What Causes Sinusitis?

All throughout your skull there are hollow cavities, called sinuses, that run through your cheeks, forehead, and behind your eyes. When your sinuses are clear, air travels through them freely. But if you have sinusitis, your sinuses are inflamed and swollen, making it difficult for air to pass through them.

The Three Main Types of Sinusitis

Sinusitis is a general term for inflamed sinuses, but the severity and frequency of your symptoms will determine which type of sinusitis you have.

• Acute sinusitis is the most common type of sinusitis, affecting more than 3 million people in the United States. Typically, acute sinusitis is caused by a cold or allergies and will go away within a few weeks with the help of home remedies.   
• Chronic sinusitis can last for several months or years. Nasal congestion and postnasal drip are the most common symptoms and can cause someone to develop a chronic cough and congestion.  
• Recurrent sinusitis is defined as short, but frequent episodes of acute sinusitis. Patients with recurrent sinusitis can experience the symptoms of a sinus infection for only a few days or weeks at a time, however this happens several times a year. Just like chronic sinusitis, this can severely impact your quality of life. 

Causes of Sinusitis

Sinusitis can be caused by a number of things, but the most common ones are:

• Nasal polyps. Though they’re non-cancerous, these small growths can block your airways or become infected, leading to sinusitis. 
• Deviated septum. If your septum (the wall between your nasal passage) is crooked, either from a birth defect or from an accident, it can block and irritate your sinuses. 
• A medical illness or disease. Cystic fibrosis, GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), HIV, and other immune system-related conditions can all affect your sinuses. 
• Asthma. Asthma greatly affects your breathing, which can lead to inflamed sinuses. 
• Allergies. Inflammation caused by allergies, especially hay fever, can block your sinuses.    

If you think you have a sinus infection, the specialists at Florida ENT can quickly and accurately cure your symptoms. We encourage you to give our Sinus & Facial Plastics Institute a call to schedule an appointment. To schedule an appoint, give us a call at (877) EAR-NOSE! 

30 Health and Wellness Tips for College Students

We hate to say it, but it’s almost that time. Yup, it’s almost time to head back to school. Between the limited choices of a school cafeteria and a demanding class schedule, it can be hard for college students to stay healthy. So as you pack your blankets, clothes, and chargers, take some of these health and wellness tips to school with you too.

Food and Drinks 

1. Especially in buffet style food halls, avoid eating too much by learning proper portion size.
2. Drink alcohol rarely and in moderation.
3. It’s the most important meal of the day for a reason, so don’t skip breakfast!
4. Drink plenty of water.
5. Limit between-class snacking.
6. Take a daily multi vitamin.
7. When you feel stressed, don’t cope by skipping meals or binge eating.

Exercise

8. Make time in your schedule to exercise two to three time a week.
9. Stretch before and after you exercise.
10. Walk to and from class instead of driving or taking the bus.
11. Make exercise fun by joining a sports team or exercise group.

Sleep 

12. Don’t take long naps in between classes — they’ll make it more difficult to fall asleep at night.
13. Don’t do homework in bed.
14. On the day you move in, talk to your roommate about general sleep rules.
15. Don’t drink caffeine after 4 p.m.
16. Keep your room quite and dark at night.

Illness

17. Wash your hands several times a day, especially after going to the bathroom.
18. Don’t go to class if you’re sick.
19. If you’re sick and your symptoms aren’t clearing up, go to your school’s health center or a doctor.
20. Get a flu shot at the start of each flu season (October - February).
21. Try over-the-counter and natural remedies if you feel a cold or sinus infection coming on.

Mental Health 

22. If you feel like you need help, don’t be afraid to ask for it.
23. Find healthy ways to cope with stress, like exercise, yoga, meditation, and therapy.
24. Spend one day a month volunteering.
25. Get involved in groups and clubs on campus.
26. Set goals for yourself, whether academic, personal, professional, or emotional.

General Health 

27. Quit smoking.
28. Wear comfortable, supportive shoes when walking to and from class.
29. Never get behind the wheel of a car after drinking alcohol.
30. Protect your hearing by not listening to loud music.

Florida Ear Nose Throat & Facial Plastic Surgery Center. located in Orlando, FL, is an otolaryngology and facial plastics practice committed to providing our patients with the highest quality and personal care, as well as most advanced technology by a Harvard trained, double boarded facial plastic and head and neck surgeon. 

Allergy Kit Must-Haves

It’s hard to enjoy the blossoming trees and budding flowers when they’re the cause of your itchy, watering eyes and sneezing fits. But rejoice! With an allergy kit, you can keep your allergies under control and enjoy the great outdoors all season long. Before you head out for the day, make sure you always have these few items in your bag.

Eye Drops 

When allergies leave your eyes red and irritated, lubricated eye drops or artificial tears can help soothe your eyes. But, eye drops won’t only make your eyes feel better, they’ll actually help clean and protect them as well.

Decongestant

Congestion is caused by a number of factors, like swelling, an overproduction of mucus, and narrowing of your nasal passage. A decongestant will help shrink swollen nasal tissue and open up your sinuses.

Nasal Spray

If you suffer from the opposite of congestion — ie: dry nose — than you should always have nasal spray on hand. But don't rely on sprays too much, as many sprays can actually make your symptoms worse if used for more than three days in a row.

Lotion

If blowing your nose all day has left you with dry skin around your nose and mouth, throw some lotion on it. Just make sure the lotion you choose is dye and scent-free.

Your Inhaler

Allergies can exacerbate asthma symptoms, causing people to have more frequent, or more intense asthma attacks during allergy season.

Injectable Epinephrine (Epipen) 

If your allergies are so severe that they’re life threatening (this is more common with food allergies, but can still apply to some seasonal allergies) your doctor may prescribe you an epipen. Even when you're not at risk for an allergy attack, you should always have your epipen close by and know how to use it properly.

If you're suffering from allergies this spring or summer, we encourage you to make an appointment at Florida Ear Nose Throat. We offer the most advanced allergy screening, allergy management, and immunotherapy treatments available. To schedule an appointment, give us a call at (877) EAR-NOSE!  

Three Types of Sleep Apnea Explained

No one likes being the person who snores, or worse — being next to someone who snores. But while snoring is often categorized as a quirky inconvenience, it could be a sign of a larger problem — sleep apnea.

The Three Types of Sleep Apnea

Generally speaking, sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes a person to stop breathing throughout the night. There are three main types of sleep apnea:

Obstructive Sleep Apnea

This is the most common form, and causes your throat muscles to relax. When your muscles relax, your airway narrows, making it difficult for air to pass through. When this happens, your brain sends signals to your muscles, forcing them to quickly tighten and allow air in — this is typically what causes people to wake up throughout the night.

Central Sleep Apnea

This form of sleep apnea occurs when your brain doesn’t send the correct, or any, signals to muscles that control your breathing. This means that for short periods of time (typically 5 - 20 seconds), you're making no effort to breath in your sleep. People who suffer from this will typically wake up coughing or choking, or with shortness of breath.

Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome

This occurs when you have both obstructive and central sleep apnea.

Risk Factors

Though anyone can develop sleep apnea, there are several factors that make a person more likely to have the disorder.

• Being male: Men are twice as likely as women to have sleep apnea.
• Age: Sleep apnea occurs more frequently in adults and the elderly.
• Alcohol before bed: Alcohol, as well as other sedatives, relax the muscles in your throat.
• Being overweight: People who are obese are four times more likely to develop sleep apnea, since excess fat around the chest and throat can contribute to difficulty breathing.

When to See a Doctor

While occasional restless nights or light snoring is normal, you should consult a doctor if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Your snoring wakes others throughout the night.
• You wake up in the middle of the night choking or gasping for air.
• Your partner tells you that you stop breathing throughout the night.
• You are tired during the day, despite getting eight hours of sleep.

At Florida ENT, we offer state of the art, individualized treatment for those who suffer from sleep apnea. From diagnosis to treatment plan, we can have you breathing easy in no time. To learn more about sleep apnea or the services we provide, give us a call today at (877) EAR-NOSE.