Category Archives: Unique Content

Dizzy? Is it vertigo?

Benign Positional Vertigo (or Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo) Vertigo is special kind of dizziness that give you a severe sense of spinning or motion. It is usually a sign of an inner ear disorder, but can be a result of the balance nerve (vestibulo-cochlear nerve) or balance center in the brain. Vertigo can be quite […]

Sleep Apnea and the Hazards of Driving

The NTSB recently finished up their review of a fatal train derailment in New York.  What they found is that the driver actually fell asleep behind the wheel while driving the train.  He reached speeds of 82mph in a 30mph section of track.  As a result the trail derailed and four passengers lost their lives. […]

Screening for high risk oral HPV

Scary enough the #1 cause of newly diagnosed oropharyngeal cancer (throat and tonsil cancers) are now caused by the Human Papilloma Virus, not by smoking or heavy alcohol consumption. This has changed the demographic of our new “typical cancer patient” to a younger less-suspecting population. Dentists are now performing routing oral cancer screening as part […]

Q&A: Will ear plugs hurt my ears?

Question: Can the constant use of ear plugs hurt my ears?  – CR In Tennessee Yes in fact, but everyone is different. The ear canals connect the inner ear’s hearing apparatus to the outside world. These ear canals are lined with skin that has sweat glands, hair follicles and wax-producing glands. Many people have a tendency […]

The latest in high tech digitial hearing aids

Last month my practice partners and audiology staff went up to Minnesota to tour the Starkey headquarters.  Starkey is the leading manufacturer of fully custom and programmable off-the-shelf digital hearing aids.  Their worldwide headquarters is just outside of Minneapolis.  What an impressive facility! It is amazing to see exactly how their 24 hour operation can […]

Feature with Dr. Forman: Cardiovascular Risk of Sleep Apnea

This week I had the opportunity to meet with Dr. Mervyn Forman, a distinguished Cardiologist and innovator in metro Atlanta.  Dr. Forman’s medical practice covers the spectrum of cardiovascular disease prevention and long-term management, while his research has focused on reducing heart muscle damage after a heart attack.  He is currently developing a drug coated […]

Chronic Ear Pain: It’s Not All in Your Head, Part I

Sinus Infection

Chronic ear pressure, pain, or discomfort can be extremely frustrating.  This is especially true when there is no clear cause found by your doctor.  Usually this will result in treatment for an ear infection (otitis media or otitis externa) inappropriately and unsuccessfully. One of the most common causes of ear pressure is eustachian tube dysfunction […]

Why are doctors always running late?

From day one I have sought to be an “on time” doctor.  This has been met with challenges however.  With maximum effort I still run about 15-20 minutes late every four hours (so my morning and afternoon office sessions usually are 20 minutes behind by the end).  The wait times for individual patients may vary […]

Oral Appliance Gaining Acceptance for Sleep Apnea & Snoring

Snoring and obstructive sleep apnea are some of the most prevalent medical conditions we face.  The causes are multiple: age, weight, upper airway anatomy, and neurological predispositions.  Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP devices) remain the gold-standard in therapy, although compliance is still low. Adjustable oral appliances are making a strong foothold in treatment.  These custom […]

Q&A: Why does my nose run when I exercise?

Question: My nose almost always runs when I work out. Usually it is thin and watery but sometimes thicker. It can be embarrassing since I’m constantly blowing my nose like I’m sick. -Barbara in St. Pete Beach, Florida Answer: The nasal mucous glands can get inappropriately activated during a number of otherwise normal scenarios. The […]