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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.