ENT: All About Your Ear, Nose & Throat Health

Did you know that sleep apnea is one of the most critical ENT diseases? In this section, get to know about the various ear nose and throat diseases, the areas they effect, and their remedies.

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ENT

Wondering what is ENT? It stands for ear nose throat. It is a popular term to refer to an ENT specialist, an otolaryngologist, or to the region in your body that is overseen by this specialized doctor. The doctors who specialize in ENT or otolaryngology treat conditions that affect your throat, nose and ears. Conducting head and neck surgery also falls under the responsibilities of an ENT specialist. Read on to know about ENT diseases treated by an otolaryngologist, and how you can watch out for them.

List of ear, nose, and throat diseases treated by ENT doctors

Ear diseases

Ears help us not only in hearing, but also to maintain our balance. Here are the ear conditions that an ENT specialist addresses:

Chronic pain in ear
Dysfunction of the eustachian tube
Conditions in the inner ear, such as Meniere’s disease
Vertigo or dizziness
Ear infections
Otosclerosis
Fractures in temporal bone
Impacted earwax
Loss of hearing ability
Tinnitus
Damaged eardrum
Tumors inside ears
Fluid accumulation in middle ear

Nose diseases

Our nose helps us to breathe and smell. Nasal conditions that fall under the responsibilities of ENT doctors are the following:

Rhinitis
Nosebleeds
Sinusitis
Postnasal drip
Nasally obstructed breathing
Nasal polyps
smell disorders
deviated septum

Throat diseases

Any condition in your throat affects functions like speaking, breathing and swallowing foods or liquids. Throat conditions treated by an ENT specialist include the following:

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
Airway issues like subglottic stenosis
Hoarseness in the voice
Conditions affecting the tonsils and adenoids
Swallowing disorders
Snoring
Sore throat
Laryngitis
Disorders in vocal cord
Tumors in your throat

Allergies or allergic rhinitis

Common symptoms include:

Watery eyes
Congestion
Sneezing
Red and itchy eyes
Post-nasal drip
Itchy nose
Dark circles visible around the eyes

Sleep apnea

This condition is marked by momentary stoppage in breathing while you are sleeping. Sleep apnea may have a link with your diet, lifestyle choice or genes. Here are a few possible identifying traits of sleep apnea:

Restlessness
Sleepiness throughout the day
Rapid mood swings
Frequent break in sleep during night
Loud snores caused by breathlessness during sleep
Headache and dry throat after waking up

Head and neck conditions

Apart from the usual ENT diseases, an otolaryngologist also treats the following conditions related to head and neck region.

Conditions related to thyroid
Infections of the head or neck
Tumors developed in your head or neck
Neck masses developed by birth
Any type of deformities or injuries in your face, such as reconstructive or plastic surgery
Free flap reconstruction

How to keep your ear, nose and throat in proper condition

Now that you know about the diseases an ENT specialist treats, it is important to take precautionary measures to keep those conditions at bay. Here’s how you can look after the health of your ear, nose and throat:

Protect your ear in the following ways
Stay away from active or passive smoking
Maintain distance from people who have contagious respiratory infections
If you have allergies, make sure to get the problem diagnosed and start treatment
Protect yourself from sinus infections in the following ways
In case you have a cold, keep your nasal passages unblocked with the help of a nasal spray
Avoid transportation by flight if you have a cold; if it is the only option, make sure to nasal spray or decongestant to keep your nasal passage free
If you have severe sinusitis, take saline nasal spray
Protect yourself from sore throat in the following ways
Follow good hygiene practices such as washing your hands frequently
Stay away from smoking
If the air quality of the place you are in is poor, spend as much time outdoors as possible
In case you are having esophageal reflux, get started with the treatment
Protect yourself from sleep apnea in the following ways
Do not take alcohol or sedatives before going to bed
Make sure to have a healthy body weight
Stay away from smoking
Visit an ENT specialist to check whether you have polyps, tonsilitis, or other conditions, which are causing airway obstruction

Areas in which ENT doctors may further specialize:

Pediatrics
Neurology
Sleep medicine
Cancers of the head and neck
Sinus conditions
Reconstructive surgery
Allergies
Balance problems
Cosmetic surgery
Swallowing issues
Vocal conditions

While it is important to take care of the health of your ear, nose and throat, there are times like change of season, or situations like travelling to a new place, which can affect your otolaryngeal system. For best advice, you can consult an ENT specialist online on Bajaj Finserv Health. Choose from 8,400+ doctors across 45+ specialties consulting in 17+ languages. You can decide a time of consultation as per your flexibility on this app or website.

To get coverage for all ENT conditions and more, you can also buy a Complete Health Solution Plan under Aarogya Care and enjoy a comprehensive healthcare cover for yourself and your family. Here are a few benefits that come with these medical insurance plans: