Voice problems: When hoarseness lingers

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Waking up with a raspy voice after cheering for your favorite football team or singing your heart out at an all-night karaoke party with your coworkers is quite common. Throat soreness can also occur when one is down with the flu. But if hoarseness, or an abnormal change in the voice characterized by breathy, strained, rough, or raspy sound, persists for weeks, then it is pertinent to visit an otolaryngologist who’ll perform a thorough examination and assessment of the condition.

If the hoarseness is not the result of a cold or flu or is accompanied by difficulty in swallowing or pain when speaking, immediate medical attention is also needed. Moreover, evaluation by a physician is recommended if the hoarseness comes with a lump in the throat or difficulty in breathing.

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As a guide, below are three of the most common causes of hoarseness:

Acute laryngitis: This condition occurs when there is swelling of the vocal folds during a common cold, upper respiratory virus, or from vocal strain.

Benign vocal cord lesions: Prolonged hoarseness can lead to nodules, polyps, and cysts. Among those who are at risk of developing nodules, or callus-like growths on the vocal folds, are vocal performers such as singers. Vocal fold polyps and cysts meanwhile occur in those who gravely misuse or abuse their voice.

Vocal hemorrhage: A ruptured blood vessel results in blood leaking into the vocal fold. An indication of this condition is severe hoarseness or sudden loss of voice due to forceful, aggressive, or incorrect voice use. It is considered a serious condition and requires immediate medical attention.

Robert R. Beltran, M.D., specializes in head and neck plastic surgery and otolaryngology. For more on his medical practice, click here.

Solving bloody mysteries: Why people get occasional nosebleeds

Nosebleeds may be a common thing, but their causes are often unclear. These nosebleeds can also be managed and treated easily at home.

Do not be scared if you get a nosebleed for no reason. Here are reasons you get occasional, bloody instances:

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Mucous membrane inflammation. If you have allergies or upper respiratory problems, they could result in nosebleed.

You may have experienced trauma. Nosebleeds are normal after injuries, such as a blow to the head or another part of the body.

The air is dry. Dry air from indoor or outdoor settings can dry the lining of your nose—leading it to bleed.

You frequently pick or scratch your nose. Your blood vessels or the thin lining on the inside of your nose could be injured due to frequent picking.

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The next time you get a nosebleed, do not panic. To stop your nose from bleeding, apply pressure by pinching your nose closed just below its tip for about ten minutes. Insert cotton and apply ice to the bridge of your nose. If you are experiencing flu-like symptoms, too, blowing your nose can help stop the bleeding.

Robert R Beltran MD is an otolaryngologist based in Irvine, California. To read more about health and medical issues, visit this blog.

Feel better fast: Five natural remedies for sore throat

A sore throat indicates pain, itchiness, or irritation of the throat. Often caused by the inflammation of the pharynx, common symptoms include a dry throat, swollen neck glands, hoarseness, and white patches on the tonsils.

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There are several ways to reduce the pain of a sore throat. The following are five natural remedies that can be taken at home:

Honey. To speed up the healing of your throat, mix honey in tea or other hot beverages. An effective wound healer, honey has long been used for treating respiratory infections, coughs, and other illnesses.

Salt water. Gargle with warm salt water. Salt will help pull the mucus out of your swollen, inflamed tissue, relieving the discomfort caused by sore throat.

Peppermint. Studies show that peppermint contains anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and antiviral properties that help faster healing. You may mix peppermint to warm beverages to ease the pain.

Slippery Elm. Like salt, slippery elm has a mucus-like substance that coats and soothes the throat. Mix hot water with powdered bark of elm and drink it.

Licorice root. This plant is known as an effective gargle solution for sore throat. It can soothe your throat from pain and coughing.

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Remember, these are just remedies for simple cases of sore throat. If your sore throat persists for more than a week and is accompanied by other symptoms like fever or rash, it is advisable to visit your doctor.

This Dr. Robert R. Beltran blog shares more articles on management and treatment of diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, and throat.

How asthmatic people can maintain healthy sex lives

Asthma should not prevent people from having sex. Unfortunately for many couples, asthma has been a factor for a poor sex life and the severity of the condition has caused some couples to seek marriage counselling. Two-thirds of 350 people surveyed in 2011 had said that breathing conditions hampered their sex life. The results of the study were presented at the 96th International Conference of the American Thoracic Society, with the authors concluding that the relationship between asthma and sexual activity should be further studied and documented. It was suggested that as with certain types of exercise, sexual activity can trigger an asthma attack.

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Health professionals have come up with some solutions that could reduce the risk of an attack and improve a person’s sex life.

Experiment with positions: There could be positions that place more pressure on the chest area. These can cause shortness of breath or even invite more allergens to be inhaled (depending on where the bed is located as well). People with asthma should consider experimenting with positions that allow them to remain upright during sex. Not only will this reduce the risk of an attack, it can also improve a couple’s sex life.

Medicine first: Sex should be considered a strenuous physical activity and should follow the same procedures one would do before engaging in a sport. If the individual takes medications (like a bronchodilator), he or she should medicate before having sex. This, of course, should be approved by a medical professional beforehand.

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Full disclosure between the patient and his or her doctor is important. The medical professional can design a more effective plan for treating the condition so that the individual can lead a productive life.

Dr. Robert R. Beltran is an expert in otolaryngological conditions, having treated patients for years. Learn more about this field of medicine by liking this Facebook page.

A primer on tonsillar cellulitis

The study of otolaryngology involves understanding diseases and conditions related to the ear, nose, and throat. The more common conditions associated with this field are asthma and rhinitis. However, there are other illnesses that need to be recognized – particularly because of its severity and slow but steady growth among the population. One of these conditions is peritonsillar cellulitis. As mentioned earlier, this disease has slowly been spreading and due to it being relatively unknown, many people do not get the correct treatment.

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Peritonsillar cellulitis (or tonsillar cellulitis) is an infection affecting one of the two tonsils. This results in severe sore throat. While it can develop at any age, it typically affects individuals who frequently have sore throat and who take antibiotics. This is not an ordinary sore throat and needs to be treated immediately. Failure to do so may lead to severe pain when swallowing, voice changes, and even trouble opening one’s mouth due to the significant amount of swelling and pus that can develop. If the amount of pus (abscess) is too overwhelming, it may need to get drained before any antibiotic is prescribed. It must also be noted that individuals who have repeated cases of this condition may need to have to undergo surgery to remove their tonsils.

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Otolaryngologists recommend that individuals gargle regularly and drink plenty of water (enough to keep the urine pale yellow or clear) to minimize the risk of contracting this illness. Smoking must also be avoided as smoke inflames the tonsillar region. Individuals should seek professional assistance if their throat begins to swell or if they are having difficulty swallowing.  

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Robert R. Beltran, M.D., of Irvine, California, is the go-to otolaryngologist in the area. For related news and updates, like this Facebook page.

Discussing pregnancy rhinitis

Pregnancy is one of the most body-changing experiences a woman can undergo. Not only does the development of life change hormone levels, eating habits, and mental states, it also brings about a whole plethora of physical changes and specific conditions. One of these is pregnancy rhinitis.

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Pregnancy rhinitis is characterized by a stuffy nose and a generally uncomfortable nasal condition (constant sneezing, coughing, itchy nose, etc). It typically occurs during the first trimester of the pregnancy but has been known to affect women anytime during the entire term. Otolaryngologists suppose that the increased levels of estrogen and blood during the pregnancy enlarge the mucus membranes of the nasal passage, which causes the feelings of stuffiness.

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Pregnancy rhinitis should clear up within two weeks of giving birth. Treatments are rarely given to women while pregnant to protect the fetus. However, some women do suffer from severe episodes of rhinitis. For these cases, only three treatments are considered. These are: decongestants, antihistamines, or saline drops – the latter considered the safest and most recommended course. The first two options have been suggested to potentially have harmful effects against fetuses. While recent studies have refuted these claims, it is still best to discuss treatment options with one’s OB/GYN and Otolaryngologist.

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This type of rhinitis is similar to seasonal allergy in that it can be managed effectively through thorough research and proper activities such as drinking more fluids and sleeping with the head slightly elevated. A humidifier may also considered to control moisture levels.

Dr. Robert R. Beltran is a recognized otolaryngologist in Irvine, California. Learn more about his practice areas by following this Twitter account.

Differentiating cough-variant asthma from the standard condition

Asthma is a multileveled condition with many different varieties. One of the lesser known ones is the cough-variant type that is mainly characterized by a dry, non-productive cough (no mucous is expelled from the respiratory tract).

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Those with cough-variant asthma differ from patients with the standard condition in that they may or may not have the other classical symptoms such as wheezing or shortness of breath. This form of asthma may also be diagnosed as a chronic cough if it has lasted longer than six to eight weeks. The cough may occur at any time of the day and may be exacerbated by exercise (known as exercise-induced asthma) and exposure to allergy triggers such as dust or smoke.

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While cough-variant asthma may occur in anyone, children with childhood asthma are most at risk. There is also a danger that cough-variant asthma may eventually lead to classic asthma and its associative symptoms. Otolaryngologists warn that coughing may also follow an upper respiratory tract infection such as sinusitis. There has also been research that suggests that coughs following beta-blocking medications may be of the cough-variant asthma type. Beta-blockers are medications used to treat heart conditions, migraines, and glaucoma, among others.

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Those who believe they may have cough-variant asthma should immediately visit their nearest otolaryngologist. The condition may be difficult to diagnose (often being labelled as bronchitis or postnasal drip cough), but a proper inspection of the individual’s family history, current medication list (if any) and a simple asthma test should immediately provide the correct diagnosis.  

Seek proper medical advice from trusted otolaryngologist, Dr. Robert R. Beltran. Learn more by following this Twitter account.