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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 feel a sore throat coming on. What can I do keep the condition from worsening?

    If you feel a sore throat starting, this is usually a sign of a viral infection. To minimize symptoms, cool liquids/ice chips are quite helpful, although some people prefer warmer liquids. Gargling with salt wa... continue reading  about  I feel a sore throat coming on. What can I do keep the condition from worsening?

    Ask the Expert Team

    Ask the Expert Team

    Sutter Health

    I have been diagnosed with chronic sinusitis and have lost my sense of smell and taste. Prednisone has helped but I refuse to take it on an ongoing basis since I also have osteoporosis. I can't take NSAIDS with a history of gastric ulcer. Any suggestions?

    The loss or diminishment of the senses of smell and/or taste are common with sinus infection problems. Tissues inside the nose become swollen and secretions are increased, both which alter airflow through the n... continue reading  about  I have been diagnosed with chronic sinusitis and have lost my sense of smell and taste. Prednisone has helped but I refuse to take it on an ongoing basis since I also have osteoporosis. I can't take NSAIDS with a history of gastric ulcer. Any suggestions?

    Ask the Expert Team

    Ask the Expert Team

    Sutter Health

    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.

    Ask the Expert Team

    Ask the Expert Team

    Sutter Health

    Does bee pollen help reduce allergies?

    There are two reasons that bee pollen would not be expected to help with allergies:The type of pollen that bees carry is not the kind of pollen that causes allergy. It's the wind-transported pollen that causes ... continue reading  about  Does bee pollen help reduce allergies?

    Steven Machtinger

    Steven Machtinger, M.D.

    Mills-Peninsula Medical Group

    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

    Our doctor told my husband that he has a retracting eardrum. What does this mean?

    Retracted eardrums are usually an indication that there is negative pressure (a vacuum) behind the eardrums in the middle part of the ear. Some of the symptoms can be: a feeling of fullness or pressure in the e... continue reading  about  Our doctor told my husband that he has a retracting eardrum. What does this mean?

    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?

    Catherine A. Madison

    Catherine A. Madison, M.D.

    California Pacific Medical Center

    For the first time in my life I experience vertigo after climaxing. Why is that?

    Headaches after climax have been described over the years and are felt related to changes in the size of blood vessels after sex. Vertigo is more unusual and might suggest a problem with the inner ear system; a... continue reading  about  For the first time in my life I experience vertigo after climaxing. Why is that?

    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?

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