Capital Otolaryngology

Keys to a sleep-friendly bedroom

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:05:00 +0000

It is recommended that adults get 7 – 9 hours of sleep each night. If we are spending 1/3 of our life in the bedroom trying to sleep, are their things that we can do to make the bedroom more sleep-friendly? Absolutely!

First, the easy things that you can do tonight.

Cool the room – lower body temperature typically occurs before sleep
Make the room completely dark – no night lights, hall lights, or moon light
Decrease noise – turn off all electronics, fix that noisy ceiling fan, and be sure the rest of the house is quiet. The only exception to this rule is soothing noise – some people benefit from white noise or noise machines that mimic a babbling brook or the ocean.

Next, the things that take a little effort

Clean the room - an organized room leaves less to be anxious about just before bed
No computers or work in the bedroom – If you train your mind to work in bed, it will not sleep. The bedroom is only for sleep and “companionship” with your significant other.
No TV – see above
Bedding – Buy a comfortable bed, pillow, and linens. You spend 1/3 of your life in bed – splurge a little.
Keep those new linens clean. It makes the bed more inviting.

Finally, the extras

Soothing wall colors may help. Consider blue or grey. Stay away from red or bright yellow.
Soothing smells such as lavender or vanilla will help you relax
Sleeping in the nude helps with temperature regulation

Zachary Wassmuth, MD

Prolonged Nasal Steroid Use - Safe or Dangerous?

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:05:00 +0000

As an otolaryngologist, I am frequently asked if nasal steroid sprays, one of the most common treatments for chronic sinus and allergy problems, are dangerous to use over the long term. In general, the answer is no.

Let’s look at a few issues specifically...

The most common side effects from nasal steroids are local. Some patients have mild burning, dryness, or nose bleeds. These are reasons to change brands or stop the medication all together. A rare local complication includes septal perforation, or a hole in the septum that divides the nose in half. This is a complication that would typically happen after significant nose bleeds develop. So again, if nose bleeds are a problem, stop the medication and see your otolaryngologist.

Systemic side effects such as adrenal suppression, blunted growth, glaucoma, cataracts, osteoporosis, and diabetes have long been a worry since high dose oral steroids can have these complications. The good news is that over the years, nasal steroids have become much less “bioavailable” . The nasal sprays treat topically, but very little is actually absorbed into the bloodstream. More recent studies have failed to show any significant risk for any of these side effects with properly used nasal steroids.

If you suffer from chronic nasal/sinus problems and nasal steroid sprays help, feel confident that long term use is quite safe.

Zachary Wassmuth, MD

Pick the right NOSE - the natural looking Rhinoplasty

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:05:00 +0000

Are you considering a nose job (rhinoplasty)?

You may not know exactly what you want for you're rhinoplasty, but you are sure that it should look natural.

The best nose is a nose that isn't noticed. You want a nose that doesn't stand out in photos and isn't the defining feature of your face.

Your friends and family should see you're smile, you're cheeks, and you're eyes.

There is no more complex surgery in all of cosmetic surgery than rhinoplasty. Make sure your surgeon understands the principle of natural correction and can make the changes that blend you're nose into the rest of you're positive facial features.

Daniel Slaughter, MD

Is Ballooon Sinuplasty right for you?

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Fri, 18 May 2012 14:47:00 +0000

The promise of a simple solution to sinus pain is very enticing but, you need to know if balloon sinuplasty will work for you.

Let's make it simple. Maybe.....

Sinus pressure and infections can be relieved in the right case as a simple office procedure. There are many factors for you're surgeon to consider if this therapy can work for you. Is your problem really a deviated septum? Is it an allergy issue? Do you have polyps? These and many other issues cannot be treated with a balloon procedure alone.

A comprehensive evaluation is what is really needed to know if a balloon procedure is the right answer for you.

Daniel Slaughter, MD

What's the difference between facial fillers and fat transfer?

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:18:00 +0000

The use of facial fillers to improve wrinkles, and other signs of aging is now becoming commonplace. Most of my patients have friends who have been treated with fillers or have read about the treatment. Fat transfer is not as well known, but treats the same problems in a similar manner with much better long-term results. Just as the fillers are injected into areas that need more volume, fat can be placed there too. We usually obtain the fat for transfer from the belly or the thigh. We obtain the fat through liposuction, but we use lower levels of suction to protect the fat cells. The fat cells are then processed and placed into the desired areas immediately. The placement of the fat is performed through larger needles so that the fat cells survive the transfer. Unfortunately, this means more bruising and swelling than what can be expected with the placement of fillers through small needles. The trade-off, however, is that approximately 50% of the transferred fat cells will survive, so patients only need to do this procedure once or twice, instead of every 8 to 12 months. Depending on the amount of transferred tissue, the fat transfer procedure could cost much less than a single session of filler placement while providing permanent improvements.

Christopher Thompson, MD

Allergies vs. Sinus Infection?

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Tue, 15 May 2012 14:05:00 +0000

One of the most common questions that I get has an ear nose and throat specialist, often from friends and family, is how to tell the difference between nasal allergies and an infection. Although there is overlap between the symptoms, there are a few rules of thumb to help you tell the difference. Allergic symptoms may start gradually or suddenly, and include sneezing, nasal congestion, clear nasal drip, postnasal drip, itchy ears, eyes, throat and nose, fatigue, and sometimes cough. There are many ways of treating allergies, but those targeted at the allergic response can be grouped into one of three categories. Those are antihistamines (Claritin, zyrtec, benedryl), steroids (nasal sprays or oral), and leukotriene inhibitors (singulair). Decongestants such as Sudafed, topical decongestant such as Afrin, and mucous thinners such as mucinex often help with her symptoms.

An infection will include the congestion, postnasal drainage, and fatigue but will also cause discolored nasal discharge, sore scratchy throat, sinus pain, cough, and fever. Most nasal and sinus infections are viral for the first 5 to 7 days. We worry about bacterial infections when you continue to have these symptoms for more than seven days, and especially if you get better for a few days, and then develop the symptoms of an infection again. This is when it is appropriate to start antibiotic therapy.

Christopher Thompson, MD

11 things you can do to get better sleep

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:32:00 +0000

May has been nationally desgnated as "Better Sleep" month.
To help, Dr. Thompson has put together a list of things you can do to get better sleep.

1. Have sex repeatedly before sleep
2. Exercise during the day, at least four hours before sleep
3. Avoid alcohol within two hours of bedtime
4. Avoid caffeine within five hours at bedtime
5. Keep the lights dim and avoid television, computer monitors, and video games one hour before bedtime
6. Maintain a regular bedtime schedule
7. If unable to get to sleep within 20 minutes, get out of bed and read (avoid television, video games, computer displays)
8. If your mind is racing through all of the things you're worried about, get up and write them down and go back to bed
9. Reassure yourself that missing a few hours of sleep is not catastrophic, you will make it through the next day
10. Avoid using your bed to read, watch television, use the computer etc., used only for sleeping
11. Make your wake-up time the same every morning

Sleep Well!

Chris Thompson, MD

Dr. Chris Thompson, along with other Austinites volunteered their time, money and skills to give medical help to a Ugandan man with a mass of scar tissue called keloids

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 10 May 2012 16:18:00 +0000

Watch Dr. Thompson and other Austinites help Sam Obura on KXAN with Leslie Rhode

05/07/2012 - Life-changing village in Austin Video - Part1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiqDOdYRCTA

05/08/2012 - Life-changing village in Austin Video - Part 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiLrWU8avU0&feature=plcp

Assistive Products for the Everyday Listener

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:58:00 +0000

Our world can be noisy and distracting leading even people with normal or near-normal hearing to struggle to listen, understand and attend to everyday tasks. We are sensitive to the increased stress from such situations and we are here to help you succeed.

Capital Otolaryngology’s Audiology Department offers many affordable products designed for the everyday listener. From Westone 3 True-Fit Earphones featuring top-of-the-line sound quality with a cord that is durable and resistant to stress, to Defend Ear Digital Hearing Protection for the outdoor enthusiast and those exposed to considerable volumes. Custom-fit filtered earplugs for the musician or audiophile as well as custom-fit earplugs for swimming and water exposure are also available.

Assistive devices such as TV Ears, a device designed to provide a clear, in-ear TV signal to the individual user and amplified phones are also available for those with challenged hearing.

Our Audiology Department is available to serve all of your hearing healthcare needs. Don’t hesitate to schedule an appointment with one of our Licensed Audiologists to discuss the products available.

Sabrina Olivia, AuD

Why earplugs are important at Concerts

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 14:53:00 +0000

OSHA has determined 85 dB to be the maximum ‘safe’ noise level for employee exposure in an 8 hour work period. Parents should be aware that various medical studies have found sound levels at popular music concerts often to be significantly higher than 85 dBA, with some reports suggesting as high as 122 dBA.

To experience 85 dBA, listen to an electric shaver or a busy urban street. Experts agree that continued exposure to noise above 85 dBA over time will cause hearing loss. Clearly, if levels are maintained at values greater than 85 dBA for long periods of time, this may lead to a significant noise exposure and frequent concertgoers may experience some potentially irreversible hearing loss from this experience.

A research study, “Incidence of Spontaneous Hearing Threshold Shifts during Modern Concert Performances,” from the University of Minnesota Medical Center in Minneapolis examined sound intensity throughout a well-known concert venue and the effectiveness of earplugs.

The findings, presented at the 2005 annual meeting stated that sound pressure levels appeared equally hazardous in all parts of the concert hall, regardless of the type of music played. Accordingly, you should use earplugs at every type of musical concert, regardless of your vicinity to the stage.

A good rule of thumb: When a child accompanies a parent to any activity or location with excessive noise, ear protection should be worn by the entire family.

Sabrina Olivia, AuD

How much MP3 player use is Safe?

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:46:00 +0000

Should MP3 player use be limited? On average, a whisper is 30 decibels and that a normal conversation is 60 decibels. The maximum sound output from an iPod Shuffle with common Apple earbuds has been measured at 115 decibels. A survey sponsored by the Australian government found that about 25 percent of people using portable stereos had daily noise exposures high enough to cause hearing damage. And further research from the United Kingdom determined that young people, ages 18 to 24, were more likely than other adults to exceed safe listening limits.Researchers at Boston Children’s Hospital determined that listening to a portable music player with headphones at 60 percent of its potential volume for one hour a day is relatively safe.

Sabrina Olivia, AuD

NOISE INDUCED HEARING LOSS IN CHILDREN

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:42:00 +0000

The National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders reports that approximately 28 million Americans have lost some or all of their hearing, including 17 in 1,000 children under age 18. There are three types of hearing loss:

Conductive hearing loss:
Conductive, or mechanical hearing loss can involve the outer or middle portions of the ear or both. The outer ear consists of the pinna (the visible part of the ear) or the ear canal up tp the eardrum. The middle part of the ear consists of the eardrum, bones of the ear and the air-filled cavity that the bones rest in. Conductive hearing loss usually involves a reduction in volume with people commonly complaining that sounds are soft, dull or muffled. This type of hearing loss can be caused by middle ear infection, stiffening of the bones, impacted earwax, or a benign growth. This type of hearing loss can often be medically or surgically corrected.

Sensorineural hearing loss:
This hearing loss, caused by damage to the cochlea or the acoustic nerve, is permanent and cannot be medically or surgically corrected. People affected by sensorineural hearing loss commonly complain that sounds and voices are not clear or are distorted. Sensorineural hearing loss can be caused by a genetic predisposition to hearing loss over time, noise exposure, aging factor, drugs that are toxic to the ear, neuronitis, diseases such as Meniere’s disease or in somewhat more rare cases, a tumor.

Mixed hearing loss:
Hearing loss can be both conductive and sensorineural. For example, there may be damage in the outer or middle ear and in the inner ear (cochlea) or auditory nerve. When this occurs, the hearing loss is referred to as a mixed hearing loss.

How common is noise-induced hearing loss?
Incidence of this disorder increases with age. For example, approximately 314 in 1,000 people over age 65 have hearing loss and 40 to 50 percent of people 75 and older have a hearing loss.
Although 10 million Americans suffer irreversible noise-induced hearing loss, with 30 million more exposed to dangerous noise levels each day, very little has been reported on children’s risk for this type of impairment.

This may soon change. Preteens are attending music concerts with increasing regularity. Additionally, MP3 players and other media devices are widely popular with children and teens.

Sabrina Olivia, AuD

Hearing Aid Cleaning Appointments are Beneficial to your Health

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 17:40:00 +0000

Semi-annual hearing aid cleaning appointments are beneficial to your hearing health. When you were fit with your hearing aids, you were instructed in their daily care, including changing the batteries, wiping off any debris on the surface and using your ‘dry aid’ or ‘hearing aid saver’ kit (which is a desiccant and removes moisture from the instruments). You were also recommended to revisit the clinic at least 2 times a year for maintenance. These semi-annual appointments are your time with your audiologist to address any issues which have arisen as well as an opportunity for your audiologist to clean and service the areas of your instruments you are unable to service yourself.

In most cases your audiologist will clean and desiccate your instruments as well as change out any microphone covers or wax traps inside the hearing aid. Your audiologist will check the battery drain and listen to the sound output to ensure that the instruments are working. This is also time for you and your audiologist to spend time changing the programming in your hearing aids if this is needed. On annual visits, your audiologist may also recheck your hearing for the purposes of updating your instrument’s programming.

We encourage all of our hearing instrument clients to take advantage of scheduling the semi-annual Hearing Aid Check appointments offered to them. The appointments are 30 minutes spent with your audiologist addressing your needs, ensuring that you have the best hearing experience possible.

Sabrina Olivia, AuD

Flying can be a Pain in the Ear!

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:56:00 +0000

Changes in pressure from ascent and descent as well as artificial pressurization in aircraft can be painful even for people with good health. Changes in pressure can affect Eustachian tube function. The Eustachian tube pressurizes the middle ear where the eardrum and middle ear bones reside. The middle ear conducts sound energy mechanically to the inner ear and then to the brain. So, when your Eustachian tubes have a difficult time keeping up with changes in pressure, you may experience a mechanical type of hearing loss along with pain and discomfort.

Chewing gum, swallowing water, yawning all give your Eustachian tubes an opportunity to repressurize appropriately but this does not work for everyone, all of the time.

If pressure and pain during or after flying, please consult our office. We will take the time to check eardrum mobility and hearing before you are treated by one of our physicians, to ensure optimal ear health, hearing and hopefully more pleasant flying experiences in the future!

Sabrina Olivia, AuD

Cedar allergy can affect your ears

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:50:00 +0000

Central Texas boasts the highest concentration of Mountain Juniper trees in the nation. Juniperus ashei, or what we call cedar trees provide erosion control, shade for livestock in all seasons and are frequently used as a building material due to its natural resistance to rot. Unfortunately, mountain juniper is one of the largest allergen producers in the area and is responsible for annual outbreaks of ‘cedar fever’. Mountain Juniper commonly blooms from November through March with the highest concentration between December and February. Symptoms of cedar allergy include itching eyes, ears, throat and palate, runny nose, cough and popping in the ears. This allergy can mutate into Cedar Fever which is the more insidious, long-lasting variant. It is categorized by the symptoms above but also includes headache, fatigue, fluid in the ears and sore throat.

The first ear-related symptom of Cedar allergy is usually popping in the ears. The second most common symptom is fluid in the ears. This is characterized by diminished hearing with a muffled quality and sometimes the sensation of fluid actually sloshing in the ears. This fluid is trapped behind the eardrum, not in the ear canal. After a period of Eustachian tube dysfunction, the vacuum in the middle ear begins to draw fluid from the tissues that line this cavity. The tissue that lines your middle ear is similar to the tissue that lines your nose and the fluid provides protection from the adverse condition of a middle ear vacuum. This condition is commonly treated with medical therapy consisting of nasal sprays, antihistimines and other drug therapy.

The Audiologists at Capital Otolaryngology will first test eardrum mobility (tympanometry) and hearing to provide an accurate measurement of the allergy’s impact on your ear health. After diagnosis and treatment by one of our physicians, you will follow up for another hearing evaluation to ensure that you have achieved maximum ear health.

Sabrina Olivia, AuD

Which Hearing Instrument is Right for YOU?

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 16:26:00 +0000

Since there are many different hearing instrument manufacturers and each produce many different models and styles, the answer is not as straight forward as you might think. This would be similar if someone asks, “What car is right for me?” If we continue with the car analogy, the answer would be “What style are you looking for? or “What features do you want and what manufacture would you prefer?”. Unfortunately, individuals are not as educated about hearing instruments as they are about automobiles or the manufactures.

Therefore, the approach we take is to work with the best hearing instrument companies in the industry. What we mean by that are the companies that have been around the longest, provide the best service, do most of the research and development for new technology and usually have an international presence. Next, we take time to figure out what is your “life style”, where do you spend your time, how do you function on telephones and any special considerations. In short, we focus on your needs and what will work best to accomplish the goals you have. Once we determine the most appropriate instrument, we typically can let you have a period to evaluate the instrument in your own environments to determine if this type of instrument truly meets your needs.

If you are looking for a replacement instrument or are new to hearing instruments, we look forward to sitting down and getting to know you. By working together we can get you back involved with activities you might be avoiding and make your relationships more enjoyable and less stressful.

Which Tonsillectomy Techique is best?

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:35:00 +0000

We often are asked which techinque our physicians use for tonsillectomies or why we don't use a laser. Lasers were once popular for tonsillectomies but has shown delays in healing and increased time the patient is under general anesthesia. There is also chance for tonsil regrowth.
The technique used by the physicians of Capital Otolaryngology, is the Colorado needle (or coblation). It is the latest technique that has a faster healing time and no chance for regrowth.

Dr. Wassmuth quoted in Austin Family Magazine - Cool Pool accessories keep swimmers healthy

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 19:03:00 +0000

Pick up the July 2011 issue of Austin Family to read about "Cool pool accessories keep swimmers healthy"(page 34-35). Dr. Zachary Wassmuth is quoted in the article and discussed how to prevent and treat swimmers ear / ear infections.

Does your little swimmer have swimmer's ear?

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Wed, 22 Jun 2011 17:38:00 +0000

With summer in full swing and tempurature over 100 degrees, many kids are spending time in the swimming pool. A common infection that is associated with swimming is otitis externa (commonly referred to as 'swimmer's ear'). Swimmer's ear is an ear canal infection with ear pain being the primary symptom.

Swimmers ear infections are caused by excessive water exposure to the ear canal skin. Most of the time, there is no ill effect of exposing the ear canal skin to clean, chlorinated water. If the water is dirty such as a lake or a river, excessive water exposure is more likely to lead to infection. The risk is increased if there is any trauma to the ear canal such as using Q-tips, scratches from fingernails or cleaning instruments, or having overly dry ear canal skin from excessive ear wax cleaning.

Earplugs help to prevent ear infections simply by keeping water out of the ear canal. This is especially important in people that instrument their ear canals and/or participate in water sports in dirty water. Ear plugs can be found at your local drug store. You can tell that your plugs fit well if you note some decrease in your ability to hear when the ear plugs are in. Obviously, if water leaks into the ear canal, the fit is poor. If you have difficulty finding a ear plug that fits correctly, most ENT offices make custom ear molds at a minimal cost.

If you fear that there has been excessive water exposure, or you are having difficulty removing water from the ear canal, several simple tips will improve your chances of avoiding an ear infection. First, shake all water from the ear canal. Gently dabbing the external ear with a towel will help remove even more water. Finally, using a swimmer’s ear solution or a homemade solution of vinegar/rubbing alcohol mix after water exposure will help to dry the ear completely.

Zachary Wassmuth, MD

Restore drainage and find instant sinus relief

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Tue, 17 May 2011 18:04:00 +0000

Balloon sinus dilation is a new, minimally invasive office procedure that uses small balloons, similair to those used to open blocked arteries, to reopens the sinus pathways, restores drainage to deliver immediate and long lasting relief to sinusitis sufferers. In balloon sinus dilation, the physician will location the area to be treated (frontal sinus, sphenoid sinus and/or maxillary sinus). He will then place the balloon device into position in the sinus cavity. The physician will then inflate a small balloon and dilate the treatment area. The balloon device will then be removed.

This in-office procedure is done under local anesthesic with no downtime. It is also covered by most insurances.

Schedule a consultation with one of our physicians to see if the Balloon Sinuplasty is the right treatment for you!

Dr. Zachary Wassmuth in NEWSWEEK Magazine

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 16:25:00 +0000

Pick up the March 7th issue of Newsweek Magazine. Snoring Austin is listed as a TOP SLEEP TREATMENT CENTER IN TEXAS. Dr. Wassmuth also writes and article on "Snoring and Sleep Apnea: Causes and Cures".

Snoring Treatments interview of Dr. Wassmuth on Fox 7 News

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 17:06:00 +0000

Follow the link below to watch Dr. Zachary Wassmuth on Fox 7 News discuss the causes of Snoring. He suggests treatment options you can try at home and also simple in-office procedures.

http://www.myfoxaustin.com/dpp/health/health_edge_extra/How-to-Deal-with-Snoring-20110222-ktbcw#

Strategies to help make the most out of what you hear

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 16:58:00 +0000

Hearing and listening are two different things. Hearing is the physiologic process occurring in the auditory system. Listening is what your brain does with the information given to it by the ear. Hearing loss makes the process of listening very challenging. Family members and friends of people with hearing loss often accuse the person of not paying attention or not actively listening, as if it's a choice. Certain types of hearing loss make sounds soft and other types make sounds unclear. Listening to a person speaking can be similar to listening to a radio set between two stations or listening to the teacher's voice in the old Peanuts cartoons.

There are strategies that can help you make the most out of what you hear. We have listed some below:

Reduce Background Noise
This isn't always easy. Background noise can present significant difficulty for someone with hearing loss. It competes with the voices or sounds that are the focus of the situation. In home-based situations, turning off the TV, radio, closing the window or moving away from noisy appliances like the washer/dryer will help. Moving closer to the person speaking will also help. Sitting two or three feet away from someone speaking and sitting face-to-face will increase the volume of the speaker and reduce the background noise. It will also help make facial expressions and lip movements more clearly visible. We learn to speak by listening and observing, and when we experience hearing loss, we learn to rely on the visual component again. If it is not possible to do these things, try moving to a quieter room.

Face the person speaking to you
Families and friends take the most liberties during conversation. We are more cordial conversationalists to strangers. It's very common to hear a person complain that their spouse will try to hold a conversation with their back turned or from a different room. It is much easier to communicate when you can see the speaker's face. Facial expressions and lip movements add tone and meaning to the spoken word. Communicating in a well-lit environment also helps. Anything that can obscure the face should be removed during conversation. Do not cover your mouth when talking. Wait until you are between bites to talk during a meal.

Speak more slowly
Exaggeratedly fast or slow speech will affect understanding. Speaking at a normal conversational volume and rate helps people understand you. Conversely, if you do not understand what a person has said, try asking them to rephrase instead of repeat the information. 'I'm sorry, could you say that in a different way, I am having difficulty understanding you in this loud environment' gives the person speaking an opportunity to use different parts of speech to convey the same meaning. People get embarrassed when they have to ask people to repeat multiple times. Asking someone to rephrase is more likely to reduce the number of times you have to ask for clarification.

Sabrina Olivia, AuD, CCC-A
Audiologist at Capital Otolaryngology

Simple Daily Measures to Help with Snoring

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:56:00 +0000

Snoring is something that can be improved with simple daily measures.

1. Sleep hygiene. Basically, if you go to bed too tired you were more likely to snore. Make sure you are dedicating eight hours for quality sleep each night and go to bed at a reasonable hour.

2. You should avoid alcohol within two hours of bedtime as any sedation tends to make snoring worse.

3. Going to bed poorly hydrated also dries the secretions in your nose and throat and will make snoring worse.

4. Nasal congestion such as allergies or a cold will considerably worsened snoring. Making sure you have a good allergy regimen will improve your nasal breathing and significantly reduce snoring.

5. Positioning in bed can also make a big difference. Most people will tend to snore when lying on their back. Purchasing a full body pillow which will allow you to comfortably lie on your side will significantly reduce snoring.

6. Weight gain significantly increases snoring. Maintaining a good regimen of diet and exercise to keep your weight at the appropriate level will significantly reduce snoring.

Daniel Slaughter, MD

Snoring in Children

noreply@blogger.com (Webmaster) — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:52:00 +0000

Snoring is a very common problem affecting about 40 percent of adults. It is estimated that 5% of snoring adults will have sleep apnea. Although a smaller percentage of children, roughly 10%, have snoring, the possibility of sleep apnea in a snoring child is estimated at over 20%.

Children with sleep apnea will frequently have significant snoring at night with pauses in breathing. They may also experience nasal obstruction with mouth breathing, daytime tiredness, behavioral problems, learning difficulties, and even ADHD. Bedwetting, sleepwalking, and failure to thrive have also been related to sleep apnea in children.

Unlike adults who typically have multiple reasons for sleep apnea to include nasal obstruction, redundant soft palate, enlarged tongue, and obesity, the majority of children with sleep apnea have enlarged tonsils and adenoids. Simply removing the tonsils and adenoids will resolve sleep apnea in nearly all children. Some children with obstructive adenoids, but normal tonsils, can benefit from adenoidectomy alone to resolved nasal obstruction and improve both daytime and nighttime breathing.
A history and physical exam by an otolaryngologist will help determine if your child has sleep apnea and what the proper steps are to resolve the problem.

To read more on snoring, visit www.snoringaustin.com.

Zachary Wassmuth, MD