How your ENT specialist in Wayne, NJ, can help you breathe better

Struggling to breathe can be harmful to you, both physically and mentally, making you anxious about participating in activities and fearful of your future. Fortunately, your ear, nose, and throat specialist can help. Read on to learn how Dr. Frank L. Kardos in Wayne, NJ, can diagnose and treat the cause of your breathing problem, and help you breathe better.

Possible Causes

Allergies can cause significant breathing difficulties. Whether you suffer from seasonal allergies like hay fever, or environmental allergies like mold, pet dander, or dust mites, your ENT specialist can help by discovering what you are allergic to. Skin tests are one of the most effective ways of determining what triggers your allergy symptoms. Treatment for allergies may include:

• Prescription-strength antihistamines and decongestants
• Allergy shots and/or sublingual immunotherapy
• Counseling on how to avoid allergy triggers

Allergies may go hand-in-hand with asthma. Asthma can cause severe breathing problems, including sudden asthma attacks which can be life-threatening. Asthma can be effectively treated with inhalers to provide short term relief, and medications to provide long-term relief. You may have asthma if you are:

• Chronically coughing and wheezing
• Having trouble breathing during physical activity
• Feeling a tightness or heaviness in your chest
• Experiencing chronic, recurring bronchitis

If you are having breathing problems while you sleep, this could also be a sign of sleep apnea, which is another common condition that your ENT specialist is an expert at treating. Sleep apnea is caused by the tissue at the back of your throat relaxing and blocking your airway while you sleep. If you wake up with a gasping, choking sensation or have been told that you snore loudly at night, you might have sleep apnea.

Sleep apnea is diagnosed through the help of a sleep study. The condition can be effectively treated by wearing a continuous positive airway pressure machine, known as a CPAP, or using an oral mandibular advancement appliance. Your ENT specialist can help you decide which is the best choice for you.

Concerned? Give Us a Call

These are just a few common causes of breathing problems. To learn more about how we can help you breathe easier, call Dr. Frank L. Kardos in Wayne, NJ, by dialing (973) 956-1200.

Acute sinus infections and inflammation usually clear up on their own, and the symptoms can be managed with over the counter medication, just like the common cold. Sinus problems can be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, in which case you might require antibiotics. Chronic sinus problems can also be a sign of a middle ear infection. Dr. Frank Kardos, an ear, nose, and throat doctor in Wayne, NJ, recommends that you schedule an appointment if your sinus symptoms last for more than a week and don't clear up with over the counter medication, or if they continue to flare up over a prolonged time period.

Sinus Treatment in Wayne, NJ

Sometimes it's hard to tell if you have a sinus infection because they can occur in conjunction with and share many of the same symptoms as the flu or the common cold. The most common signs and symptoms of chronic sinusitis include:

• Nasal inflammation
• Deep nasal congestion and difficulty breathing through the nose
• Thick nasal discharge or drip down the back of the throat
• Facial tenderness and swelling around the sinuses (sinus pain can also extend to the jaw and feel like a toothache)
• Compromised sense of smell and/or taste
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Cough
• Halitosis
• Fatigue and exhaustion

Cause of Chronic Sinusitis

Chronic sinusitis can be triggered by a few factors such as:

• Allergies
• Nasal polyps (tissue growths)
• Deviated septum
• Bacterial or viral infection

If you don't feel better (or continue to feel worse) and your symptoms don't improve with over the counter medication, home remedies, or rest after about a week, schedule an appointment to rule out a bacterial infection or other complication.

Some of the standard sinus treatment options for chronic sinusitis are:

• Nasal, oral, or injectable corticosteroids
• Nasal irrigation with saline
• Antibiotics
• Immunotherapy to manage allergies when they are identified as the underlying cause
• Endoscopic surgery to open the nasal passage (if conservative treatments are ineffective)

Find an Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Doctor in Wayne, NJ

For more information about sinus treatment for chronic sinus infections, contact our office by calling (973) 956-1200 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Kardos today.

Many people experience dizziness on occasion and most of the time there is nothing to be concerned about. It is important to see an ear, nose and throat doctor, though, if you are experiencing severe or ongoing dizziness. Persistent or severe dizziness is sometimes a sign of other health concerns or conditions, such as an inner ear infection or vertigo. Dr. Frank Kardos is your ear, nose and throat (ENT) doctor for the treatment of dizziness in Wayne, NJ.

Causes of Dizziness

The sensation of feeling dizzy often results when our brains perceive us to be off balance. The inner ear sends signals to the brain that help with maintaining a sense of balance. The signals provide the brain with information about the body’s movements and positioning. A feeling of dizziness can occur when the signals from the inner ear misfire or are blocked and do not make it to the brain. Additionally, ear infections, poor circulation, neurological problems, and other conditions can interfere with the signals as they travel to the brain, which can lead to dizziness.

There are several common causes of dizziness. An ENT doctor can diagnose the cause of your dizziness and recommend an appropriate treatment. Specific conditions that can produce a sensation of dizziness include:

• Migraines
• Meniere’s Disease
• Acoustic Neuroma
• Inner ear infections
• Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo

Treatments for Dizziness

Occasional instances of dizziness that are infrequent do not necessarily require treatment, but persistent dizziness should be treated promptly by an ENT doctor. Treatments for dizziness include medications, such as antibiotics or antihistamines, and balance exercises. Medications treat dizziness by reducing inflammation or clearing up infections in the inner ear that were interfering with the signals being sent to the brain. An ENT doctor who treats dizziness in Wayne could recommend the appropriate treatment options based on the cause of your dizziness.

There are several common causes of dizziness, such as inner ear infections or vertigo. An ENT doctor can identify the cause of your dizziness and prescribe the right treatment. For the treatment of dizziness in Wayne, NJ, schedule an appointment with Dr. Kardos by calling the office at (973) 956-1200.

Are you suffering from breathing problems?

Your Wayne, NJ, doctor is an expert when it comes to breathing problems and can help determine what the issue is and how to treat it. The nose has three main functions: warm, humidify, and filter air that passes into the body. When there is something wrong with your breathing, or you suffer from breathing issues, this may impact one or multiple bodily functions.

More About Breathing Problems

• Breathing problems can be temporary or chronic, mild, or severe.
• Breathing issues increase with age.
• Breathing problems are assessed using breathing tests: lung function tests, X-rays and CT scans.

What are common breathing problems?

• Allergies: When an allergen enters the body, the immune system is what causes symptoms typically associated with allergies, like hay fever, headaches, sneezing, watery or itchy eyes, nasal congestion, and scratchy throat. There are many allergic substances and not everyone reacts the same to each substance. To treat allergies, you should reduce exposure to the allergen, take medication, antihistamines, and nasal decongestants, or, for severe cases, allergy shots.
   
• Deviated Septum: The septum is a vertical structure that divides the two nasal passages. If the septum is crooked or bent, it is called a deviated septum, and can block the flow of air through the nose. Surgery may be needed to correct this issue.
   
• Environmental Factors: Molds, dust, and dry air are common environmental allergy culprits that induce allergies.
   
• Sinusitis: This is the inflammation of sinus tissue behind both upper cheeks. People experience congestion and pressure, sometimes in response to moving up and down. People suffering from sinusitis have symptoms of watery eyes, but many over-the-counter medications treat mild sinusitis.

Need a consultation?

If you’re experiencing persistent breathing problems, please contact your doctor's Wayne, NJ, office and schedule an appointment by calling (973) 956-1200 today!

Hearing aids aren't a one-size-fits-all solution to hearing loss. Finding the ideal aid for you is the key to improving your hearing and your ability to enjoy life. Hearing testings and hearing aids are among the services provided by Wayne, NJ, ENT Dr. Frank Kardos.

Analog hearing aids

Analog hearing aids amplify sound waves that have been turned into electrical signals. These hearing aids offer controls that are easy to use and are the least expensive hearing aid option. Screeching or whistling feedback can occasionally occur if you have an analog hearing aid. The aids also don't filter extraneous sounds as well as digital hearing aids.

Digital hearing aids

Digital hearing aids turn sound waves into codes that contain information about pitch, volume, and sound direction. The hearing aids adjust automatically to changing sound levels, are excellent at filtering out background noise and can be programmed to address your hearing loss pattern. Although digital hearing aids do filter background noise, they can't eliminate it completely.

Where will you wear your hearing aid?

In addition to deciding between an analog or digital hearing aid, you'll also need to choose where you'll wear the aid, which your Wayne ENT can help you decide. Choices include:

• Mini or Traditional Behind-The-Ear Hearing Aids: These hearing aids hook over your ear but also include a component that fits inside your ears. The hearing aids are good choices no matter the degree of your hearing loss and are easy to control. Mini behind-the-ear-hearing aids only require you to place a small tube in your ear and can be more comfortable than traditional behind-the-ear aids.
• Completely-In-The-Canal Hearing Aids: These hearing aids are inserted deep in your ear canal, making them completely unnoticeable. The hearing aids are recommended for mild hearing loss, but can be a little difficult to insert and remove and may feel a little uncomfortable at first.
• In-The-Canal Hearing Aids: In-the-canal hearing aids aren't inserted as deeply as completely-in-the-canal aids, but still aren't very noticeable. These aids may also be slightly uncomfortable until you adjust to them and can clog due to earwax.
• Traditional In-The-Ear Hearing Aids: Traditional hearing aids fit just inside the opening of the ear and are completely visible. They're a good choice for mild to severe hearing loss, but they have a shorter battery life than some other types of hearing aids.

Your ENT doctor can help you evaluate hearing aid types and choose the best one for you. Call your Wayne, NJ, ENT Dr. Frank Kardos at (973) 956-1200 to schedule your appointment.