The question a when a child should consider a tonsillectomy / adenoidectomy for sleep problems is only becoming more complex. Our increased focus on evidenced-based quality medicine have led us to critically evaluate the reasons for performing even “simple” surgery before recommending it. Children with only moderately enlarged tonsils and vague sleeping complaints (reported by […]
Category Archives: Unique Content
Vertigo is the sensation of movement or spinning when at rest. Unfortunately many people get “diagnosed” with vertigo, but in reality vertigo is a symptom and not a disease itself (it would be like being “diagnosed” with a cough). Vertigo can be caused by a number of conditions, many of which relate to the inner ear […]
The humidity plus many of the urban environments that Atlanta provides is ripe for producing allergic fungal rhinosinusitis (AFRS). In fact the southeast United States has the highest rate of fungal sinus conditions in the world. Allergic fungal sinusitis is type of sinusitis caused by an abnormal response to otherwise “normal” fungi in the […]
Stuffy nose during pregnancy is very common, especially during the third trimester. Circulating hormones cause the internal nasal tissues to swell, blocking breathing through the nose and creating a constant “drip”. This does not usually indicate an infection, but sometimes an infection can overlap the symptoms. The big question is “What do we do about […]
Avoid high doses of these over the counter medications and supplements before surgery and invasive procedures. Ask your doctor when it is safe to resume. Medications: Aspirin, ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin, many others), naproxen (Aleve), Vitamin E. Many combination headache and cold medications also contain the above medications as well, so check the label! Natural […]
Question: “Every night my husband snores very loud. I have trouble falling asleep when it is real bad. Is this serious? My friend said he needs to lose weight, what does weight have to do with this?” – Leslie Answer: Thanks for sharing Leslie. Simple snoring or “stertor” or “stertorous breathing” is extremely common amongst […]
Thanks for the question SDinPenn. Balloon Sinusplasty is a term used to describe opening up the sinus channels by inflating strong balloons instead of more traditional ways of cutting away the bones. It has several advantages, including safety, less bleeding, and less pain – leading to quicker recovery. The problems with the balloon include difficulty […]
Answer: Probably not! It has been shown that the bacteria causing strep throat, and recurrent tonsil infections, do tend to colonize your toothbrush (or dental retainer). However other studies show that the disease is just as likely to return whether or not you switch brushes. So I’m certain that hearing this gross tidbit will have […]
Question: Are tonsil stones painful? Answer: No, tonsil stones themselves are not usually painful. The “stones” are actually accumulations of debris within the crevasses of the tonsils. Usually this debris is dried saliva, food particles, and bacterial bi-products. The tonsils can have deep in-folds that allow trapping of the debris and formation of these little […]
Good bedtime habits can lead to improved sleep without pills or technology. Before taking the step to medicate to improve your sleep, make sure you are doing everything you can do to give your body the best chance of having a good night’s sleep: 1. Plan for a full 8hr of sleep every night. 2. […]