7 Ways to Improve Your Hearing

In the past, we’ve talked about the many ways you can prevent hearing loss, especially as you age. But did you know that there are a number of ways to improve your hearing, even when you’re young and already have generally good hearing?  

Clean your ears. Cleaning your ears is incredibly important, especially in the summer when you’re in and out of pools. But before you reach for the Q-tips in your bathroom, you should know that these little cotton swabs can actually puncture your eardrum. Instead, you should get a device like the Oto-Tip that can be safely inserted into your ear to remove ear wax.

Quit smoking, or never start. One of the main risks associated with smoking is cancer, specifically cancer of the mouth, lungs, and throat. But cigarettes impact almost every aspect of your health, including your hearing.

Exercise more. Exercising won’t just make your heart and muscles stronger, it’ll also help your brain process incoming stimuli (which includes sound).

Don’t eat too much salt. Salt causes you to retain more water throughout your body, including your ears. A build-up of fluid in your ears can then impact your hearing and even lead to ear infections.

Put down the headphones. Especially when doing homework or working in the office, having your headphones in is almost a necessity. But while you may enjoy the music, your ears don’t. Don’t get us wrong, having your headphones in for an hour or two is perfectly fine, but you shouldn’t exceed more than that in a day. If you still want to listen to music, place a speaker on the other side of the room and enjoy your tunes the safe way!

Get a good night’s sleep. A good night’s sleep is necessary for a number of reasons, one of them being your hearing. Sleep anea and hearing loss are more closely associated than you may think. If you have sleep apnea, your hearing may be at risk too. To improve your quality and quantity of sleep, you should consider quitting smoking, keeping your room cooler, adjusting the humidity in your room, and losing weight.

Protect your ears. People who work in construction or manufacturing (or any number of notoriously noisy professions) should wear protective ear muffs. You should also wear them when attending concerts or loud sports games.

If you believe you’re suffering from hearing loss, contact Dr. Han at Florida ENT. Utilizing the latest advances in medicine and state-of-the-art techniques, our goal is to treat our patients with comfort and compassion. To learn more about the services we provide, please call us today at 407-944-3340 to schedule an appointment.  

What is a Rhytidectomy?

Wouldn’t it be great if there was a way to turn back the clock? No, we’re not talking about the fountain of youth, we’re talking about a rhytidectomy — but you may know of it as a facelift. Years of sun damage, the effects of gravity, and diet can take a toll on your skin, causing it to sag and wrinkle. But luckily, this simple and common procedure can help take years off the look of your face.

Am I a Good Candidate?

Between their skin type, desires, and lifestyle, every person is unique. The best candidates for a facelift are those between 40 and 70, don’t smoke, have elastic skin, and show one or more of the below signs of ageing:

• Mid-face sagging.
• Deep creases under the eyes.
• Nasolabial folds.
• Jowls.
• Sagging fat.
• Loose skin and fat under the chin and jaw.

The Procedure

At Florida ENT, a rhytidectomy is an outpatient procedure, meaning you’ll be back home and in your own bed the night of the procedure. We offer patients two types of procedures, a traditional rhytidectomy and a limited-incision rhytidectomy.

• Traditional Rhytidectomy: A traditional rhytidectomy can be thought of as a “full facelift.” During this procedure, your surgeon will make an incision that starts at your temple and travels down behind your earlobe and ends at your hairline. Now, your surgeon will be able to rejuvenate your face by lifting your jowl and neck, redistributing fat, and repositioning facial muscles and tissue.
• Limited-Incision Rhytidectomy: As its name implies, a limited-incision rhytidectomy is less invasive than a traditional. During this procedure, your surgeon will focus mostly on improving and lifting the skin around your eyes and lips, typically by making small incisions near your temple, lower eyelids and occasionally just above or below the lips.

Tips for Recovering from a Rhytidectomy

Depending on the type of surgery you choose, the recovery time can be anywhere between one and several weeks. For the best results, we suggest that patients:

• Rest in bed and do not attempt any strenuous activity.
• Do not exercise or even perform heavy housework until cleared by their doctor.
• For the first two weeks, patients should avoid alcohol, saunas, and steam rooms.

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.

5 Foods to Eat for Better Respiratory Health

We all know that what we eat affects our overall health. But are there certain foods that can target one part of the body — specifically, our respiratory system? New research suggests, yes! Whether you suffer from asthma or are feeling the beginnings of a cold, here are a few foods you can eat to boost your respiratory system.

Pears. Pears full of water, fiber, and vitamin C, making them a great snack or addition to any meal. But in addition to the overall health benefits they provide, they can also help reduce the amount of phlegm a person produces.

Apples. It looks like an apple a day may keep your ENT specialist away! A recent British study found that people who ate between three and five apples a day were 32 percent less likely to suffer from asthma. Why is this you ask? Apples contain a compound called khellin which has been known to open up airways.

Cantaloupe. Cantaloupes (as well as other citrus fruits) are high in vitamin C, which can protect your lungs by fighting off free radicals in the body. A study of preschool aged children in Japan found that those who ate higher-than-average amounts of vitamin C were less likely to suffer from asthma as adults.

Coffee. Good news for all you coffee lovers out there! Caffeinated coffee has been shown to improve airway function for nearly an hour after being ingested because it's a bronchodilator. But before you reach for that second (or third, or fourth) cup, remember that coffee is only beneficial when had in moderation!  

Almonds. Almonds are packed with nutritional value, so you should try to make them a part of your regular diet. But, almonds can be even more beneficial to those suffering from asthma or congestion. Almonds are an anti-inflammatory and can soothe an inflamed or irritated throat.  

If these foods just aren’t doing enough to control your asthma or allergies, 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.

Are These Cigarette "Alternatives" as Healthy as They Claim?

We've learned a lot about cigarettes since they made their way to the United States in the late 1800s. Most notably — they're detrimental to your health. Today, we know that roughly 1 in 5 deaths in the United States are caused by smoking. Because of this startling statistic, many people have chosen to replace cigarettes with these alternative smoking and tobacco products. But are they as healthy as they claim? Unfortunately, they’re not.

Hookahs

Hookahs have been marketed towards young people as a safe alternative to smoking because it primarily uses water. Unfortunately, these claims are false. The water in no way filters or eliminates the toxins found in hookah, like carbon monoxide, nicotine, tar, and types of heavy metals.

Hand-rolled Cigarettes

When compared to traditional cigarettes smokers, hand-rolled cigarette smokers have higher risks of several types of cancer, including cancer of the larynx (voice box), esophagus, mouth, and throat.

Herbal Cigarettes

Herbal cigarettes quickly got a reputation as a “healthy” cigarette, because they don’t contain any tobacco. But tobacco isn’t the only harmful ingredient in cigarettes. Just like traditional cigarettes, herbal cigarettes produce tar and carbon monoxide.

Menthol Cigarettes

Menthol cigarettes are especially popular among younger people and those new to smoking because they’re not as harsh as traditional cigarettes. Because of this, people who smoke menthols tend to take bigger puffs, smoke more often, and hold the smoke in their lungs longer than those who smoke traditional cigarettes — making them just as susceptible to certain types of mouth, throat, and lung cancers.

The Takeaway

The best way to protect your health is to not smoke cigarettes of any kind or to quit if you already do. The American Cancer Society provides several methods and tips to help people quit smoking.

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.

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!