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A recent study performed at Massachusetts General Hospital confirms the cost-effectiveness of nasal surgery to increase continuous positive airway pressure(CPAP) adherence in patients with nasal obstruction. The study was reported in the September 2016 issue of The Laryngoscope. For patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea(OSA), the recommended treatment is often CPAP, which delivers air through […]

Tinnitus(ringing in the ear) is the perception of noise when there is no external cause.  It may sound like humming, hissing, chirping, ringing, or whooshing.  It is usually a constant noise, but may be pulsatile, matching the rhythm of your heart beat.  Tinnitus may affect one or both ears. Tinnitus may be temporary, frequently occurring

According to a recent post in Men’s Health, scientists in France have found that the telomeres(the ends of chromosomes that degrade as we age)of men with severe sleep apnea were shorter than the telomeres of men without sleep apnea.  Men with moderate sleep apnea had shorter telomeres as well. Telomere shortening is associated with increased

A recent post in the New York Times discussed the amount of sleep needed for optimal function.  Many people think the can “get by” or teach themselves to need less sleep.  Numerous studies have shown that people do NOT adapt to less sleep than needed.  Symptoms of sleep deprivation may be subtle and can include

Many people believe that ear cleaning is part of routine hygiene maintenance.  However, other than cleaning the outside of your ears with a washcloth, ears are best left alone. Ears are self-cleaning-they are the only part of the body in which the skin grows in a direction, and brings the wax and skin debris out

It is common when flying to experience pressure in the ears, especially upon descent.  In some cases, the pressure persists, causing a clogged sensation and hearing loss.  In rare cases, there is severe pain in addition to the hearing loss. Ear discomfort when flying is called barotrauma.  It is caused by dysfunction of the eustachian

Sleep dysfunction is common in patients with chronic sinusitis, whether or not they also have obstructive sleep apnea(OSA).  According to a recent medical report, sinus surgery confers substantial improvements in sleep quality(JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2015;141:873-881). Patients with chronic sinusitis describe fatigue and poor sleep quality even if they have not been diagnosed with

Obstructive sleep apnea(OSA) is a common condition, affecting 5% to 7% of the population. Long-term untreated OSA is linked to cardiac arrhythmias, hypertension, and stroke. For patients with moderate to severe OSA, treatment with positive airway pressure(PAP or CPAP) is usually recommended. Treatment with PAP can reduce morbitity and is the gold standard of treatment

A recent column in The New York Times Magazine highlights the importance of clear nasal breathing. The author, Mark O’Connell, describes his nasal obstruction as a sense of “gradual asphyxiation”, and the negative impact it has on his ability to think clearly and write productively. “A blocked nose deadens the mind.” He enthusiastically describes the