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Signs You May Need to Visit an ENT Doctor

If your nose is regularly stuffy and you get earaches often, this may be a sign it is time to visit an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) doctor. ENT specialists can help you with all problems that are related to your ears, nose and throat. But when do you know that it’s time to go and see one? Here are some clear indicators that it may be time to visit an ENT doctor:

Sinus pain

Sinus pressure and sinus pain occur when the nasal passage membranes become inflamed or swollen. Several factors can cause sinus pressure and pain, including having chronic sinusitis. Sinusitis affects about 1 in 8 adults annually and generally occurs when viruses or bacteria infect the sinuses and multiply. Sinus pain and pressure can also be caused by:

  • Increased fluid production and swelling
  • Sinuses can’t drain effectively
  • Reduced drainage causes sinus headache pain

Ongoing nasal congestion

If you constantly wake up with a blocked nose and find it hard to breathe, you may have chronic nasal congestion. Nasal congestion can be caused by anything that irritates or inflames the nasal tissues. Infections, such as colds, the flu, sinusitis, and allergies, are frequent causes of nasal congestion and runny nose. Other common causes of ongoing nasal congestion include:

Ringing in the ears

Constant noise in the head, such as ringing in the ears, can be annoying and may indicate a serious health problem. Tinnitus is a sporadic or continuous ringing sound in one or both ears that cannot be linked to an exterior element. Tinnitus symptoms may include these types of phantom noises in your ears:

  • Ringing
  • Buzzing
  • Clicking
  • Hissing
  • Roaring
  • Humming

Persistent hearing loss

Hearing loss can happen to anyone of any age. People of all ages experience a gradual loss in their ability to hear, often due to the natural aging process or exposure to loud noise. However, other causes can include infections due to viruses or bacteria, heart conditions, head injuries, and tumors. 

Sore throat

A raspy, strained, or hoarse voice and sore throat are not ordinary symptoms one should experience on the regular. While some people lose their voice when they have a bad cold or after a concert, a sore throat that lasts longer than six weeks could require medical attention. There are many causes of a constant sore throat, including:

  • GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease)
  • Voice strain
  • Smoking
  • Injury
  • Swelling, lumps or growths on the vocal cords

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms and signs, it may be time to schedule an appointment with an ENT specialist. It is important to understand what is causing your symptoms and how you can manage them. Act today and make an appointment with Dr. Marc Dean at the Ear and Sinus Institute!

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Call Us to Schedule an Appointment: (817) 332-4060
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