Impact and Importance of Good Sleep

The vital role of good sleep cannot be undermined in the good health and well-being of our lives. Sound sleep at the right time protects our safety, physical and mental health and also the quality of life that we lead. That is because, during the sleeping phase, the body is continuously working to support the healthy functioning of the brain and maintain our physical fitness. These processes are interrupted due to irregular sleep.

The importance of sleep can be entailed as follows -

• Controls body temperature and metabolism
• Maintains the working of the body  immune system
• Helps in controlling the proper functioning of the brain and aids the memory restoration process
• Ensures proper circulation in the blood vessels for maintaining a healthy heart
• Stimulates tissue repair and growth(in children) as growth hormone is released during the sleeping phase
• Sustains the blood glucose levels and regulates the appetite

Impact of Good Sleep

• Maintains cardiac health by controlling the blood pressure and cholesterol levels which are the major risk factors for causing stroke and heart attacks.
• Helps in preventing cancer, particularly breast and colon cancer, by regulating the melatonin hormone levels which prevents tumour growth.
• Reduces stress which would otherwise cause hypertension. The production of stress hormones impairs the normal functioning of the organs and creates hurdles in falling asleep easily.
• Prevents deterioration due to aging by decreasing inflammation which is known to cause diabetes, heart problems and cancer.
• Increases mental alertness to keep you fully energized and active during the day. This constructive engagement helps in doing our routine tasks efficiently which in turn, induces better sleep cycle at night.
• Enhances the memory by assisting the brain in creating linkages between the memory, sensory inputs, feelings and events resulting in better mental processing abilities.
• Assists in losing weight by balancing the hormone levels of ghrelin and leptin which regulate appetite and control the metabolism for proper nutrient assimilation.
• Decreases the chances of depression by preventing deficiency of the serotonin hormone.
• Stimulates the body to repair itself due to the damage caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays, stress and other harmful substances. This is because the body produces proteins during sleep which are the cellular building blocks for repairing the damages caused.
• Taking a few short naps during the day boosts productivity and decreases stress levels. It is also beneficial in enhancing the moods, memory and cognitive functioning of the brain and is a refreshing alternative to caffeine consumption.

Common Sleeping Problems

• Insomnia - Here there is difficulty in falling asleep, staying asleep or awakening at unusually early hours of the day. Treatment may include behavioural, psychological, medical approaches or a combination of these.
• Snoring – Loud and unpleasant sounds called snores are generated during sleep due to blocked airways. In mild cases, the cure for snoring can involve making simple lifestyle changes. Treatment for snoring in severe cases includes using nasal snoring solutions or oral appliances and treating chronic allergies. Surgery for snoring may be inevitable for correcting structural problems in the nose. Laser surgery for snoring using Laser Assisted Uvulopalatoplasty is an effective treatment that tightens the throat tissues.
• Sleep Apnea - In this the breathing process is disrupted frequently during sleep. Symptoms of sleep apnea include very loud snoring, gasping for breath, insomnia and morning headaches. The effects of sleep apnea can cause serious consequences like high blood pressure, stroke, depression, heart attacks and worsening of hyperactivity. Sleep apnea treatment includes usage of airway pressure devices. Chronic cases need surgery for tissue removal, jaw repositioning, implantation or endoscopic sinus surgeries for improving sinus ventilation.

Poor sleep has several long-lasting detrimental effects on our health, unfortunately. So please consult the ENT Doctor immediately for any sleeping problem.

Common disorders of ear, nose and throat

The only time when you realized your ear, nose and throat were interconnected was when you applied ear drops and their residue passed down your throat. These organs, the ear, nose and throat are interconnected and share the same internal lining and hence the same infections. Here is a list of the common disorders of the ear, nose and throat which affect us frequently.

EAR DISORDERS

EAR INFECTION

The most prevalent among ENT illnesses, an ear infection is caused by the clogging of the Eustachian tube by fluid, mucus, or microbes. Less frequent among adults, an ear infection causes symptoms like ear pain, difficulty in hearing, loss of balance, nausea or vomiting or fluid discharge from the ears.

Ear infections can be of the outer ear, middle ear or inner ear. The outer ear infection or swimmer's ear is due to the excess water retained after swimming or bathing causing bacterial infection. It may also be due to injury to the external ear by scratching or putting sharp objects into the ear.

OTITIS MEDIA

A middle ear infection is called otitis media. It is usually due to an upper respiratory tract infection or strep throat causing a fluid discharge into the Eustachian tube, leading to bacterial infection. Otitis media causes ear pain, loss of sleep, headache, difficulty in hearing etc. Consulting an ENT specialist is best for its treatment and administering pneumococcal conjugate vaccines (PCV) can prevent otitis media in children.

HEARING LOSS

Hearing loss can be either partial when the audibility level is poor or complete as in the case of total deafness. Hearing loss may be temporary or permanent. A temporary hearing loss may be due to injury or infection or accumulation of ear wax and it can be corrected by ENT treatment or surgery. A permanent hearing loss is often due to damage to the auditory nerves and might be irreparable. However, hearing loss may be remedied by the use of cochlear implants or hearing aids with consultation with an expert ENT specialist.

CHOLESTEATOMA

Cholesteatoma is a non-cancerous growth occurring like a cyst in the middle ear behind the eardrum. It may be due to middle ear infections and can affect hearing and balance and even the functioning of your facial muscles. Symptoms of Cholesteatoma are pain or foul-smelling fluid discharge from the ear. If untreated, Cholesteatoma may result in facial paralysis, vertigo or permanent hearing loss.

BAROTRAUMA

Barotrauma is an ear disorder caused due to a variance of air pressure. This is usually caused by flying, scuba diving or rock -climbing or driving in mountains. Pain, dizziness, ear stuffiness and hearing loss are the symptoms. With medication prescribed by ENT specialists, barotrauma can easily be healed.

NASAL DISORDERS

NASAL CONGESTION

This most common nose disorder is nasal congestion caused by common cold, flu or allergies. The nasal lining is inflamed and swollen due to infection and cause mucus discharge and a  stuffy nose. Decongestants and antibiotics prescribed by the ENT doctor will help relieve nasal congestion.

NASAL POLYP

Nasal polyps are small non-cancerous growths in the sinuses or the nasal passage. They are caused by allergy, asthma, nose infections or immune disorders. Running nose, post-nasal drip, headache, snoring, loss of smell or taste are the symptoms. Nasal polyps can be cured with surgery or medication.

DEVIATED NASAL SEPTUM 

When the nasal wall between the 2 nostrils is displaced to one side, it is called a deviated nasal septum. It may obstruct breathing and cause snoring, breathlessness, nosebleeds, facial pain etc. A deviated nasal septum can be treated using nasal dilators or by surgery.

HAY FEVER

Hay Fever has symptoms similar to the cold like itchy or running nose, sneezing, coughing, sinus pressure. But unlike cold, it is not caused by viruses but by allergens like pollen, dust mites, pet hair or feathers etc. Also called Allergic Rhinitis, Hay fever can be treated with nasal sprays and anti-allergic drugs prescribed by an ENT physician.

TONSILITIS

When the 2 oval-shaped pads or tonsils at the back of the throat get inflamed, the condition is called Tonsillitis. Tonsillitis is caused by viral or bacterial infection and results in difficulty in swallowing, sore throat, headache, fever etc. Mild cases can be treated with antibiotics while severe ones may need surgery.

PHARYNGITIS

Pharyngitis or sore throat can cause difficulty in swallowing and a scratchiness of the throat. Measles, chickenpox, common cold, flu, whooping cough etc may cause pharyngitis. The infection is mostly viral and is treated with antibiotics. Rare cases of bacterial pharyngitis may be due to Chlamydia, Corynebacterium or gonorrhoea.

ORAL CANCER

Mouth or oral cancer is characterized by persistent mouth ulcers and sores, mouth swelling, jaw pain, loose teeth, pain while swallowing etc. Cigarette smoking, tobacco chewing, drinking etc are the main risk factors part from genetic reasons. Oral cancer treatment begins with surgery for removal of malignant tumours, followed by skin and dental implantation etc.

Big or small, all ENT disorders must be attended only by a professional ENT specialist as the ENT tract is interconnected and may affect the adjoining organs as well. Head to the best ENT hospital in town for the thorough treatment of ENT disorders and have a healthy life.

Tips for better communication

You can see the lips moving and forming syllables but you cannot hear properly. Or sometimes you hear a roaring sound like that of a pouring waterfall, which does not permit you to hear anything. If these are your symptoms, then it is unfortunate but your hearing may be impaired.

Hearing loss, be it partial or complete is a crippling ailment as it prevents the affected person from performing his routine activities normally. It not only restricts communication with others but also affects the confidence and composure of the patient. 

Hearing problems can be easily remedied with ENT treatment which may include simple cleaning, use of hearing aids or even minor surgery, depending upon the patient's condition.

If a person has a hearing problem, does it mean he cannot communicate? He/she very well can with the help of these tips for better communication.

Tips for better communication for the hearing impaired

1. Keep people informed of your hearing problem

No man is free of illness these days and hearing loss is just another disability like any other. Do not be shy of informing people about your difficulty in hearing. It is better to keep people informed of your hearing disability in order to avoid awkwardness and confusions later.

Before a conversation, group discussion or meeting, inform people that you have a hearing problem. This will induce them to speak louder or grab a seat in the front or speak slowly for your benefit. Remember, you can achieve a lot more by keeping people informed of your hearing ailment rather than keeping it a secret.

2. Specify your needs for good hearing

You might be suffering from a hearing problem only in on ear. So specify to people which side you will be able to hear better. They can move over to the side where you can hear best and speak to you.  You can even ask them to change the direction of their face while speaking to hear better.

Unless you specify your hearing needs, people will assume that your hearing is fine and this will not help. Specifying your hearing needs is the best way to promote effective communication.

3. Ask people to be open with you

It is not only you who is uncomfortable with your hearing loss. Others too find it difficult to express to you that they are having difficulty in communicating with you. 

It is better to put people at ease and ask them to be open in expressing their difficulties in communication so that you can remedy them. Tell others that if you stare transfixed as if you have not understood a dialogue, it means you have not heard it and they should repeat it again. Use humour to get people to feel comfortable in communicating with you in spite of your hearing problem.

4. Use gestures to communicate

Non-verbal clues come handy when you try to communicate in spite of your hearing problem. Sometimes gestures and body language can express more than words. Use them rightly for the best results.

For example, leaning towards the speaker, cupping your hand near you ear for a louder tone or swivelling your hand asking for a repeat can help you to communicate without interrupting the other person.

5. Interrupt when you have to

Follow the conversation to the best of your ability. But if the voice is low or the speaker is fast, there is no harm interrupting and asking them to repeat or clarify.

6. Maintain good health

Apart from your hearing loss, keep yourself fit with a balanced diet, exercise and enough sleep. Even for your hearing care,  consult an ENT surgeon or specialist regularly.

7. Visit the ENT specialist regularly

There is no dearth of ENT specialists in India. Go for an ENT check-up frequently as new innovations and treatments can help you cope with your hearing problem better.

Do not let hearing loss deter you from reaching the pinnacle of success. Consult the best ENT doctors in Coimbatore to climb the great walls of victory.

Managing with Headache

Headache happens to be one of the most prevalent health complaints in the daily lives of people. It may occur in one side or multiple parts of the head. It can also affect anybody irrespective of their age, gender or inheritance. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) statistics, nearly half of the adult population experience headache at least once annually.

Usually, all patients assign paramount importance to finding immediate relief to a headache by taking self-medication. But caution must be exercised particularly if they take other medicines which are likely to cause reactions with these drugs or have pre-existing medical conditions which can result in health complications. It is also crucial to closely watch the symptoms, signs and potential triggers that cause a headache. 

Types of Headache

Based on the cause, Headache is categorized as-

• Primary headache - These are not caused by any external factors and are stand-alone ailments. They occur due to over-exertion of the brain or problems in the head parts that are prone to pain like the blood vessels, muscles or nerves connecting the head and the neck. These headaches may also be an off-shoot of changes in the brain due to various chemical activities. Types of Primary Headache include-

• Migraine which are due to throbbing or pulsations only on one side of the head. Accompanying symptoms may include feelings of nausea or light-headedness, blurring of vision and auras (sensory disturbances).It may last for a few hours or days.
• Tension headache wherein there may be a feeling of tightening around the head, neck pain or a prevailing dull ache on either side of the head. It may occur in isolated episodes or last longer as in chronic cases.
• Cluster headache which are severe one-sided aches that may result in red, swollen areas around the eyes, drooping of eyelids and blocked nasal passages. It occurs in clusters of few days to months coupled with headache-free periods in-between.

• Secondary headache - These usually occur due to underlying causes which stimulate the pain-sensitive nerves in the head. This includes -

• Over usage of painkillers causing Rebound Headache.
• Thunderclap Headache caused by Reversible Cerebral Vasoconstriction Syndrome (RCVS) which causes constriction of blood vessels hampering the blood supply to the brain.
• Hangovers resulting from alcohol consumption.
• Brain tumours.
• Toxic effects of carbon monoxide.
• Brain freeze (ice-cream headache).
• Panic attacks.
• Life-threatening ailments like Haemorrhage (bleeding) in or around the brain, Meningitis (brain fever), Aneurysms (artery enlargements) and Cerebral Venous Thrombosis (blood clots in the brain).
• Medical conditions like glaucoma, stroke, hypertension, Upper Respiratory Tract Infections and influenza
• Sudden caffeine withdrawal
• Head injury or trauma
• Head and Neck Cancer which mostly manifests itself as Oral and Oropharyngeal Cancer

It is advisable to consult the ENT Doctor for identifying the secondary causes like respiratory infections and influenza for taking appropriate ENT Treatment.

Treatment for Headache

• Medications - Usually generic pain medications available as Over-the-Counter (OTC) drugs or preventive medicines prescribed by physicians like anti-depressants, anti-epileptic drugs or serotonin receptors are used.
• Surgical Remedies - For removal of brain tumours, surgery may be required. Cancerous growths additionally require chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.
• Alternative Treatments - Alternative approaches like Meditation, Hypnosis, Acupuncture, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Herbal and Nutritional Remedies may be used for tension headache.
• Lifestyle Modifications - Regular exercise, sufficient sleep, healthy eating habits, avoiding stress and reducing caffeine consumption can prevent headache episodes substantially.

Please consult the Head and Neck Doctor or the ENT specialist to diagnose the exact cause if the headache worsens or becomes more severe, persistent or frequent. Any accompanying symptoms like fever, epilepsy, mental confusion, neck stiffness and sensory modifications require an emergency intervention for the headache or the neck pain treatment.

Effect of hearing loss on mental health

Watch a movie with the sound muted for 30 minutes. You will find it agonizing to follow the lip-sync to decipher the dialogue that the actors speak. If you cannot bear this for even half-an-hour, imagine how tormenting it would be for the hearing impaired when their entire day spins out like a silent movie? Yes, hearing loss does affect the mental health of the patients.

Most people don't realize this fact and seem to ignore the difficulties of the hearing-impaired individuals. But not anymore. With October being the "Protect your Hearing" month and October 10 being the "World Mental Health Day", let us make this an effort to spread awareness that hearing loss causes mental health issues.

What are the mental health issues that hearing loss causes?

Hearing loss causes a host of mental health issues like

1. Depression
2. Anxiety
3. Schizophrenia
4. Dementia
5. Anger outbursts
6. Suicidal tendencies 

A JAMA Otolaryngology-Head and Neck surgery Report (2014) reports that 11.6% of the hearing-impaired individuals suffer from depression more than that 5.9% who suffer from depression albeit with normal hearing. This just justifies the statement that hearing loss can really affect mental health.

How do individuals with hearing loss suffer from mental health?

Individuals with hearing loss exhibit these behavioural symptoms that show that they are mentally affected.

Hearing-impaired individuals find it difficult to carry on a conversation normally and might

• Interrupt or intrude into a conversation abruptly
• Talk off-topic
• Dominate the conversation by shouting as they think talking covers up for listening

All these actions make them inept at handling themselves socially, leading to isolation and hence severe depression.

Hearing loss and depression

In a study of 2300 hearing -affected people by the National Council of ageing, 60% developed depression. The University of Colorado attributes this to "brain reorganization" where the hearing centres shrink and are replaced by other task centres. This leads to a loss of short- term memory and problem-solving skills, ending in depression.

Hearing loss and schizophrenia

Since the society mostly excludes and isolates hearing-impaired individuals, they tend to suffer from loneliness and depression. This increases the sensitization of the dopamine system causing schizophrenia. Due to this social exclusion, hearing-impaired patients tend to become psychotic with hallucinations and delusions leading to schizophrenia.

Hearing loss and dementia

Studies at the John Hopkins University have found that hearing loss leads to memory decline in aged adults followed by dementia. The reduced social engagement of the hearing-impaired patients and the cognitive stress they face in having to deal with hearing loss can make them lose their memory very quickly. This mental illness can be easily resolved by the use of simple hearing aids which will automatically increase the brain's function by hearing.

All these mental health issues can be easily remedied by consulting an expert ENT doctor and undergoing hearing loss treatment. Sometimes, hearing aids are enough to improve the situation and must be procured only from an ENT hospital. 

Tinnitus

Tinnitus is a hearing condition where the individual suffers from a "loud ringing in the ears". This may be caused due to age, excessive noise exposure or some ear injury. But this ringing persists causing fear and anger leading to mental health disorders like anger, anxiety, depression and even suicidal ideation.

Meniere's disease

Meniere's disease is an inner ear disorder that results in pain in the ear, vertigo and Tinnitus.  Due to these severe symptoms, the patients experience anxiety, stress and even have insomnia and panic attacks. This hearing problem can be resolved using cochlear implants, thereby giving the patient relief from mental stress.

Partial or total hearing loss cannot be taken lightly and must be attended to, at once as it may have severe repercussions on the mental health of the patient. Head to an expert ENT hospital and undertake the right ENT treatment to safeguard both your hearing and mental health.

Odynophagia - Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment

Odynophagia is a  medical condition when a person experiences pain while swallowing. This pain may be seen in the mouth, throat or food pipe when the person tries to swallow even saliva. Odynophagia can lead to weight loss, damage to the throat or other severe complications. It is hence best to consult an expert ENT specialist or throat surgeon immediately when a person experiences throat pain or swallowing difficulty.

Odynophagia vs. Dysphagia

Odynophagia and Dysphagia are both throat diseases but they are distinctly different. Odynophagia refers to painful swallowing while dysphagia refers to inability in swallowing.  Dysphagia may occur along with Odynophagia or both may occur separately. When they both occur together, the person is in sheer agony as he feels pain and is unable to swallow even water. Both these throat diseases are caused by infections and inflammations. But dysphagia is the  worst of the two as it may result in bacteria and irritation to the lungs, causing pneumonia. Dysphagia can also be caused by psychological factors like anxiety.

Causes of Odynophagia

Odynophagia or painful swallowing may be caused by

1. Common Infections - common cold, flu or strep throat
2. Throat inflammation due to tonsillitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, oesophagitis etc.
3. Candida Infection-this yeast or fungal infection that occurs in your mouth may cause pain and swallowing difficulty.
4. GERD - Castro-esophageal reflux disease - This illness is due to the lower sphincter of the oesophagus not closing properly and allowing the stomach acid to leak back into the food pipe. This disease may cause Odynophagia along with chest pain or heartburn.
5. Ulcers - Ulcers formed in the mouth, throat or oesophagus may cause painful swallowing. This may be the result of untreated GERD or the prolonged use of anti-inflammatory drugs like Ibuprofen.
6. AIDS - HIV-affected patients often suffer from Odynophagia. Candida infection is one cause. The use of antiretroviral medications to cure HIV may cause acid reflux and bring in swallowing difficulty.
7. Cancer - Oesophageal cancer may be another cause for Odynophagia leading to tumours in  the throat. This cancer is caused by persistent smoking, tobacco use or alcoholism or even hereditary factors.
8. Radiation therapy - Person undergoing radiation therapy for HIV or cancer treatment are more prone to Odynophagia.
9. Weak immune systems - Persons with weak immunity who often catch colds and throat infections have swallowing difficulty.
10. Foods - Even eating very spicy foods, drinking very hot or very cold drinks continuously or eating food with sharp edges may damage the mucosal lining of the throat. This causes Odynophagia.

Symptoms of Odynophagia

• Dull or sharp stabbing pain in the mouth, throat or food pipe while swallowing
• Even liquids cause throat pain but dry solids make it worse.
• Weight loss due to reduced intake of food.
• Dehydration due to reduced intake of food
• Other symptoms like fever, fatigue, body ache etc.

Diagnosis of Odynophagia

Odynophagia is diagnosed by endoscopy. A small lighted camera or endoscope is placed inside the patient's throat by the doctor to take a look at your oesophagus. Tests are also taken by asking the patient to swallow.

Odynophagia Treatment

1. Medication

Odynophagia can be treated by using medication for

• Throat pain, tonsillitis, laryngitis, pharyngitis, oesophagitis
• GERD to prevent acid reflux from entering the throat
• Candida infection to rid the fungus
• HIV or cancer medication.

2. Surgery

If the patient has tumours in his throat, it may be a sign of oesophageal cancer. The throat surgeon may advise surgery after proper diagnosis and screening.

3. Rest

Sometimes painful swallowing resolves on its own if adequate rest is given to the throat.

Strep throat: Causes, diagnosis, and treatments

Monsoons and winter both usher in a spate of coughs, colds and sore throats among both children and adults.  Among these, sore throats are quite common and almost 15% of them are caused by a bacterial infection. A sore throat caused by the Streptococcus A bacteria is commonly called as "strep throat".

Strep throat is prevalent mostly among children of age 5-15. In children less than 3 yrs, this infection affects the ear as otitis media instead of affecting the throat. Anyway, strep throat might be accompanied by tonsillitis or sinus infection too. That is why it is best to consult an ENT hospital for strep throat treatment.

What is strep throat?

Strep throat is a bacterial throat infection caused by Streptococcus A bacteria. It is spread by

• Airborne droplets when an infected person coughs or sneezes
• Touching the items touched by the infected person like clothes, utensils, doorknobs etc.

Strep throats are not serious and usually get cured within a week. But if left untreated, it may lead to complications like rheumatic fever or kidney inflammation. Therefore it is best to take immediate ENT treatment for strep throat.

Symptoms of Strep throat

• Sore, red throat with white patches on tongue
• High fever more than 101˚F
• Headaches
• Swollen lymph nodes near the throat
• Red spots on the palate or roof of the mouth
• Chills
• Trouble in swallowing 
• Loss of appetite
• Nausea or vomiting
• Body ache 

When to see the ENT specialist for strep throat?

Head to an ENT hospital if 

• a sore throat does not subside within 2 days
• a sore throat is accompanied by rashes 
• a sore throat is accompanied by swollen lymph glands near the neck
• there is difficulty in breathing or swallowing
• fever is above 101˚F

Strep throat diagnosis

After a physical examination of the patient, the ENT doctor may order for one of these tests

Rapid Antigen Test

The ENT specialist does a throat swab and gets an Antigen Test done on the sample. If the test is negative, he suggests throat culture.

Throat culture

The ENT specialist dabs a sterile swab over the back of the throat and the tonsils to get a sample of the throat secretion. This sample is then sent to the lab for testing.

Strep throat treatment

At home

• Gargle with salt water 3-4 times daily.
• Drink lots of water to wet your sore throat.
• Drink warm liquids like tea or lemon water
• Drink cold liquids to numb the throat
• Suck on throat lozenges
• Use a cool mist humidifier and clean it daily.
• Eat soothing foods like soups, broths, cereal, porridge etc. which are easy to swallow.
• Avoid spicy foods and acidic drinks like orange juice.
• Stay from irritants like cigarette smoke.
• Stay away from school or work at least for 24 hours as strep throat is contagious.

At the ENT hospital

• The ENT specialist recommends antibiotics to cure the infection and analgesics to relieve the pain.
• Antibiotics like Penicillin or Amoxycillin are usually suggested.
• Some patients may be allergic to Penicillin. For such patients, Azithromycin, Clarithromycin or Cephalosporins are suggested.
• The doctor recommends a suitable diet to help quicken the process of remedy.

Caution

Never take OTC (over-the-counter) medication for strep throat. Some patients may be allergic to penicillin and such allergy is evident only by doing a skin test. Penicillin allergy can result in mild reactions like rashes and itching to adverse effects like Anaphylaxis which is life-threatening. this is why it is always best to consult an ENT hospital for strep throat treatment.

Do not ignore strep throat as it may lead to sinusitis, tonsillitis, ear infections, scarlet fever or pneumonia. Consult an expert ENT hospital for quick relief from strep throat infection.