Tinnitus, earwax care, sinusitis, snoring, all about ENT diseasesOtolaryngologist Chi-yeol Park

 

Causes and treatment of tinnitus : FAQ

 

 

Why does tinnitus occur and how can it be treated?

 

Subjective tinnitus, which can only be heard by oneself, is created by the brain's compensatory mechanism. When part of the auditory nerve is damaged, you can't hear certain frequencies or hear them less. Our brains create virtual sounds as much as we can't hear, and that sound is tinnitus.

 

Many people think that tinnitus is something that they have no choice but to adapt and give up. However, since tinnitus is also an ear disease, it is actually possible to alleviate it to a large extent with treatment. Tinnitus can be overcome by accurately examining the frequency of the hearing test to determine which frequencies are actually damaged, and by finding and comprehensively correcting the causes of the breakdown of the auditory cells, such as metabolism, hormones, heavy metals, and blood circulation problems in the body.

 

On the other hand, tinnitus is not only a problem of broken auditory cells, but also an overreaction of the brain to it. In fact, it is said that the existence of tinnitus and the fact that I actually feel it are two different matters. If the brain is insensitive, it will ignore tinnitus, but if the brain is sensitive, it will catch tinnitus sensitively. When the network is connected between the brain and tinnitus, it can create a vicious cycle that is even more difficult to break the tinnitus. In this case, it may be helpful to receive treatment at a hospital with a well-equipped program to reduce brain sensitivity.

 

Otolaryngology Sleep Disorders : FAQs

 

 

Why is my cough worse at night when I'm fine during the day?

 

When you lie on your back, a runny nose or foreign object passes to the back of your throat, which is called postnasal drip. It is difficult to pinpoint the cause of postnasal drip with just one cause. Once there is basically the possibility of sinusitis. When you lie down, the pus that accumulates in your nose goes backwards, causing coughing and phlegm. In such cases, CT scans or X-rays can be used to start treating sinusitis.

 

However, there are times when the inside of the nose is examined and no problem is found. These chronic postnasal drip symptoms cannot be treated because they are caused by a sensitive reaction to normal physiological reactions such as ciliary movements*. Some people say that it was resolved by taking medication, but this is just a kind of placebo effect and there is no drug that can cure it. It's a good idea to have an accurate understanding of postnasal drip and try to adapt to it on your own.

*Ciliary movement: The active movement of the cilia on the surface of the body.

 

Why doesn't my snoring get better after surgery for a deviated septum?

 

Snoring is a sound that occurs when air squeezes through the mucous membranes while the airways are narrow. Snoring is first treated with surgery for a deviated nasal septum. When the nasal septum is curved, it is difficult to breathe through the nose when sleeping, and the mouth opens open, and the tongue is pushed back, narrowing the airway. Straightening this curved nasal septum allows more air to flow into the nose, improving snoring and apnea.

 

However, there are cases where snoring does not improve even after surgery for a deviated septum. In this case, it is because the airway is so constricted that it cannot be fully opened. However, even with this condition, the apnea has improved with hypopnea, and the quality of your sleep is definitely better than before the surgery as you received more oxygen in your body. If you're still bothered by your snoring, you may need to use a sleep aid such as a CPAP machine or mouthpiece to open your airways further.

 

Allergic ENT Diseases : FAQs

 

 

Why do I cough when I go out to a cold place after being in a warm place?

 

If you have an allergic disease, the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract react to certain stimuli. Among them, the sensitive reaction of the nasal mucosa to temperature changes is called cold rhinitis. It's kind of a constitutional problem. Cold rhinitis is generally not dangerous, but asthma sufferers should be careful because the cold wind can cause the mucous membranes of the airways to swell rapidly, making it difficult to breathe.

 

Does allergic rhinitis get better spontaneously?

 

Immunological conditions, such as allergies, may heal spontaneously over time. This is because our body's immune system is constantly changing. On the other hand, other allergies may arise or allergies that have been forgotten due to not being exposed to the antigen for a long time may return.

 

Taking ENT medications : FAQs

 

 

Is it okay to take rhinitis medicine for a long time?

 

It is not recommended to take rhinitis medications for a long time. Rhinitis medicines contain steroids and antihistamines, and if you wear them for a long time, they can put a strain on your kidneys and liver. If you take the medication every day or more than half a month in a month, it is recommended that you combine spray treatment with medication. Spray treatments are much safer because they only work on the nose, and they can reduce the number of times you take medication. If the structure of the nose is bad, it may be possible to correct it through surgery. If possible, it seems that efforts should be made to reduce the number of times the medication is taken through aggressive treatment.

 

If my symptoms are not severe, do I need to take cold medicine?

 

Everyone has different levels of cold symptoms. Some people don't feel sick even if their fever rises to 38 degrees Celsius, while others find it difficult to live even if they have a fever of 38 degrees Celsius. If you don't feel much discomfort when you have a cold, you don't need to take medicine. It is the body's immune cells that treat the common cold, and the common cold medicines we take do not eliminate the virus itself, but only relieve symptoms such as suppressing cough or clearing phlegm. However, if you are not feeling well, the natural treatment period for the cold will be longer, so if you feel uncomfortable, it is recommended that you do not put up with it and drink plenty of water regardless of the medicine.

 

Surgery in ENT Diseases : FAQs

 

 

Does the thyroid sac need surgery?

 

The thyroid gland is an important hormonal organ that wraps around the sides of the neck like a butterfly. A cyst in the thyroid duct is a condition in which cysts that should have degenerated inside the thyroid gland do not disappear in adulthood. If it is asymptomatic, there is no need for surgery, but if it is inflamed, it can be removed through simple surgery.

 

Does surgery to remove the inferior turbinates hurt a lot?

 

Surgery to remove the lower turbinates is commonly referred to as rhinitis surgery. It is a principle in which the nasal flesh on both sides of the nasal septum is shortened with a laser and the nose is pierced. Surgery to remove the lower turbinates is not as painful as you might think. Even elementary school patients can undergo surgery. Of course, if you expect discomfort, sleep anesthesia is also possible, but the surgery itself is simple and takes less than 2~4 minutes.