A head cold refers to a common cold where the symptoms are usually pronounced around the facial area. This common cold usually comes about as a result of a viral infection within the upper respiratory tract that includes the throat and nose. The chest and heal cold may be caused by any of the over 200 viruses thus the symptoms will often vary from among different people. Even then, the discomfort that is caused by congestion, stuffy nose or sore throat is in harmless in most cases. Continue reading →

Sinusitis can be either chronic or acute and is a common condition where the nasal passages can become swollen. Chronic sinusitis can last as long as 12 weeks or even longer no matter what kind of treatments you try whereas, acute sinusitis does not usually last as long and responds to treatments, but can develop into chronic sinusitis without treatment.
Also known as Rhinosinusitis, it can cause a buildup of mucus and interfere with breathing and drainage. Chronic sinusitis can be caused by an infection or growths in the nasal passages called nasal polyps. It can also be caused by a deviated septum. Chronic sinusitis can affect children but usually only affects middle aged adults and young adults. Continue reading →

Whereas most ear infections will get better without seeing a doctor, it is always recommended that when it comes to children, especially under the age of 2 that you take them to the doctor. For teenagers and adults with a mild ear infection, there are several home remedies you can try before going to the doctor but, if your earache persists or worsens, seeing the doctor is always best.
An ear infection is also called acute otitis media and is usually caused from either a viral or bacterial infection that affects the middle ear. An ear infection can be painful due to the buildup of fluids, which causes inflammation in the middle ear. Continue reading →

Tinnitus is also known as ringing in the ears. This condition is attributed to the damage of the ultramicroscopic endings of the nerves that are linked with hearing, giving rise to ringing in the ears. This disorder is usually characterized by a feeling of noise within the ear even though this noise does not exist. The nature of this noise varies from person to person even though it is referred to as “ringing noise”. As such, some people may report a humming sound while others will experience hissing, buzzing, whistling, beeping, clicking, roaring or even a ticking noise.

This condition is considered a product of a number of underlying causes that include deposition of wax within the ear, an infection or even an injury of the tympanic membrane. To understand this condition better you need to know the anatomy of the ear, that includes four main parts namely the outer ear, middle ear, inner ear as well as the brain. This is because tinnitus can happen in either of these parts and is most comply reported in a single ear. Continue reading →

A sinus infection is also referred to sinusitis, an infection of the hollow air filled cavities and sinuses, that are linked to the nasal passage. This infection is usually triggered by a number of factors like allergies, cold, abnormal growths and even infections. Sinus infections affect a large number of people at any given point, with many people facing an attack at least once a year. When a sinus infection occurs, a person will usually experience a blockage as well as inflammation of sinuses. This creates a perfect breeding ground for pathogens that eventually damage the lining of the air passages thereby giving rise to symptoms of sinusitis. In addition, the air within the cavity also causes pressure that results in a serious sinus headache. This means that the symptoms of a sinus infection can be attributed to an inflammation of the cavities as well as the presence of pathogens. Continue reading →

Various ear aches certainly cause a lot of pains that are too often very uncomfortable and unbearable. They feel like as though all parts of the body are in pain and you can’t just simply ignore them as they have the ability to torment and this keeps you from doing your normal routine. In fact, ear pain is just one of the usual medical problems experienced by people of all age, young or old. Otitis is the medical term which pertains to infection of the ear.

It is important to know ear pains basically results from swelling or inflammation of certain ear structures. These structures may include middle ear, external auditory canal and the tympanic membrane. Our ears are one of the most sensitive parts of the body that is why it is advisable to consult a physician once you experience and feel any type of pain and infection. Indeed, ear pains won’t allow you to live a normal life as when they’re not properly given medical attention, they could cause you such torturous feelings.

Living in a world where it seems every place is polluted exposes us to acquire fungi, bacteria and viruses; all of which are possible causes of ear pains. Moreover, illnesses such as sinus and tonsil infections can lead to ear infections especially to children. For these reasons, it is essential to learn about various remedies for ear pains.

Ear Pin Relief Tips:

• Crush some cloves of garlic in water, then add little salt and boil it. Once it cools down, pour some of this juice in the ear. Garlic is proven to be effective antibiotics in eliminating pain and fighting against infections.
• Chewing a gum can also help relieve ear pain as this will greatly help in contracting the muscles and this has the ability to open up the Eustachian tube.
• You may consider pouring a few drops of hydrogen peroxide in the infected area of the ear.
• Pouring two drops of extracted holy basil leaves in the infected area works wonder too.
• Antibiotics prescribed by doctors are also proven safe and effective such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen. This will allow you to sleep well and be free relieved from ear pain.
• Sleeping in an upright position may help in reducing ear pressures so this will considerably aid in relieving ear aches.
• Analgesic ear drops are very efficient as they are loaded with anesthetic ability which work efficiently just what bupivicaine and lidocaine can do. They can be inserted carefully in the affected area.
• For severe cases of damaged ear drum; tympanoplasty or what is known as the repair of a damaged ear drum is done by a medical practitioner.
• Intake of Opioids, Percocet and Lortab are just some of the most common oral pain medicines prescribed by doctors to relieve ear pain.

It is significant to note that it is always recommendable to seek medical advice first prior to taking antibiotics and using other ear drops. This is to prevent further problems from occurring. Doctors know better and it wouldn’t cost much to consult them after all being free from pains and diseases is absolutely priceless.

There are a number of factors that are attributed to adult ear infection among them the introduction of foreign bodies in the ear tunnel or an infection of those organs that are linked to the ear like a running nose and strep throat. Although both children and adults may suffer from ear infections, adults are seldom affected. However, it is important to understand what an adult ear infection is all about and how you can prevent it. This is because most of the people who are found to have ear infection problems neglected simple measures that could have prevented this occurrence. Continue reading →

Also known as otitis media, middle ear infection, serous otitis media, or otitis media with effusion, Glue ear causes a glue like fluid to build up in the middle ear, which is the part that is supposed to be filled with air. This is common in children with dulled hearing with symptoms that sometimes resolve themselves after a time and without treatment but when symptoms persist, the child may need some type of therapy.  If the child needs treatment, one of the treatments involves the child blowing up a balloon using their nose but if this does not work, an operation is sometimes performed that will clear the fluid and if the problems persists, grommets are inserted. Medilexicon’s medical dictionary defines glue ear as “middle ear inflammation with thick mucoid effusion caused by long-standing eustachian tube obstruction.”

How does the human ear work? The human ear is divided into three parts consisting of the inner ear, the middle ear and the outer ear. Sounds enter the outer ear, hit the eardrum and make it vibrate. The middle ear, which is behind the eardrum consists of three ossicles, which are tiny bones called the stapes, the incus and the malleus. These three bones transmit the vibrations to the inner ear, which is the cochlea and are converted into sound signals. These signals travel down the ear to the brain, which in turn, processes the information.

When fluid builds up in the middle ear, it is usually drained out through the Eustachian tube. This tube also connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and is usually closed but sometimes when yawning, chewing or swallowing, it opens up and the fluid drains out, which in turn also helps to maintain the correct air pressure inside the middle ear. It is when the Eustachian tube becomes blocked due to inflammation, or an obstruction, which causes a vacuum of air to build up and sucks fluid and mucus into the middle ear. This fluid is usually watery but if left untreated, can become glue-like causing the person to hear muffled sounds.

Glue ear or middle ear infection is common in about 70 percent of children by the age of four years of age. It is more common in children under eight and less common in adults because the Eustachian tube is bigger. Boys, more than girls are likely to get glue ear but both can get it if they live in a home where there is someone who smokes inside, around the child. Children who get colds, ear infections or have frequent coughs will more than likely develop glue ear as will a child who has a sibling who has or has had glue ear. In addition, babies who are bottle fed get glue ear more often when compared to babies who are breastfed.

The psychological effects on children can be both developmental and behavioral especially if it goes unnoticed. The child may have difficulty learning due to dulled hearing and they may feel frustrated, left out and become withdrawn and quiet because they cannot understand what is going on around them. Due to the dulled hearing, some studies show this may cause problems with language and speech development. If you have concerns that your child may have glue ear, contact your GP as soon as possible.

The middle ear infection is also known as otitis media. The infection of this part of the ear is largely attributed to the introduction of germs through the throat or nose that eventually is trapped on the eardrum. This is because the nose, throat and the eardrum are connected to each other by the Eustachian tubes. The middle ear infection is common among children and will mostly be reported days after they have developed a flu or cold.

There are three kinds of middle ear infections that include a temporary inflammation otherwise known as acute otitis media, infections that come on and off on a regular basis known as recurrent acute otitis media and a regular build up of effusion or sticky fluid referred to as chronic otitis media. Continue reading →

Tinnitus is the annoying sensation of phantom sounds in one or both ears. It is characterized by hearing a buzzing, clicking, ringing, swishing, roaring, hissing or whistling in one or both ears and the sound can vary in pitch from a high squeal to a low roar. At times the sounds are so loud that they interfere with being able to hear real sounds as well as your ability to concentrate; it can also come and go or it can be present all the time. There are two types of tinnitus, Subjective, which is tinnitus that only you can hear and is the most common and Objective, which your doctor can hear when doing an examination.
Subjective tinnitus is caused by problems of the middle, outer or inner ear or it can involve the auditory nerves, which is the part of the brain that interprets sounds. Objective tinnitus is rare and be caused by the blood vessels of the inner ear, muscle contractions or a bone condition of the inner ear. Tinnitus seems to originate in the ear or head and is usually not a serious problem but only a nuisance that in some cases resolves itself but in rare cases, tinnitus can be a symptom of serious underlying health condition.

What causes tinnitus?

The causes are many and vary from person to person. Nearly all people have normal body sounds that can be heard but we never pay any attention to these noises due to outside noise that mask them. Things like foreign objects in the ear, blockages by ear wax, infection, fluid or diseases of the tympanic membrane and middle ear bones are some causes of tinnitus. Other causes of tinnitus involve the microscopic endings of the nerves in the inner ear, advanced age, ear cell damage that causes a release of electrical signals that your brain interprets as sound, if the hairs in your inner ear or broken or bent, this can cause a “leak” of random electrical impulses to your brain.

More common causes of tinnitus are loud noises of any kind, stress or depression, TMJ, head or neck injuries, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and certain medications like antibiotics, cancer medications, diuretics, malaria medication, quinine, and aspirin taken in high doses. Everyone is at risk of getting tinnitus but some more than others including those with PTSD, and those who are subjected to daily loud noises. Tinnitus affects different people differently but some of the side effects include, fatigue, stress, problems concentrating, problems sleeping, depression, memory problems, anxiety and irritability.
Some treatments and relief remedies for tinnitus that your doctor may prescribe include a hearing aid, wearable sound generators, tabletop sound generators, acoustic neural stimulation, and or cochlear implants. To determine which treatment is best for you, your doctor  will do an examination with a series of test that will tell the doctor if the tinnitus represents an underlying health concern. The most common test is an audiogram, other test include an auditory brainstem response (ABR), computer tomography scan (CT scan) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan). It is time to see your doctor if tinnitus comes on suddenly and unexplained and accompanied by hearing loss or dizziness.