Understanding the Types and Causes of Hearing Loss

Hearing loss is the third most common problem, affecting more than 36 million people in the country. The loss of hearing has a significant effect on the quality of life. Every individual needs to understand the types of hearing problem and the basic reasons that lead to the problem. The blog discusses the causes of the problem, its types, and possible treatment audiologist in Houston, TX or any other area recommends:

Causes of Hearing Loss

Physical Condition

Age, genetics, and illness are certain conditions that may lead to hearing loss. Advanced age is a another common cause of the problem. One out of three individuals aged 65-74 have some type of hearing loss, and the ratio increases with the age group.

Noisy Environment

Loud noise and lots of medications are two common reasons of hearing loss. Continuous exposure to loud noise affects the hearing ability of an individual. Those working at noisy workplaces or involved in noisy lines of work such as mining, transportation, and military are more prone to suffer from the problem.

Medications

There are more than 200 medicines and chemicals with the record of triggering hearing side effects. Some of the medications include loop diuretics (drug to treat malaria), chemotherapy drugs, several erectile dysfunction treatment drugs, and aspirin.

Types of Hearing Loss

Conductive Hearing Loss

Problems in the ear drum, middle ear, ear canal, and little bones cause hearing loss.

Causes: Malformation of the ear canal, outer ear, or middle ear structure, fluid in middle ear because of cold, ear infection, allergy, poor eustachian tube function, benign tumor, perforated eardrum, impacted earwax, infection in the ear canal, and otosclerosis.

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Problems in the inner ear cause sensorineural hearing loss. Sensorineural hearing loss is also known as the nerve-related hearing loss.

Causes: Head trauma, exposure to loud noise, virus or disease, hereditary hearing loss, autoimmune inner ear disease, aging, Meniere's disease, tumor, otosclerosis, and malformation of the inner ear.

Mixed Hearing Loss

It is a combination of conductive and sensorineural hearing loss. There is a possibility of damage either in the outer or middle ear and inner ear or auditory nerve.

Causes: Mixed hearing loss could be because of any of the above-mentioned reasons behind hearing loss.

Last Few Words

Seeking the consultation of an audiologist is advisable upon noticing hearing problem. There are certain medications and devices available to bring relief to the patient, improve the lifestyle, and treat the problem.

Everything you Need to Know About Tinnitus

Tinnitus is the ringing, clicking, buzzing or any other type of the noise in the ears or head, which originates from no external source. It is not an illness but a symptom of any other condition such as ear trauma, infection, hearing loss, anemia, overactive thyroid, Meniere's disease, and several other problems. The blog discusses more about the disease, symptoms, and treatment an audiologist in Houston, TX or any other state would prescribe:

Symptoms of Tinnitus

Tinnitus is not a severe problem in many cases, but it could be extremely disturbing for the patient. A person suffering from Tinnitus hears a buzzing or ringing noise. The sound sometimes is accompanied by dizziness and hearing loss, also known as Meniere's disease.

Diagnosis of Tinnitus

During the initial medical evaluation, the doctor asks for the complete history of the patient and performs a physical examination of head and neck. A hearing test, also known as audiogram, is performed to detect the problem. The doctor also checks the blood pressure and prescribes some blood tests to evaluate the functioning of thyroid gland. The doctor performs a spinal tap, in a rare case, to check the fluid pressure in the skull and spinal cord.

When to Seek Medical Care?

Tinnitus is usually a symptom of a hidden medical problem and an individual needs to see the doctor if the problem begins all of a sudden. There's no treatment for tinnitus, but the doctor treats the underlying condition that is causing the problem. If, for instance, the patient has an ear infection that is causing tinnitus, the doctor prescribes antibiotics to treat both the conditions. The treatment of tinnitus depends on its cause. The doctor might recommend medications, lifestyle changes, biofeedback and stress management techniques to the patient.

Other things to take care of

There's no one treatment for tinnitus unless the doctor finds out the underlying cause of the problem and treats it. Patients may adopt certain measures, change their lifestyle, and practice therapies to reduce the disturbing impact of tinnitus. A few things to take care of include:

• If tinnitus bothers an individual when trying to sleep, the sound of radio, white noise machine or a fan might bring relief
• Symptoms of tinnitus might get worse when an individual is under stress. It is advisable to look for some stress relaxation techniques
• Avoid caffeine as this alleviates the problem
• Avoid intake of aspirin products in large quantity

It is important that the patient follows up with the doctor for further tests and evaluation of tinnitus. If the tinnitus is not because of any other illness, the patient needs to take the medication and undergo therapy recommended by the doctor.

7 Easy Tips to Prevent Allergic Asthma Attacks

Allergies are a common health issue in the US, with symptoms ranging from sneezing, watery eyes to nasal congestion. It a result of the body immune system’s response to substances that are not actually dangerous. Simply put, allergies happen when the body produces antibodies that mistakenly identify harmless substances such as dust and pollen as invaders. In some cases, this allergic response affects your airways and lungs, leading to asthma. Though visiting an allergy and asthma clinic can get you the right treatment plan, taking some precautionary measures can keep allergens at bay. 

Here are seven useful tips in this direction. 

1. Clear your bedroom from stuffed toys and carpet

Carpet and stuffed toys capture a lot of dust. In fact, carpets installed over concrete floors prevent the evaporation of moisture and lead to mold. Therefore, people who are allergic to dust and pollen should either remove carpets from the floors or clean them up at least twice a week using a high-quality vacuum cleaner. 

2. Don’t allow pets on bed or furniture

Many people are fond of pets and treat them as their family members. Pet dander, however, is one of the biggest triggers that causes asthma attacks. If you are asthmatic, keep your pets off the bed and other furniture. 

3. Avoid getting exposed to secondhand smoke

Inhaling smoke, produced from any source, is a big ‘no’ if you have asthma. This is why you should avoid getting exposed to passive or secondhand smoke. Shun the public places and smoking zones at the workplace to control exposure to smoke. Furthermore, ensure you have smoke-free indoor spaces at your home. 

4. De-stress

Stress worsens asthma symptoms and may even aggravate the issue. People suffering from asthma should, therefore, avoid stress, whether it is related to personal or professional life. Meditating daily can help reduce stress and improve your mental/physical health. 

5. Limit your movement during the ragweed season 

The air we breathe undeniably plays a substantial role in our health and well-being. As dust and pollen trigger allergies and also cause asthma attacks, limit your movement during the ragweed season or use a mask if you suffer from allergies. In addition, avoid staying too much in warm and humid weather condition, as it may worsen the allergic reaction.  

6. Wash your hair at night

Washing your hair before going to bed is an effective way to rinse out the pollens, especially if you regularly use a gel or mousse. When you wash your hair, the trapped pollens get wiped and prevent allergic reaction while sleeping. 

7. Avoid using houseplants

Houseplants cheer you up, but they also trap a lot of dirt. When the plants get wet and warm, they often produce mold. Mold spores can get into lungs through your nose and trigger asthma. Though, if you can’t think of giving up your favorite plants, better avoid overwatering them. 

The Bottom Line

These simple strategies can help prevent allergy triggers and ensures asthma care. Allergies, however, can be mild to extreme that varies from case to case. It is, therefore, advisable to visit an allergy and asthma clinic in your area that can treat and also provide tips to prevent asthma attacks caused by allergens. 

7 Preventive Steps to Keep Off Allergies During the Pollen Season

Allergies, as most of us are familiar with, happen due to allergens such as dust, pollen, and pet dander. These substances, however, are harmless in themselves. People suffer from allergies when their immune system mistakenly considers the innocuous allergens as a threat to the body. Seeing an allergist in Texas can help you get the right treatment and solve your persistent allergy problem. Besides prescribing medicines, a good doctor can give you some important prevention tips. 

In this blog post, we have listed seven steps you can take to ward off allergies during the pollen season.

1. Avoid moving out during high pollen counts

Though staying indoors is the easiest way to avoid allergy symptoms during the pollen season, it is not possible all the time. However, you can, at least, limit your trips. There are several websites you can use to track the pollen count and plan your trips accordingly.

Note: Pollen counts are usually high in the morning.

2. Keep the air conditioner clean

Besides keeping the windows closed, keep your air conditioner turned on and regularly service its filters. We also recommend users to install a high-efficiency particulate air or HEPA filter, with a high ‘Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value’ or MERV rating, as it will both prevent pollen and growth of mold as well as increase the life of the air conditioner.

Must Read : Asthma and Allergy Tests: A User-centric Guide

3. Moderate indoor humidity

Take steps such as running the exhaust fans in the kitchen, bathrooms, and other areas to ventilate the house and keep the humidity low. This action will prevent the growth of mold and benefit people who are allergic to mold. Ideally, your aim should be to maintain the humidity levels below 60 percent. If required, use a dehumidifier as well.

4. Wash your hair before going to bed

Despite taking all precautions, a lot of pollen may collect in your hair during the daytime. Therefore, instead of shampooing in the morning, do it at night before going to bed. This practice will keep pollen and dust particles away from rubbing on the pillow.

5. Avoid an outdoor line for drying clothes

Avoid hanging your bedsheets and clothes outside during the spring season. Instead, use an indoor line for this purpose. This way you’ll eliminate the chances of allergens that may otherwise stick to your clothes.

6. Change clothes when you come from outside

Pollen collects on your clothes when you are outside, which can cause allergies. After returning home, therefore, take a shower and change your clothes, especially if you suffer from acute allergy.

7. Avoid using rugs and keep your shoes outside your bedroom

Rugs and carpets accumulate a lot of dust. Avoid using them, especially in your bedroom, during the spring season. Additionally, ensure you remove your shoes while entering the house.

Conclusion 

According to WebMD, a health and medical news publisher, development of allergies can be genetical as well, but not all of them. A child who has one allergic parent has a 33 percent and the other with both the parents allergic a 70 percent chance to develop allergies. Besides this, your current health plays a significant role in causing allergies. For instance, a person who has recently endured a viral infection is more likely to develop an allergy if they come into contact with an allergen during this period. Seeking a professional allergist in Texas, therefore, is the best way forward to learn more about the reasons behind your allergy symptoms and get proper treatment.

Asthma and Allergy Tests: A User-centric Guide

Millions of people in the US suffer from different kinds of asthma and allergies. An essential first step to effective treatment is to find out the causes of your asthma and allergy. Asthma and allergy centers aid you to obtain better diagnosis and treatment for these health problems. They are considered better than private clinics and hospitals due to their wide availability and specialized treatments.

Read on to learn more about asthma and allergy tests that these centers offer.

Asthma Tests

Spirometry

It is the first and the most commonly conducted lung or, pulmonary function test (PFT). This test helps to measure how much and how rapidly you can move air out of your lungs. This lung function measurement test specifically takes into account the amount (volume) and the speed (flow) of air that can be inhaled or exhaled. It requires you to breathe into a mouthpiece connected to a recording device or spirometer. The information that the spirometer collects is printed out on a chart called a spirogram. Spirometry is an essential tool used to help assess asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

Xolair

Xolair is a treatment meant only for patients with high Immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels and suffering from moderate to severe asthma. Xolair for hypodermic use is an injection, similar to allergy shots; binding the lgE and inactivating it. It is typically used to treat children aged 12 and older as well as adults suffering from:

Moderate to Severe Continuous Asthma

Under this condition, patients fail to get relief from asthma symptoms even after inhaling corticosteroids. Besides, the patients have to go through a skin or blood test to check if they have short-term allergies to year-round allergens.

Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria (CIU)

H1 antihistamine treatment cannot control this type of Urticaria. Chronic Urticaria is hardly the consequence of an allergy. Rather, most of chronic hives’ cases have an unknown (idiopathic) cause.

Allergy Tests

Rush Immunotherapy

Rush or accelerated immunotherapy is done quite fast with the ultimate aim to increase your endurance to an allergen. Different routines for the allergy shots try to achieve a maintenance dose that is quicker than standard immunotherapy. A rush immunotherapy schedule may consist of shots given after every few hours, instead of after every few days or weeks. Moreover, the maintenance dose is reached in one to eight days. Asthma and allergy center is the right place to conduct rush immunotherapy, as emergency care is readily available there.

Sublingual Immunotherapy

Sublingual Immunotherapy (SLIT) makes use of allergy drops placed under the tongue to treat the cause of your allergy. Specific allergens that you are allergic to are put under your tongue and these allergens interact with special immune cells. Repeated doses of these drops turn your immune system less prone to allergies. SLIT treats your immune abnormality, i.e. its hyper-responsiveness to allergens such as pollen, dust, insect sting, food, animal dander, mold, medications, and latex. These allergic reactions may occur in the nose, sinuses, lungs, skin or GI tract.

Conclusion

Now that you have learned about the different kinds of asthma and allergy treatments available, you should visit asthma and allergy centers if you suffer from any of these diseases. Physicians available at these widespread centers care better for their patients.

Cochlear Implants: One Name, Many Benefits

Hearing loss constitutes as one of the major disabilities that most of the people face today. Several causes of hearing loss include birth defects, loud noises, accidents, and illnesses. Many people suffering from this ailment look for ways to get rid of this problem, which is why they often resort to hearing aids. Hearing aids may, however, not always effectively work for hearing loss treatment. Cochlear Implants or CIs, therefore, emerge as a popular and accepted treatment method for children and adults with the acute sensorineural hearing loss. Audiologists in Houston or any other part of the US are experts at Cochlear Implant Mapping.

Dig in to learn the various benefits of Cochlear Implants. 

Hearing Loss Relief 

The most important benefit of cochlear implants is to relieve people suffering from sensorineural hearing loss. This kind of hearing loss takes place when there is damage to the inner ear of the cochlea or the nerve pathways travelling from the inner ear to the brain. This permanent type of hearing loss cannot be medically corrected. Cochlear implants, however, act as the only treatment for severe to profound hearing loss. They sidestep the damaged inner part of the ear to directly stimulate the hearing nerve. Unlike hearing aids, they convert sound wave to electrical impulses; helping you hear sounds in a natural manner.

Hearing Regain 

Another advantage of taking a cochlear implant is that you have brilliant chances of regaining some, if not all, of your hearing. Environmental sounds become distinct, and your understanding of speech also improves. You no longer need to learn sign language and lip reading. In fact, apart from complementing lip-reading, cochlear implants help you hone your ability to regulate the volume and pitch of your voice. When your hearing ability betters, you communicate well, therefore, enjoying a more functional and fuller life. Most importantly, more job opportunities open up for you; taking your confidence to the highest level.

Safety 

Hearing is one of the five key senses, the absence of which endangers your life. There may be times when your hearing aid stop functioning properly; putting you face-to-face with life-threatening dangers. Cochlear implants, on the other hand, enables you to be aware of dangerous situations around you and you are able to sense when such situations emerge in front of you.

Conclusion 

Audiologists in Houston, or any other city in the US, offer cochlear implant mapping services to patients suffering from hearing loss. They ascertain various factors while diagnosing you for hearing problems, including your age, overall health, any existing or recurring health issues, the cause and the amount of hearing loss, and other medical information. Only then, they decide for cochlear implant treatment for you.

A Compact Guide on Different Kinds of Asthma

Asthma is a chronic, life-threatening airway disease where inflammation in the lungs causes narrow, swollen airways, shortness of breath, increased mucus, coughing, chest tightening, and wheezing. Asthma and allergy are some of the most common ailments in the U.S. that deserve proper care and attention. There are several different kinds of asthma each triggered by a large variety of causes, and there is no single treatment that fits all. Asthma treatment depends on its kind, allergens, and the environmental triggers.

Here are the different types of Asthma.

Allergic Asthma

Your airways become extra sensitive to certain allergens in the case of Allergic Asthma. Once these allergens enter your body, your immune system begins to overreact. Not only do the muscles around your airways tighten but also, the airways get inflamed and flooded with thick mucus over time. Allergens causing this kind of asthma are pollen, mold, animal dander, dust, cockroach feces, and insect sting. Symptoms of Allergic Asthma are coughing, shortness of breath, wheezing, and chest tightness.

Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction (Asthma)

Exercise or physical exertion triggers this kind of asthma. In the case of Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction (EIB), airway narrowing tops five to 20 minutes after you begin exercising; making it difficult for the patient to catch their breath. Symptoms of this type of asthma include coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and shortness of breath. Exercises that expose you to cold and dry air pose a high probability of you developing asthma symptoms as compared to exercises with warm and humid air exposure. Other triggers that can worsen EIB symptoms comprise of high pollution levels and pollen counts, smoke, and strong fumes, and a recent cold or asthma incidence.

Cough-Variant Asthma

Chronic coughing is the key symptom of Cough-Variant Asthma (CVA). Postnasal drip, chronic sinusitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease can be other causes for coughing. A cough in a CVA is dry in nature and lasts over six to eight weeks. This kind of asthma can occur at any time of the day but, worsens during the night. Exercise also contributes to severe coughing. Respiratory infections can cause a chronic cough too. If your cough, however, lasts for more than a few weeks in the absence of an active infection, ENT specialists doubt it to be CVA.

Nocturnal Asthma

Nocturnal or Nighttime Asthma is the kind of asthma whose symptoms become more aggressive during sleep since the sleep-wake cycle strongly influences it. Asthma symptoms of coughing, wheezing, chest tightness, and breath shortness are common and hazardous, particularly at night. Asthma studies show that about 74 percent of asthmatics suffer from nighttime awakenings at least once every week, whereas 64 percent of them may experience asthma attacks at night three or more times per week. In short, almost 40 percent asthmatics experience asthma symptoms at night.

Conclusion

Having learnt about different types of asthma, you need to realize that a person suffering from asthma needs immediate medical care and attention. It is prudent to make an appointment with an ENT Specialist to diagnose the asthma type.