) or loss of taste. Taste buds respond only to salt, sour, sweet, and bitter, but when we eat, the odors of food help to characterize its flavor. When a loss of smell is due to underlyin . . .

Ask an Expert: Allen Seiden MD, Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders

Hot ears

Ravi Samy MD, FACS — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 03:10:00 EST

Question: Occasionly Iget the feeling of Hot ears particularly in evenings&sometimes in the morning.I am hypertensive with bp under 130/80 range.Also occasionly suffering with GERD.Iam physically active with regular regime of exercises &vegiterian food.HOT FLUSHES or hot feeling of both ears is due to . . .

Answer: Probably not. However, I would recommend evaluation by an otolaryngologist, including a hearing evaluation. This may be due to changes in temperature. Rarely, hormonal imbalances or autoimmune diseases are another possibility.

Ask an Expert: Ravi Samy MD, FACS, Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders

Ear bubbling sensation

Ravi Samy MD, FACS — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 07:10:00 EST

Question: Hello, Last month I was on a plane, and as we descended I felt a sharp pain in my head and extreme pressure in my ears (never felt this before, although I travel frequently). Ever since this incident, my right ear feels "full", and I get a bubble sensation, where I actually feel bubbling a . . .

Answer: You probably have fluid behind the ear drum due to Eustachian tube dysfunction. I recommend that you see an otolaryngologist and get a hearing test. You may be placed on antibiotics or have a temporary tube placed into your eardrum.

Ask an Expert: Ravi Samy MD, FACS, Ear, Nose, and Throat Disorders