Signs indicating you need to visit an ent doctor
You should consider visiting the ENT doctor if you’re facing any ear, nose, or throat issues.
It may be a ringing sound in the ears, a sore throat, or sleep apnea. It could also be swollen sinuses or a persistent blocked nose. An Ear, Nose and Throat doctor can look more closely into these issues and provide the proper diagnosis and treatment.
Read on to learn about the main symptoms and signs that indicate it is time to visit an ENT clinic near you.
Sore Throat
Sore throats are a common issue, so making an appointment with your Ear, Nose and Throat doctor is unnecessary every time you feel a sore throat. You should visit an ENT doctor near you if your sore throat is so severe that you can barely drink water or if it has been there for longer than a week. Both these situations show that the problem is likely more than just a sore throat.
Nasal Blockage
Do you often have a blocked nose, especially when you wake up in the morning? Do you find breathing hard because your nasal passage is blocked most of the time? If the answer is yes, then you should visit an ENT doctor. Continuous nasal blockage is usually a sign of a more persistent issue.
Meeting an ENT doctor near you in such a scenario will help find the root cause of the issue and receive a solution immediately. Common causes can be a deviated septum, infections, or airborne allergies.
Airway Blockage
Airway blockage is another issue that may require medical attention. There are many reasons for airway blockage, including the development of polyps or a viral infection. If the condition is persistent, it is recommended to show it to an ENT specialist who can identify the primary cause.
Sleep Apnea
You may have sleep apnea if you snore loudly and constantly wake up during the night. These abrupt disruptions in your sleep are the result of temporary breathing stoppages. Such disturbances can lower your energy levels during the day and impact everyday functioning. Sleep apnea can lead to serious health issues such as heart disease, stroke, and high blood pressure without medical intervention.
An ENT doctor can prescribe a device to ensure the airway stays open during sleep. The doctor can also guide lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking and losing weight.
Ringing In Your Ears
Experiencing constant ringing in the ears is most likely a sign of a condition known as tinnitus. Such an issue is best addressed by an ENT specialist near you who can conduct a detailed investigation to look more closely into the matter. Tinnitus could be caused by an ear infection or another hearing problem. But it can also be an early symptom of hearing loss.
Persistent Hearing Loss
If you have been dealing with hearing problems for more than a week, you should visit an ENT clinic near you. While on this topic, please be careful to avoid listening to loud music for long as it can cause temporary hearing loss.
Sinus Pain
Sinus pain includes pain around the face, ear, upper teeth, and nose. An ENT doctor should check any pain that lasts more than a few days.
Sinuses cover a large portion of the human face and quickly become inflamed and sore due to illness, so you should take special care when unwell. An experienced ENT doctor can correctly diagnose the source of sinus pain and offer the proper treatment.
Vertigo
Feeling dizzy all of a sudden for no explainable reason is a sign that you could have vertigo. You could feel like you are spinning or swaying even when standing still. Such a feeling could result from an infection or other problem with the inner ear – which helps control balance. Other medical issues that affect the brain can also cause vertigo.
An ENT doctor has the knowledge and training to find the root cause of vertigo and help manage the condition. Treatment can involve exercise, diet changes, and specific medication. You may need to reduce caffeine and alcohol, drink more water, and reduce salt intake.
Swollen Lymph Nodes
Swollen lymph nodes, which show up as lumps in your neck or throat, can be caused by infections. If these swollen lymph nodes do not go away after more than two weeks, then it could be a sign of another health issue, which an ENT doctor should check. This can be the case even if the swollen lymph nodes are not painful.
Lymph nodes in your neck that gradually get bigger could be an early sign of something more severe like certain types of cancer, including cancers of the mouth, throat, and thyroid gland, and hence need medical attention. An ENT doctor can rightly diagnose the cause of the lymph node swelling through the appropriate tests. This may include biopsies, ultrasound exams, or other imaging tests.
Take time to care for and listen to your body
Make sure you follow a healthy lifestyle and diet to protect the body from illness as much as possible. But if any of the above health issues continue for more than a week or two, it is recommended to consult an ENT doctor.
You can easily find some of the best ENT doctors in Dubai and other leading cities worldwide. One such place to find exceptional medical expertise is Al Moosa Center.
Consult one of the best ENT doctors in Dubai
Al Moosa Center is a multidisciplinary clinic with more than 55 years of healthcare experience. We are backed by a team of highly skilled doctors and the latest medical equipment to provide world-class healthcare solutions that meet the needs of our patients under one roof.
A skilled ENT specialist leads our ENT clinic in Dubai with years of experience diagnosing and treating ear, nose, and throat illnesses.
Read more about Elipse Ballon in the next article
