Ear, Nose and Throat

Recently Answered

  • QWhat can I do about the white bumps that form on my tonsils?
    2 Answers
    A
    Dr. Chadwick N. Ahn, MD - Frankfort, KY - Ear, Nose & Throat (Otolaryngology)
    A Ear, Nose & Throat (Otolaryngology), answered on behalf of
    What Can I Do About the White Bumps That Form on My Tonsils?
    The white bumps on your tonsils are generally responsible for a chronic sore throat or chronic recurrent bad breath. Watch Chadwick Ahn, MD, of Frankfort Regional Medical Center, talk more about tonsil stones.
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  • QCan bubble baths be bad for your ears?
    1 Answer
    A
    Dr. Mehmet Oz, MD - New York, NY - Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease)
    A , Cardiology (Cardiovascular Disease), answered

    Yes, if you dunk your head under the bubbly water, the bubbles can get into your ear canals, carrying water and detergent with them. When this occurs, your ear canals can become irritated and itchy, and it may lead to more severe problems like swimmer's ear.

  • QHow can I protect my child’s hearing from noise?
    1 Answer
    A
    Dr. James Fortenberry, MD - Atlanta, GA - Pediatrics
    A Pediatrics, answered on behalf of

    You can protect your child’s hearing with earplugs that fit in or over his ears. Have him wear hearing protection when you use loud equipment or shoot guns. If you are going somewhere and the music will be too loud, he can wear foam earplugs that fit in his ears.f

  • QCan supplements help improve the health of your ears?
    1 Answer
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    Dr. Michael Roizen, MD - Cleveland, OH - Internal Medicine
    A , Internal Medicine, answered
    It appears that two substances—folate and phytochemicals—might have some auditory advantages. Taking 800 micrograms of folate (which is also found in leafy green foods) has been shown to slow the loss of high-frequency sounds. Deficiencies in folate and vitamin B12 might affect both the nervous system and the vascular system associated with hearing. Hearing also benefits from phytochemicals, so the stronger the color of the fruit, the better. That means it contains high levels of these protective substances.

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  • QWhat are tonsils and adenoids?
    2 Answers
    A
    RealAge
    A answered
    Tonsils and adenoids are glands that are part of your body's lymphatic system and help to protect you from germs that enter your body through your mouth and nose. Your tonsils are two round lumps of tissue located at the back of your throat that you can see in a mirror if you open your mouth wide. Your adenoids are lymph tissues that are not visible through your mouth or nose, but sit high in your throat, behind your nose and above the roof of your mouth.

    Although tonsils and adenoids protect you from infection, they sometimes can become infected and some people have repeated infections that may include abscesses on the tonsils. In other people, tonsils and/or adenoids can become enlarged, causing problems with normal breathing, swallowing and sleeping. If these problems occur, your doctor may recommend surgical removal of the tonsils (tonsillectomy) and/or the adenoids (adenoidectomy).
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  • QWhat is the uvula?
    1 Answer
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    RealAge
    A answered
    The uvula is the small fleshy tissue that extends down from the soft palate of the roof of your mouth and dangles over the back of your tongue, looking a bit like the ringer inside of a bell. This combination of muscle and glandular tissue produces saliva and is also thought to be important to normal speech and swallowing.

    In some people, a long uvula can contribute to snoring by creating a noisy flutter during sleep. If the long uvula and/or soft palate cause breathing problems as well, surgery may be recommended.

    Some infants are born with a split (bifid) uvula, which can signal a cleft palate in the soft palate of the roof of the mouth. These infants may be watched carefully as they grow into toddlers for speech problems to determine whether surgery to repair the cleft palate is needed.
  • QWhat are vocal cords?
    1 Answer
    A
    RealAge
    A answered
    Vocal cords are two folds of tissue inside the larynx (voice box), located at the top of the windpipe, which are needed for normal talking, singing, breathing and swallowing. Your vocal cords open when you are breathing and close when you are swallowing or talking.

    In order for you to speak normally, air flows from your lungs to your vocal cords, causing your vocal cords to vibrate to produce sound. The pitch and sound of your voice are determined by the length and tension of your vocal cords, controlled by the muscles in your larynx. Your throat, nose and mouth are also involved in shaping those sounds into words, and notes (if you are singing) and adding resonance to your voice.

    If one or both of your vocal cords are malfunctioning, you will have voice problems. Some common vocal cord problems include:
    • laryngitis, a raspy or hoarse voice due to inflammation of the vocal cords
    • vocal nodules, noncancerous growths on the vocal cords caused by overuse or straining the voice
    • vocal polyps, blister-like growths on the vocal cords that can make your voice sound raspy or breathy
    • vocal cord paralysis, a common condition that occurs when one or both vocal cords don't open and close properly
    See your doctor if you experience hoarseness or other voice problems that last longer than two weeks.
  • QDo I need my tonsils?
    2 Answers
    A
    Johns Hopkins Medicine
    A answered

    Once considered a nuisance and frequently removed surgically, the tonsils do serve an immune system role. They are the respiratory system's first line of defense; trapping and neutralizing infections before they can migrate to the bronchial passages. Children's tonsils are large; they reach their maximum size around age six or seven and then start to shrink.

    Because of their continuous exposure to infections and germs, the tonsils sometimes become overwhelmed by infection, resulting in tonsillitis. There are no long term downsides to having your tonsils removed.

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  • QWhat is functional globus of the throat?
    1 Answer
    A
    Dr. William B. Salt, MD - Columbus, OH - Gastroenterology
    A , Gastroenterology, answered
    Studies show that, from time to time, most people experience a lump, foreign body sensation or sense of a ball in the throat when they have an intense emotional experience. The term globus is Latin for ball or globe. Functional globus is typically felt in the throat at the level of the Adam's apple. Globus must be distinguished from the medical problem called dysphagia, which occurs during eating and drinking.

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  • QWhy do ears grow with age?
    1 Answer
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    Dr. Arthur W. Perry, MD - Franklin Park, NJ - Plastic Surgery
    A , Plastic Surgery, answered
    You might find some teenagers with large noses, but big ears are just not found on young people. Well, here's the news flash: it turns out that scientists in Italy have confirmed - ears actually do grow as we age.

    That's right. Bones, stop growing after puberty and muscle and fat cells also stop dividing. But cartilage - that's the plastic-like stuff in ears and noses - cartilage continues to grow until the day you die. Not only does cartilage grow, but the earlobes elongate from gravity. And that makes ears look even larger.