C/V ENT Surgical Group's Resources

There are many reasons that you might be thinking about rhinoplasty or septoplasty. You might have an issue with snoring or a bump in the center of your nose that you don't like to look at. You might have a host of factors making you consider one of these surgeries or even both.  

If you suffer from sleep apnea, it can change the way that you live. You may find yourself constantly fatigued and lacking motivation for the things that you once loved to do. Sleep apnea can also lead to depression, irritability, and mood swings. 

Environmental allergies occur when the body’s immune system has a reaction to a substance or element in the environment that it perceives as toxic or foreign. When an allergic reaction is triggered, the body releases chemicals called histamines and leukotrienes. Some common symptoms of environmental allergies include runny nose, sneezing, coughing, watery or irritated eyes, sore throat, hives, sinus pain, and fatigue.

Watery, itchy eyes, runny nose, sneezing, coughing, scratchy throat, sinus pain—when seasonal allergies strike, you can be miserable. Seasonal allergies are triggered by plants and pollen at different times of the year. In Southern California, the mild, warm weather means that pollen is present year-round and, unfortunately, many people experience seasonal allergies year-round as well.

When illness strikes, the body's immune system attacks to wade off the disease-causing bacteria and viruses. The same thing happens when allergies attack the body. The immune system fights away substances that are harmless to your body, which can include viruses, bacteria, or allergens. When your antibodies clash with the allergens, it results in an allergic reaction.

Allergic reactions vary in severity from mild to anaphylaxis, a dangerous, life-threatening reaction. Most of the allergies have no cure, however, treatment helps to mitigate the effects of allergic reactions or reduce the symptoms of allergies.

Fall and spring are the best seasons when it comes to weather. The temperature is neither too hot nor too cold, unlike the scorching summers and freezing winters. Additionally, the weather is ideal for cozying around in a warm sweater, comfy flip-flops, and a warm cup of hot chocolate. However, there is one major setback for about 60 million Americans: seasonal allergies.

Allergies are alarmingly common during fall and spring. Their symptoms are strikingly similar, but their causes are different. Here is a comprehensive overview of spring and fall allergies, including their causes and remedies.

Chronic nasal congestion can often be caused by chronic sinusitis which is a narrowing of spaces inside your nose and sinuses due to swelling and inflammation. The inflammation may result from infections, autoimmune disorders, or allergies. The condition persists for three months or longer despite receiving treatment.

Chronic sinusitis disrupts your ability to drain mucus, leaving your nose feeling stuffy. You'll have difficulties breathing through the nose, and the area around your eyes might feel tender or swollen.

Also known as chronic rhinosinusitis, this condition affects both children and adults. The condition is often caused by an infection, swollen linings of the sinuses, or growths in the sinuses (i.e. nasal polyps).

Snoring is considered an annoying social problem that irritates bed partners and family members. But there's more to this sleep disorder that affects nearly half the adult population.

Why do people snore in their sleep? Snoring is the sound that results when breathing is obstructed. Some factors that lead to snoring include poor muscle tone, a long soft palate, and bulky tongue muscle tissue. Snoring might also be a warning sign that you're suffering from a condition that interferes with your breathing during sleep. Such conditions include nasal polyps, sinus infections, or a deviated septum.

Poor muscle tone causes partial collapse of the palate and tongue while you sleep, reducing the size of the breathing passage. That causes the palate to vibrate as you struggle to pull the air through the restricted route. While it's easy to dismiss it as a bothersome habit, snoring can be a sign of a severe medical condition known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA).

While thyroid surgery is something that many patients experience regularly, there is a concern many have regarding the aftermath of surgery and scarring. The fear of severe scarring from the surgery is enough to have patients questioning whether they intend to move forward with the surgery. Before getting thyroid surgery, it is important to understand what kind of incision is happening and how to treat the area during recovery. The visibility of your scar is completely up to you and how you treat the area once the thyroid surgery is over. 

Weight gain is a common concern for patients who get thyroid surgery or a thyroidectomy. Thyroid surgery is a procedure that removes the thyroid gland because of goiter, thyroid cancer, or Graves' disease. These complications affect the production of thyroid hormones T3 and T4 that control the body's metabolic activity. 

After surgery, patients take tablets to replace the hormones. Patients who undergo thyroid surgery may experience weight gain post-surgery. However, it's not clear if the weight gain is caused by thyroid surgery. Let's explore the effects of thyroid surgery on weight gain.