Jump to content

Choose locationChoose Location
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Open I want to choose my medical group or hospital
    • Clear my location
Change Location

We've expanded your view

You are now viewing all services in the Sutter Health network. You can change your location above to narrow your view to a medical group, hospital, city or zip.
Sutter Health
  • Video Visits
  • Find Doctors
  • Find Locations
  • Treatments & Services
  • Locations
  • Sign in or Enroll
    • Video Visits
    • Find Doctors
    • Find Locations
    • Treatments & Services
    • COVID-19 Resources
    • Pay a Bill
    • Symptom Checker
    • Get Care Today
    • Diseases & Conditions
    • Health & Wellness
    • Classes & Events
    • Research & Clinical Trials
    • For Patients
    • About Sutter Health
    • Giving
    • Volunteering
    • Careers
    • News
    • For Medical Professionals
    • Other Business Services
Close Search
  • Home
  • Health and Wellness
  • Ear, Nose and Throat Health
Content

Ear, Nose and Throat Health

Care for your ears and preserve hearing with digital hearing aids and treatments for surfer’s ear, tinnitus and sinus infections.

New Reasons to Use Hearing Aids

You don’t have to suffer with hearing loss. Learn about digital hearing aid features and get tips for buying them.

Pioneering Surgery for Surfer's Ear

Surfer’s ear causes infections and hearing loss. An innovative surgical treatment will have you back in the water faster.

Help for Sinus Problems

Sinusitis and sinus infections often drag on or come back. Get expert tips for preventing and treating sinus problems.

    Featured Articles

    Cotton Swabs

    Protect Your Ears and Hearing

    Get tips to care for your ears and avoid preventable hearing loss.

    Girl Wearing Headphones On Dock

    Tips for Managing Tinnitus

    Get expert advice for managing your tinnitus and the related stress.

    African American woman with allergies outside

    Breathe Easier

    Allergy-easing options range from simple saline rinses to shots.

    View All Ear, Nose and Throat Articles

    Ask an Expert

    Ask the Expert Team

    Ask the Expert Team

    Sutter Health

    I recently read that hearing loss is more common in people with heart disease or those who've had a heart attack. Why would this be?

    Many articles have been written about the connection between decreased blood flow from cardiovascular disease and hearing loss. The inner ear is very small, and changes in blood flow in the body can cause the r... continue reading  about  I recently read that hearing loss is more common in people with heart disease or those who've had a heart attack. Why would this be?

    Lorre T. Henderson

    Lorre T. Henderson, M.D.

    Sutter Medical Foundation

    For two months, I've been smelling cigarette smoke at work, at home, even in my car. I know there is no actual smoke in the air (I don't smoke and neither do my family or coworkers) but I smell it. I read that it could be a sinus problem or brain tumor.

    Generally sinus disease or infection causes a foul odor and not the smell of cigarettes. Some brain tumors can cause olfactory (smell) delusions or hallucinations and these can be manifest as almost any odor. H... continue reading  about  For two months, I've been smelling cigarette smoke at work, at home, even in my car. I know there is no actual smoke in the air (I don't smoke and neither do my family or coworkers) but I smell it. I read that it could be a sinus problem or brain tumor.

    Steven Machtinger

    Steven Machtinger, M.D.

    Mills-Peninsula Medical Center

    I have spring allergies and this year I have a plugged left ear, which I'm attributing to this. I've been using the over-the-counter ear wax remedies which have been working somewhat, usually for a day or two, and then my ear becomes plugged again.

    One of two problems is going on here. Either you have ear wax blocking your ear canal (a condition called cerumen impaction), or your allergies won't permit your ears to "pop", meaning that your eustachian tube... continue reading  about  I have spring allergies and this year I have a plugged left ear, which I'm attributing to this. I've been using the over-the-counter ear wax remedies which have been working somewhat, usually for a day or two, and then my ear becomes plugged again.

    Ask the Expert Team

    Ask the Expert Team

    Sutter Health

    Three weeks ago I lost hearing in my right ear with severe vertigo. An ER doctor gave me antibiotics which didn't help. I went to ER again. They flushed the ear and my hearing came back, but the vertigo is still present and seems to be getting worse.

    In cases of sudden hearing loss in one or both ears, especially with vertigo, you should be seen immediately by an ear, nose and throat physician as well as have a complete hearing evaluation. There are many ca... continue reading  about  Three weeks ago I lost hearing in my right ear with severe vertigo. An ER doctor gave me antibiotics which didn't help. I went to ER again. They flushed the ear and my hearing came back, but the vertigo is still present and seems to be getting worse.

    Lorre T. Henderson

    Lorre T. Henderson, M.D.

    Sutter Medical Foundation

    My 7-year-old son gets nosebleeds often. What causes them and can they be prevented?

    Generally nose bleeds occur because the small blood vessels are shallow within the tissues of the nose. This is normal, but the constantly wetting then drying of the nose can cause the nasal tissue to crack (si... continue reading  about  My 7-year-old son gets nosebleeds often. What causes them and can they be prevented?

    Ask the Expert Team

    Ask the Expert Team

    Sutter Health

    I use ear buds with my MP3 player and wondered what volume of sound is safe. Can loud music cause hearing loss?

    When using an MP3 player, the recommendation is to keep the volume at one half the scale, or less. Specifically, on an I-Pod device, I counsel my patients and family members to keep the volume no more than half... continue reading  about  I use ear buds with my MP3 player and wondered what volume of sound is safe. Can loud music cause hearing loss?

    Ask the Expert Team

    Ask the Expert Team

    Sutter Health

    I have a thumping sound in my left ear. The sound is rapid and irregular, and not synced with my pulse. It started four days ago at night. Today for first time I noticed sounds like tapping gently on a speaker cone. It doesn't seem to affect hearing.

    Noises in the ear, whether it be thumping, ringing, buzzing, roaring or any other unusual sound not explained by outside sounds, are called tinnitus. Tinnitus can be constant, intermittent, high or low pitched,... continue reading  about  I have a thumping sound in my left ear. The sound is rapid and irregular, and not synced with my pulse. It started four days ago at night. Today for first time I noticed sounds like tapping gently on a speaker cone. It doesn't seem to affect hearing.

    Ask the Expert Team

    Ask the Expert Team

    Sutter Health

    My husband has been complaining that I'm not hearing everything he says. If I had hearing loss, wouldn't I certainly know it?

    Hearing can decrease gradually over many years, and many people do not realize it until someone else points it out. Spouses, family members and close friends usually notice the changes first. I have had patient... continue reading  about  My husband has been complaining that I'm not hearing everything he says. If I had hearing loss, wouldn't I certainly know it?

    Ask the Expert Team

    Ask the Expert Team

    Sutter Health

    For the past three months, I've had a constant and irritating tickle in my inner ear. It even wakes me up at night. I've used ear rinses and had my primary care doctor examine it, but she could not find anything. Any suggestions?

    You might want your primary physician to refer you to an Ear Nose and Throat doctor. Some ear canals can have “pockets” that are not noticeable by looking in the ear canal with a standard otoscope, ... continue reading  about  For the past three months, I've had a constant and irritating tickle in my inner ear. It even wakes me up at night. I've used ear rinses and had my primary care doctor examine it, but she could not find anything. Any suggestions?

    More Resources

    View Sutter's Drug Guide

    Drug Guide

    Look up prescription and over-the-counter drug information.

    View Sutter's full medical library

    Medical Library

    Look up helpful health information.

    View Sutter's full library of disease and conditions

    Diseases and Conditions

    See our full library of diseases and conditions.

    View information for Sutter Health Patients

    Patient Information

    Practical info for Sutter patients.

    Tools and Quizzes

    Tools and Quizzes

    Online tools to help you make decisions about your health.

    The Sutter Health Network of Care
    Expertise to fit your needs
    Primary Care

    Check-ups, screenings and sick visits for adults and children.

    Specialty Care

    Expertise and advanced technologies in all areas of medicine.

    Emergency Care

    For serious accidents, injuries and conditions that require immediate medical care.

    Urgent Care

    After-hours, weekend and holiday services.

    Walk-In Care

    Convenient walk-in care clinics for your non-urgent health needs.

    About Sutter

  • About Our Network
  • Annual Report
  • Awards
  • Community Benefit
  • Contact Us
  • News
  • Giving
  • Find Care

  • Birth Centers
  • Care Centers
  • Emergency Rooms
  • Hospitals
  • Imaging
  • Labs
  • Surgery Centers
  • Urgent Care
  • Walk-In Care
  • View All >
  • Featured Services

  • Behavioral Health
  • Cancer Services
  • Family Medicine
  • Home Health and Hospice
  • Orthopedics
  • Pediatrics
  • Pregnancy
  • Primary Care
  • Women's Health
  • View All >
  • Patient Resources

  • Accepted Health Plans
  • Classes and Events
  • Estimate Costs
  • Flu Resources
  • Health and Wellness
  • Medical Records
  • Medicare
  • My Health Online
  • Pay a Bill
  • Symptom Checker
  • Our Team

  • For Employees
  • Physician Careers
  • Recruiting Events
  • Sutter Careers
  • Vendors
  • Volunteers
    • ADA Accessibility
    • Contact
    • Privacy
    • Do Not Sell My Personal Information

    • LinkedIn Opens new window
    • YouTube Opens new window
    • Facebook Opens new window
    • Twitter Opens new window
    • Glassdoor Opens new window
    • Instagram Opens new window

    Copyright © 2021 Sutter Health. All rights reserved. Sutter Health is a registered trademark of Sutter Health ®, Reg. U.S. Patent & Trademark office.

    Cookie Policy

    We use cookies to give you the best possible user experience. By clicking on "Accept Cookies", closing this pop-up banner or by continuing to use the site, you agree to the use of cookies. Privacy Policy   Cookie Preferences