Ears, Nose & Throat

The following is a list of the most common symptoms associated with ear problems.

• Pain and pressure in the ears
• Difficulty hearing, such as following conversation when there is background noise or when more than one person is talking
• Loss of balance
• Fluid discharge from the ear
• Nausea and vomiting
• In children, pulling or tugging on the ears, failing to startle at loud noises and not consistently responding to name

The following is a list of the most common symptoms associated with nose problems.

• Congestion
• Nasal obstruction
• Nasal discharge of various colours and consistency, which can drip from the front of the nose or into the back of the throat
• Facial pain and pressure
• Loss of sense of smell (anosmia)
• Sneezing
• Itching or crusting in or near the nose
• An accompanying headache, fever, cough, fatigue or toothache

Snoring loudly, waking up frequently during the night, feeling unrefreshed upon waking and moody during the day are also signs of sleep apnea.

The following is a list of the most common symptoms associated with throat problems

• Persistent cough following a common cold
• Red, sore throat
• Swollen glands in the neck
• White patches on the tonsils or in the back of the throat
• Strained, husky or breathy voice
• Changes in voice pitch
• Complete loss of voice, resulting in only a whisper
• Throat discomfort or irritation
• Acid reflux
• Difficulty swallowing
• Feeling of a foreign body caught in the throat
• Fever, fatigue or body aches

While it’s not possible to prevent all ear, nose and throat (ENT) disorders, a multitude of ENT problems are preventable. Some general prevention guidelines include:

• Frequent hand washing to prevent infections
• Avoiding exposure to illness
• Practicing good hygiene, such as covering your nose and mouth when you sneeze or cough
• Avoiding exposure to cigarette smoke
• Identifying and treating allergies before they become sinus infections
• Keeping immunisations up to date
• Not pushing too deep into the ear during cleaning to remove all of the ear wax
• Exercising for 30 minutes a day, most days of the week
• Eat a diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, beans, fish and lean meats
• Limiting high-fat, processed or sugar-sweetened foods such as butter, desserts and soft drinks
• Getting 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night
• Using an over-the-counter saline nasal spray to keep your nasal passages from becoming blocked when you have a cold
• Avoiding alcohol or sedatives near bedtime
• Protecting your ears from irritants such as hair spray.