Articles

Snoring is a condition in which the airway becomes blocked or may vibrate during sleep, causing the patient to produce sound. Snoring may be associated with sleep apnea which may lead to poor sleep and fatigue and over time may contribute to heart and lung failure and even death, if severe and left untreated.

Squamous cell carcinoma is the second most commonly occurring type of skin cancer. It appears most frequently in areas that are exposed to direct sunlight such as the face, nose, ears, lips, neck, and back of the hands. Squamous cell carcinomas can present as rough, scaly, red patches; wart or horn-like

Throat pain may come from a number of different problems - viral, fungal, or bacterial infection, allergies. acid reflux, postnasal drainage or other sinus or allergy problems, or tumors, among many others. Establishing a diagnosis, usually based on history and exam, which may include looking in the

Tinnitus describes any abnormal sound heard in the ear. Tinnitus may be described as a high or low pitch, ringing, roaring, buzzing, humming, cricket-like, or pulsating, among various other descriptions. Tinnitus is most commonly caused by hearing loss, but may have multiple other causes - wax build-up,

The turbinates are shelves of tissue along the sides of the inside of the nose. They are responsible for humidifying inspired air and moisturizing the nose. They also sense the flow of air through the nose. Turbinates may be enlarged due to bony overgrowth or inflammation and swelling of the lining.

A tympanic membrane perforation is a hole in the eardrum. It may occur as a result of trauma to the eardrum, an acute infection, chronic infection, or a cholesteatoma. Some perforations will heal on their own without treatment (usually those that have resulted from trauma or acute infection), while others

Peripheral vertigo is defined as the sensation of spinning, caused by an abnormality in the nerve of balance or the inner ear itself. Treatment is directed at the cause, of which there are many. Vestibular suppressants (meclizine, dramamine, benzodiazepines - used with extreme caution, etc.) may be helpful

Vocal fold nodules are thickened areas of the vocal folds, akin to scar or callous, usually caused by trauma from vocal abuse or misuse. Care usually involves speech therapy to change the problem / causative vocative habits. Nodules may take a long time to resolve with speech therapy, but therapy is

Polyps of the vocal folds are usually benign and inflammatory in nature. A small percentage may represent cancer of the larynx. They are usually a result of exposure to an irritant (most commonly cigarette smoke). Treatment is primarily focused on avoidance or treatment of the triggers, and may include