What Throat Conditions Does An Ent Treat?

Ear, nose, and throat specialists, ENT are trained professionals who diagnose and treat a wide range of medical conditions in both children and adults. ENT specialists often focus on conditions related to the ear, nose, and throat. When you are experiencing any ear, nose, and throat issues, you may want to see an ENT doctor for consultation and surgery whenever necessary.

According to stats, nearly 50% of patients visiting primary care offices always suffer from ENT issues. Yes, you may have a stuffy nose, clogged ears, or a sore throat. That is what an ENT specialist is good at diagnosing and treating. However, this post will focus more on throat conditions that ENT specialists treat. Common throat conditions that ENT specialists treat include:

Sleep apnea

Sleep apnea happens when you stop breathing during sleep. This condition is usually caused by blocked upper airways. When the passage through the nose and mouth, leading to the lungs, is blocked, you may experience breathing difficulties, especially when sleeping. This may result in snoring or sleepwalking. This condition is prevalent in children between three and six years.

Causes of sleep apnea include:

• Swelling in the airways
• Birth syndromes, such as Down syndrome
• Obesity

Signs and symptoms of sleep apnea usually include:

• Difficulty in breathing while sleeping
• Snoring
• Restlessness during sleep
• Sleepwalking
• Behavioral issues in children
• Morning headaches

Dysphagia

This is a condition where you experience trouble swallowing anything. For instance, if you are experiencing dysphagia, you may find it hard to pass any food from the mouth through the throat to the stomach.

The causes of dysphagia include:

• Swallowing defects in any of the four swallowing stages
• Blocked esophagus
• Infections
• Other underlying health issues

Symptoms of dysphagia may vary from one person to another. However, the most common signs include:

• Gagging while feeding
• Drooling
• Choking when eating
• Congested chest after eating
• Vomiting
• Trouble swallowing
• Weight loss

Pharyngitis and tonsillitis

Pharyngitis is usually a condition associated with swelling, pain, and sore throat. On the other hand, tonsillitis happens when you experience inflammation in your tonsils.

These conditions may result from many things, such as infection. Some known causes include:

• Cancer
• Injuries around the tonsils
• Sinus infection
• Allergies
• Fungi, bacteria, and viral infections

Symptoms of tonsillitis and pharyngitis include:

• Sore throat
• Enlarged tonsils
• Swallowing problems
• Nausea
• Fatigue
• Hoarse voice
• Throat discharge breathing difficulty in sleep or snoring

Vocal cord dysfunction (VCD)

VCD is also known as paradoxical vocal cord motion. This is a condition that usually results from vocal cords closing abnormally. Typically, when you inhale, your vocal cords open to allow the passage of air. However, VDC may lead to the vocal cords closing when you inhale.

The symptoms of VCD include:

• Shortness of breath
• Noisy breathing
• Dizziness

Velopharyngeal Insufficiency (VPI)

VPI is a condition associated with the failure of the soft palate to close tightly against the back of your throat. This may result in the air coming out of your nose when speaking. The result is mainly inaudible speech.

The causes of VPI include:

• Cleft palate
• Submucous cleft palate
• Effect of removal of adenoids (adenoidectomies)
• Drooling

Periodic swallowing helps you manage saliva. However, you may have difficulties managing the production of saliva, leading to drooling. Drooling results in saliva spillage and chronic skin problems.

Tongue-tie

Tongue-tie is a congenital oral condition that leads to a problem in speech, breastfeeding, and other tasks, such as licking your lips. If you are experiencing tongue-tie, you will notice your tongue is heart-shaped. However, this condition may not have apparent symptoms.

Common throat surgeries

ENT specialists can diagnose and treat a wide range of throat complications. Some conditions, such as difficulty swallowing, throat tumor, air blockage, and adenoid issues, may require surgeries. Keep in mind that surgery may require the insertion of the laryngoscope. Other procedures include tonsillectomy, which is the removal of tonsils. Additionally, a surgery that involves the insertion of a flexible metal tube to manage esophagus issues may be performed.

Throat surgery is always the last procedure, and it only happens when other less invasive methods fail to work. The procedure is straightforward, and you may only need pain medications to help you manage the pain that comes after the operation. Other surgeries may require the application of anesthesia.

The bottom line

Your throat health is essential for your overall immunity. If you experience any discomfort around your throat, you may need to see an ENT specialist for diagnosis and treatment. Call (772) 408-9556 to book an appointment with Vero ENT Associates today and have your throat conditions treated.