The holiday season offers numerous opportunities for festive events at home, with relatives, or at one of the many popular winter vacation destinations. Unfortunately, holiday cheer can be easily derailed with the occurrence of an ear, nose or throat disorder.
Ear, nose, and throat disorders are one of the many chronic maladies incurred by young and old, men and women, throughout the year. The travel, change in environments, and exposure to different foods occurring between Thanksgiving and New Year's can increase exposure and severity of the illness.
However, there are preventative measures to ensure that your hearing, voice, sinuses, sense of smell, and throat will come through the holiday season free of discomfort or serious illness. The American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery offers a holiday season survival guide to help you avoid ruining your holiday experience by suffering from an ear, nose, or throat illness.
Allergies
Are you planning to visit a relative who smokes or has a pet? Is a new kitten or puppy on someone's gift list? An allergic reaction to pet dander or other common allergens such as cigarette smoke can turn an enjoyable visit into a nightmare of sneezing and itchy watery eyes, otherwise known as allergic rhinitis. If facial pain or a greenish-yellow discharge occurs, your allergic rhinitis may have developed into sinusitis, an infection of the sinus passages. An otolaryngologist can assist you with appropriate diagnosis and treatment.
For more information read "Alleries and Hayfever: Insight into causes treatment and prevention at http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/allergies/allergies_hayfever.cfm
Over-the-counter medications can help alleviate an attack of allergic rhinitis. Find out more at "Antihistamines, Decongestants, and "Cold" Remedies" at http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/allergies/antihistamines.cfm.
Make Your Journey a Healthy One
For those who suffer motion sickness or sea sickness, any kind of travel can bring on unrelenting dizziness, nausea or vomiting, sometimes lasting for days. This unpleasant condition occurs when the sensory receptors tell the brain that the body is stationary (for instance, sitting in a car) but the body feels the motion of the vehicle. Tips on avoiding discomfort while traveling include:
* Do not read while traveling* Do not watch or talk to another traveler who has motion sickness* Avoid strong odors and greasy food * Take over-the-counter motion sickness medications as recommended by a physician
Read "Dizziness and Motion Sickness" at http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/balance/dizziness.cfm for more information.
Ear problems are the most common medical complaint of air travelers. The frequent "popping" experienced during flight is the body's attempt to clear the Eustachian tube to equalize pressure in the middle ear. Often, this can be accomplished by yawning or swallowing, if that does not work, try the three step approach below:
Step 1: Take a deep breath through your mouth and let it out slowly. Step 2: When almost all the air is out, pinch your nose and blow gently against your closed lips and nose;Step 3: When your ears pop, swallow. Do not overinflate and stop if it is painful.
Visit "Ears and Altitude" at http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/ears/altitude.cfm for precautions and what to do if your ears do not unblock. Swimmer's EarIf your holiday vacation is to a warm climate where water sports prevail, don't let swimmer's ear ruin the festivities. This unexpected disorder happens when water that usually runs out on its own gets trapped in the ear canal, causing soggy skin and an ideal environment for bacteria and fungi to flourish. The resulting infection of the outer ear is preventable with these simple steps:* Keep your ears dry* If water gets in your ear, flush it with over-the-counter ear drops* NEVER use a Q-tip or other small object to clear water from the ear* Use oily ear drops (lanolin) prior to water sports* If you have a recurring problem, seek the advice of an otolaryngologist
Read Swimmer's Ear at http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/ears/swimmers.cfm for more information on symptoms and treatment options.
Hear the Holidays
The difference between holiday noise that is just loud or din that is dangerous requires common sense and alertness to the following warning signs:
* You have to shout to make yourself heard* It makes your ears hurt* It makes your ears ring* You have difficulty hearing for several hours after exposure* Continuous exposure to 85 decibels or louder (lawnmower, shop tools)
For some, these warning signs are too late; they may have suffered irreversible hearing loss associated with age. That is why a hearing test may be the most welcome gift for an aging relative.
To find out more about protecting your hearing, read "Noise & Hearing Protection" http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/hearing/noise_hearing.cfm.
Not sure if you need to see a hearing expert? The "Five Minute Hearing Test (especially for seniors) at http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/hearing/hearing_test.cfm is a good indicator of your hearing health.
Snore No More
Those added pounds from constant partying gained during the holiday season can lead to snoring or even obstructive sleep apnea, a condition that occurs when airway obstruction results in cessation of breathing during sleep. Snoring may be caused by a number of factors, including: * Poor muscle tone in the tongue and throat, caused by alcohol, drugs or deep sleep. * Excessive bulkiness of throat tissue caused by enlarged tonsils, being overweight, or (rarely) tumors or cysts. * Long soft palate and/or uvula. * Obstructed nasal airways resulting from a stuffy or blocked nose due to colds, sinus infection, or allergies.* A deviated septum (the division between the left and right nostril). If your snoring is caused by excessive throat tissue, losing weight may help. "Diet and Exercise Tips" at http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/snoring/Tips.cfm offers a holiday guide for losing or controlling weight; http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/snoring/snoring.cfm "Snoring, Not Funny, Not Hopeless" has more information on the diagnosis and treatment of snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.
Season's Revelry May Cause Hoarseness
If your only singing occurs during the holiday season, then the possibility of a voice strain could lead to hoarseness. Hoarseness can be a symptom of voice overuse or a more serious medical problem such as gastroesophageal reflux or throat cancer. An otolaryngologist should evaluate your hoarseness (especially if you smoke)if you experience:
* Hoarseness lasting longer than two weeks* Pain not associated with a cold or flu* Coughing up blood* Difficulty swallowing* Lump in the neck* Loss or severe change in voice lasting longer than a few days
To prevent or treat mild hoarseness, you may want to:- Quit smoking. - Avoid alcohol and caffeine. - Avoid secondhand smoke. - Drink plenty of water. - Humidify your home. - Avoid spicy foods. - Try not to use your voice too long or too loudly. - Use a microphone if you need to project your voice. - If you speak or sing often, seek professional voice training.- Avoid speaking or singing when your voice is injured or hoarse. For more information on the diagnosis and treatments for hoarseness, read "Doctor, Why Am I Hoarse?" at http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/throat/hoarse.cfm.
Don't Miss the Tastes and Smells of the Season
The smell of roasting turkey, the taste of pumpkin pie....all delights of the holiday season that are diminished for those who suffer from a smell or taste disorder. Common ailments that can affect your sense of taste and smell include:
* Upper respiratory infections* Allergies* Hormonal disturbances* Dental problems* Tobacco smoking* Aging
Other more serious conditions such as head injuries, polyps in the nasal cavity, cancer, or prolonged exposure to chemicals can also result in malfunctioning of the taste and smell senses. Taste and smell disorders can be diagnosed by an otolaryngologist through simple non-invasive tests.
The simple and complex reasons for losing these senses are explained in "Smell and Taste Disorders," at http://www.entnet.org/healthinfo/topics/smell_taste.cfm.
Resolve for Better Health
Make a comprehensive health exam one of your New Year's resolutions, and be sure to include these worthwhile evaluations:
* If you snore, you may want to schedule a sleep study to rule out potentially life-threatening obstructive sleep apnea.* Visit your otolaryngologist to find out how you can avoid the onset of spring allergies and associated chronic sinusitis with maintenance medications or other treatments.* Take the interactive Five Minute Hearing Test at http://entnet.org/healthinfo/hearing/hearing_test.cfm and, if advised, see an otolaryngologist for diagnosis and treatment of your hearing loss.
If you need help locating an otolaryngologist in your area, use the "Find an ENT" feature on the American Academy of Otolaryngology -- Head and Neck Surgery website, www.entnet.org. This database offers a comprehensive list of ENTs throughout the world.
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