Ear Nose and Throat - Throat Archives - Ear Nose and Throat Doctors

A woman touches her neck in the general location of her parotid gland.

Superficial vs. Total Parotidectomy: What to Expect

If you’ve discovered an abnormal mass in your parotid gland, your ENT may have recommended a superficial or total parotidectomy. We’re aware that the mere mention of surgery can be distressing, but knowing what to expect can help. Below, we’ll…

A man holds his neck where his submandibular gland is located before getting a submandibular gland excision.

What to Expect Before and After Submandibular Gland Excision

Saliva probably isn’t something you think about too often, but your salivary glands work hard every day to ensure you have enough of it. One of these hard-working glands is called the submandibular gland. Unfortunately, things can sometimes go awry…

A baby smiles with his tongue out after his parents had a frenotomy performed to fix his tongue tie.

The Complete Guide to Tongue Ties and Frenotomy: What Every Parent Should Know

Welcoming a baby into the world is an incredible experience. But finding out your sweet new baby has a tongue tie can quickly send any parent into a whirlwind of stress and anxiety. Fortunately, in most cases, a doctor can…

A woman who needs a parathyroid exploration procedure holds her throat between her hands.

Parathyroid Exploration: From Surgery Prep to Recovery

Symptoms like weak bones, kidney stones, joint pain, and mental fog can make it very difficult to thrive in daily life. Few people realize an overactive parathyroid gland may be the culprit. If you have one or more overactive parathyroid…

An older man in a green shirt holds his throat in pain before getting a vocal cord stripping procedure.

Vocal Cord Stripping: Before, During, and After Your Procedure

If you’ve dealt with vocal cord conditions like irreversible swelling, polyps, or non-invasive cancer, you’re no stranger to the symptoms: chronic sore throat, difficulty speaking, or the irritating sensation of something stuck in your throat. In certain cases, vocal cord…

A woman who has had trouble talking holds her throat with her hands before getting vocal cord injections.

Maximizing the Benefits of Vocal Cord Injections: A Comprehensive Guide

If you’ve struggled with a paralyzed or impaired vocal cord, you’re likely familiar with one or all of the unpleasant symptoms: constant breathiness or hoarseness, a weak or quiet voice, and frequent choking or sputtering. Vocal cord injections could be…

An ENT specialist examines a young boy's swollen lymph nodes to prepare for a lymph node excision procedure.

Pediatric vs. Adult Lymph Node Excisions: Does Age Matter?

Certain medical terms, like “lymph node excision,” can sound intimidating and scary, especially when you’re exploring surgical treatment for a child. Plus, you might wonder about the potential impact of the procedure on a child versus an adult. To clarify,…

A variety of healthy foods you should eat in your diet for sleep apnea are split into two piles on a concrete tabletop.

How Does Diet Affect Sleep Apnea?

Your diet affects most aspects of your well-being, including your physical health and weight. But did you know poor eating habits could contribute to your risk of developing sleep apnea? Because it’s not always clear how what we eat directly…

A woman lays in bed wearing her CPAP machine, thinking about all the different treatments for mild obstructive sleep apnea.

7 Treatment Options for Mild Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Once you’ve received a mild obstructive sleep apnea diagnosis, the next step is exploring your treatment options. Fortunately, obstructive sleep apnea is a well-known condition, and there are several ways to manage and even cure the symptoms. Finding the best…

A woman holds her swollen tonsils, wincing in pain.

What You Need to Know About Swollen Tonsils

Whether it was once or twice as a kid or more of an ongoing battle, chances are you or someone you know has experienced the unpleasant sensation of swollen tonsils. Swollen tonsils can be uncomfortable and painful, making it difficult…

After experiencing throat pain, a woman gets examined by a doctor to learn if she has a heterogeneous thyroid.

Heterogeneous Thyroid: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment

Suppose you’ve been having trouble swallowing, or you feel pressure on your neck when lying flat. Or maybe you have a visible lump on one side of your neck, and you’re not quite sure what it is. If any of…

The Best Sleeping Position for Sleep Apnea Sufferers

As you age, your likelihood of being diagnosed with sleep apnea increases — people over 65 are twice more likely to need CPAP machines than younger people because of the loss of muscle tone that comes with aging. While this…

A woman holds her throat when trying to figure out if she needs to worry about her thyroid nodules.

When to Worry About Thyroid Nodules

Though thyroid nodules don’t make the news very often, they’re incredibly common. According to the American Thyroid Association, half of all Americans will develop at least one thyroid nodule by the time they’re 60. The risk increases with age, so…

A man sleeping in bed with a CPAP machine, struggling with sleep apnea.

Can Sleep Apnea Kill You? A Doctor’s Perspective

Can sleep apnea kill you? That may sound dramatic, and we’re not trying to scare anyone, but we do want to take a serious look at this common disease to help increase awareness about its impact on health. To that…

A physician examines a patient's thyroid to see what type of thyroidectomy she needs.

The 3 Types of Thyroidectomy Explained

A thyroidectomy seems like a simple enough procedure, right? “Thyroid” refers to the butterfly-shaped gland that sits at the base of your neck, and “-ectomy” means “to remove.” But wait. Once you start to research this procedure, you find out…

A person holding a card that says sleep apnea, and wondering if sleep apnea is genetic/hereditary.

Is Sleep Apnea Hereditary? How To Identify if You’re at Risk

Incidents of sleep apnea are on the rise. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine now estimates that 26% of Americans between the ages of 30 and 70 suffer from some form of sleep apnea. Chances are good, then, that you…

An ENT doctor examines a patient's throat for tonsillectomy complications.

5 Tonsillectomy Complications (Plus Who’s at Risk)

Most people are a little nervous before they go in for any kind of surgery, including a tonsillectomy. Tonsillectomy complications are rare, but they can happen. In this post, we'll provide information about the five possible tonsillectomy complications to show…

A physician in his office checks a female patient for salivary gland tumor symptoms.

Salivary Gland Tumors Symptoms and When To Call Your Doctor

"Tumor" is a scary word. We associate tumors with cancer, and then cancer with shortened lifespans. But fortunately, tumors don't always mean cancer. If something unusual is going on with your salivary glands, you may be worried about a salivary…

A man lies in a white bed wearing a sleep apnea machine.

Yes, Sleep Apnea Can Be Cured Permanently — Here’s How

Sleep apnea causes a variety of short- and long-term health problems for an estimated 22 million Americans, and it can be difficult to cure. Many long-term diseases — like asthma and rosacea — can be treated and well controlled, but…

A yellow spine and a pink thyroid gland over a blue background, showing thyroidectomy complications.

5 Thyroidectomy Complications and How To Manage Them

If you've been told that you need a thyroidectomy, you likely have some concerns about the procedure. First, rest assured that thyroidectomies have a very low rate of complications. But as with any procedure, complications do sometimes occur. Today we're…

A female doctor talks with a male patient at a desk with medical models and a pen container.

Tonsillectomy vs. Adenoidectomy: The Differences Explained

Until fairly recently, most people believed that the tonsils and adenoids were useless, unnecessary tissue. But medical researchers now understand that these are important parts of the immune system. Today tonsillectomies and adenoidectomies aren't performed as cavalierly as they were…

Worried Your Allergy Symptoms Are COVID? You’re Not Alone

Everyone knows what it's like to wake up feeling a little run down or with a runny nose, congestion, or cough. A few years ago, you'd just assume you had a cold and move on with your life. If you're…

A doctor palpates for salivary gland tumors under the jaw of a bearded older gentleman.

Salivary Gland Tumors: Everything You Need To Know

Salivary gland tumors are usually diagnosed in one of two ways. Either you notice a strange bump in front of your ear, or a doctor feels that bump during a routine medical appointment. A bump is often the first and…

A woman in white reclines while a doctor uses ultrasound to check her thyroid.

6 Tips for a Quick and Comfortable Thyroidectomy Recovery

Very few people look forward to the possibility of surgery. But beyond fears about the procedure itself, the thyroidectomy recovery process may cause some anxiety as well. Fortunately, there are lots of things you can do to ensure a thyroidectomy…

Doctor checking tonsils because child won't drink after tonsillectomy

Ask a Doctor: 8 Answers to Your Post-Tonsillectomy FAQs

There's no way around it. Recovering from a tonsillectomy, especially as an adult, is just plain miserable. Children fare slightly better, but the process is hard. Your surgeon will do everything they can to help you stay as comfortable as…

Recent Posts When Do We Recommend Combining Ear Tube Placement and Adenoid Removal?3 Types of Nose Cautery for Epistaxis Explained Superficial vs. Total Parotidectomy: What to Expect Closed Reduction of a Nasal Fracture: In Office or Outpatient?What to Expect Before and After Submandibular Gland Excision Can You Really Use Botox for Teeth Grinding?