Patient Education
Snoring/Sleep Apnea
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FAQs
What are signs of enlarged tonsils or adenoids?
Typical signs of enlarged tonsils or adenoids include constant mouth breathing, snoring at night, noisy breathing during the day, muffled voice or pauses in breathing during snoring (apnea).
What is sinusitis?
Sinusitis is inflammation or infection of the mucous membrane lining the nasal sinuses (air-filled cavities in the bones surrounding the nose, eyes, cheekbone and forehead).
What symptoms can be associated with sinusitis?
- Pressure and pain in the sinus cavities
- Nasal Congestion
- Nasal Drainage
- Bad Breath
- Low-grade Fevers
- Loss of sense of smell
How common is sinusitis?
Sinusitis is one of the most common medical problems affecting approximately 30% of the population at some point. Acute sinusitis commonly follows a cold and typically lasts for up to three weeks. After three weeks it becomes defined as a chronic sinusitis and may become much more difficult to treat.
Why do ears have wax?
Cerumen (ear wax) is a body defense mechanism. Its presence in the outer ear canal is supposed to trap dust and dirt particles in order to keep them from reaching the ear drum.
My doctor says my child needs “ear tubes”?
When ear infections occur too frequently or are never completely resolved, we may recommend the placement of temporary ventilating tubes in children. They are placed in children under a brief general anesthetic and usually fall out by themselves within 12 to 18 months.
Do I have a cholesteatoma?
A cholesteatoma is a skin growth that occurs abnormally behind the ear drum in the middle ear. With time, the continued growth can lead to destruction of the surrounding structures in the middle ear. Symptoms include hearing loss, drainage, dizziness or even facial nerve paralysis.
What are some of the more common causes of hoarseness?
- Laryngitis
- Vocal Cord Polyps, Nodules or Cysts
- Laryngopharyngeal Reflux
- Vocal Misuse
- Vocal Cord Paralysis
- Laryngeal Cancer
Can allergies cause hoarseness?
Absolutely. Nasal allergies specifically can result in a chronic laryngitis from persistent post-nasal drip and cough. Some of the same allergy-mediated swelling can also occur in the vocal cords resulting in hoarseness.
Do I have a swallowing disorder?
Common symptoms of swallowing disorders include the feeling of food or liquid getting stuck in the throat, the sensation of a lump in the throat, coughing or choking with swallowing, discomfort in the throat or chest with swallowing, phlegm and saliva overproduction, weight loss and inadequate nutrition.
What are some signs of cancer of the upper aerodigestive tract?
No one symptom signifies an underlying cancer. People who have a history of chronic tobacco or alcohol use are at a higher risk of developing upper aerodigestive tract malignancies, but the use of tobacco or alcohol is not mandatory to develop such cancers. Recent research has also suggested an association of certain head and neck cancers with HPV (Human Papilloma Virus). Patients presenting with malignancies may have symptoms such as:
- pain or difficulty swallowing
- hoarseness or voice changes
- spitting or coughing up blood
- throat tightness or difficulty breathing
- foreign body sensation in the throat
- ear pain with swallowing
- unintended weight loss
- neck mass
Timely evaluation and early diagnosis of symptoms can often result in higher cure rates and survivals.
What is a PET scan?
PET stands for positron emission tomography. This an innovative imaging technique we sometimes obtain that uses positively charged particles (radioactive positrons) to detect subtle changes in the body's metabolism and chemical activities. PET scans can be used to detect cancerous tumors, to determine the extent of its spread and to judge the effectiveness of cancer treatment.
Is snoring dangerous?
Snoring can be associated with periods of complete obstruction, known as apnea. Obstructive sleep apnea can result in poor sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and long-term detrimental effects on the heart and lung.
My doctor said I need a sleep study. What does that involve?
A sleep study, or polysomnogram, is a diagnostic test which measures various vital parameters during a patient’s sleep. These include the stage of sleep, blood oxygen level, chest movement, air flow through the nose, heart rhythm and rate, eye movements and muscle tone. Multiple dips in oxygen level and peaks in pulse rate are found in people with sleep apnea.
What is CPAP?
CPAP is an abbreviation of continuous positive airway pressure. This is common treatment option for patients with sleep apnea. A nasal mask is worn during sleep which provides continuous air pressure specifically set to each person's needs to prevent collapse of the airway or throat. The pressure varies according to how severe the sleep apnea is and how much pressure is needed to prevent collapse.
My doctor said I broke my nose. What should I do?
A broken nose is the most common type of facial bone fracture after an injury. The ideal time to see someone is 3-5 days after the injury in order to see the nose after the swelling resolves. If the fracture needs to be fixed (closed reduction), it is important to do this procedure within 2 weeks of the injury.
What preventative measures can I take to reduce my risk of facial trauma?
Safety equipment is vital to preventing maxillofacial trauma from automobile accidents and sports. Here is a partial list of equipment people should always use:
- seatbelts
- automobile air bags
- approved child safety seats
- helmets for riding motorcycles or bicycles, skateboarding, snowboarding, and other sports
- safety glasses for the job, yard work, sports
- other approved safety equipment for sports such as mouthguards, masks, and goggles
Snoring is a noise produced during sleep that originates in the back of the throat or nose. Snoring occurs when the muscles in the back of the mouth, tongue and throat relax while sleeping, which narrows or blocks the airway. Breathing causes your uvula (soft palate) to vibrate and knock against the back of the throat, resulting in the snoring sound. Swollen or infected tonsils and adenoids, blocked nasal passages or a deviated septum can also narrow the airway and lead to snoring. Obesity, some medications and alcohol consumption before bedtime may contribute to snoring.
Snoring can also be a sign of a more serious problem, known as obstructive sleep apnea. With sleep apnea, the relaxed muscles at the back of the throat cause the throat to close, which stops breathing, typically from 20 seconds to up to three minutes. Most sleep apnea sufferers experience this cycle of snoring, apnea and awakening five or more times a night. Sleep apnea has a higher incidence among people age 40 and older, people with a family history of snoring and in postmenopausal women.
Because it disrupts the normal sleep pattern, sleep apnea makes you feel tired, slows your reaction time and can lead to confused thinking and memory loss. Other complications of sleep apnea can be high blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke, hypertension, anxiety and depression.
Sleep apnea is diagnosed through a physical examination with particular emphasis on weight, blood pressure and airway constriction in the nose, throat and lungs. In many cases, a sleep test will be recommended at a sleep laboratory. The sleep test monitors 16 different body functions while you sleep and can help identify the exact cause and severity of the sleep apnea.
Simple techniques for alleviating mild apnea are to sleep on your sides (not on your back) and avoid alcohol or sedatives before bedtime. In mild cases, treatment may consist of nasal decongestants, inhaled steroid preparations or oral mouth devices that force the jaw forward to prevent the tongue from falling back and constricting the throat. For more difficult cases, your doctor may prescribe a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP). This device straps onto your face and generates pressurized air, which helps keep your airway open during sleep. In severe cases, surgery may be called for to open the airway, including a tonsillectomy, adenoidectomy or deviated septum repair.
If you suffer from debilitating snoring or think you may have sleep apnea, please contact our office and schedule an appointment with one of our otolaryngologists.