Lawrence Chow / ENT Doctor
5 Things You Should Do if Someone in Your Home Has Asthma
Asthma cannot be completely eradicated but there are simple ways to manage and avoid this illness especially if people are aware of things that should be done when they live with someone who has asthma.
Quit Smoking
When you live in the same roof with a loved one who has asthma, it is impossible for the patient to not inhale second hand smoke. Second hand smoke or smoke produced by a smoker and breathed in by another person can trigger an asthma attack. Make sure your home is a cigarette and tobacco smoke free zone. Instead of just designating a smoking area or trying one’s best to not smoke near the person with asthma, inside the home or inside the car, it would be in the best interest of every member of the family to just quit smoking.
Leave No Room for Dust Mites
Dust mites can trigger an asthma attack if the person who has asthma is allergic to dust and most likely, they are. Make sure these microscopic bugs are eradicated from your home.
Here’s a list of things you can do to prevent dust mites:
- Use a humidifier to keep relative humidity levels at around 30- 50% which is not suitable for dust mites.
- Regularly vacuum carpets, rugs, and floors
- Make sure you wash your bedding and dry it completely once a week
- Allergen-proof mattress and pillowcase covers make a good barrier from dust mites so make sure you use them
- Never use down-filled pillows, quilts, or comforters.
Make Sure The Person with Asthma Stays Away from Air Pollution
Smoke from burning wood and dried leaves can trigger an asthma attack because they are producing harmful gases and particles that can be inhaled in large amounts and cause an asthma flare up.
Air pollution from factories and cars are even more harmful. Make sure you live in a place away from all of these if you have a loved one with asthma and make sure you check air quality forecasts on the internet before you plan your activities to make sure there is no air pollution when you go out.
Keep the Person Away from Pets that Is Causing Asthma Attacks
If the furbaby can’t be rehomed, just make sure the person’s exposure is lessened by keeping the pet away from the bedroom and always keeping the pet clean. Using air cleaners with HEPA filters and allergen-proof mattress and pillow covers may help prevent asthma attacks.
Keep the Person Away from All Possible Triggers
Molds, harmful disinfectants, poor ventilation, flu, colds, respiratory syncytial virus, sinus infections and pollen must be kept away from the person with asthma.
Acid reflux, excessive physical activity, bad weather such as thunderstorms and high humidity can also trigger asthma attacks.
It is also important to take note of food, medicine, food additives and fragrances which may be the person with asthma is allergic to so it can be avoided.
Most importantly, try your best not to upset the person with asthma because intense emotions can lead to very fast breathing or hyperventilation which is also a trigger of asthma attack.
Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.
For details of the ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
http://www.hkentspecialist.hk
7 Things You Should Do When You Have Tonsillitis
Our tonsils, the two masses of tissue at the back of our throat act as filters and they trap germs that could enter our airways and cause infection. They also make antibodies to fight infection.
When there’s too much risk factors, they get overwhelmed by bacteria or viruses. When they get swollen and inflamed, this condition is called tonsillitis.
Tonsillitis usually goes away on its own, lasting only two to four days and the worse, two weeks or more and recurrent especially if we will not follow the following list of advice on how to treat tonsillitis:
Take a Pain Reliever
Tonsillitis is usually accompanied by fever and pain. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen are over the counter pain relievers which you can take to help manage these while you are at it.
Rest
If you can’t afford a total bed rest, at least refrain from doing anything strenuous and avoid aggravating your condition by staying up late. You should do the opposite – oversleep if you can. You won’t be able to work effectively when you are in pain. One of the possible reasons why you got sick in the first place is because you overworked and did not rest. Your immune system was affected and this is why you caught tonsillitis. The best thing to do is to correct this by getting enough rest and keep that habit even when you no longer have tonsillitis.
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy has been known to cure mild to moderate sore throat accompanied by headache and fever in less than twenty four hours. The same is true with tonsillitis. Drinking warm or very cold drinks will not only help with throat pain but flush off toxins that weakens your immunity. Once your body’s ability to fight off disease is restored, your tonsillitis will be gone in no time.
Eat Comfort Food and Beverage
Flavored gelatins, ice cream and applesauce are known as “smooth foods” that can give comfort to your tonsillitis
Broth soup, caffeine-free tea and warm water with honey can soothe the pain as well as cold treats like ice pops which can also soothe sore throat.
Humidify the Air
A cool-mist vaporizer or a cool-air humidifier in your room can eliminate dry air that may further irritate a sore throat. Sitting inside a steamy bathroom for several minutes is also effective.
Gargle with Warm Saltwater
Children are the ones most prone to tonsillitis. It had been proven that saltwater gargle of 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) of table salt to 8 ounces (237 milliliters) of warm water can help soothe a child’s sore throat.
Anyone who has tonsillitis should gargle the solution and then spit it.
Have your child gargle the solution and then spit it out.
Take Lozenges
Lozenges with benzocaine and other medications that can numb the throat can be effective in managing tonsillitis while waiting for recovery.
Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.
For details of the ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
http://www.hkentspecialist.hk
6 Bad Habits that Increases the Chance of Getting Pharyngitis
Pharyngitis, which is most commonly referred to as “sore throat” usually occurs during the colder months of the year. It can cause scratchiness in the throat and difficulty swallowing.
Pharyngitis may be caused by bacterial or viral infections and is very easy to catch if people are stubborn enough not to avoid these bad habits:
1。Not Getting Enough Water, Rest and Sleep
Pharyngitis is often accompanied by headache, fever and pain, all of which can be easily prevented if only people will keep their immunity functioning at its best when they get a complete eight hour sleep and keep themselves hydrated.
Water therapy is often used to treat common colds and sore throats and dehydration worsens it.
Anything which is bad for the immune system or the body’s ability to fight off infections can contribute to the spread of diseases that cause pharyngitis. So it is very important to keep hydrated and get enough sleep.
2。Sharing Food, Drinks and Eating Utensils.
When people avoid sharing food, drinks and eating utensils, they also avoid the most common viral and bacterial causes of pharyngitis other than pharyngitis itself. Some of these highly contagious diseases are: measles, adenovirus, chickenpox, croup and group A streptococcus.
Viral infections such as common cold, influenza, or mononucleosis, as well as the less prevalent bacterial infection, strep throat can cause pharyngitis.
In some rare cases, gonorrhea, chlamydia, and corynebacterium can also cause bacterial pharyngitis and everyone knows how easy virus and bacteria can spread when people share cups and spoons so it will be best not to do it even with people very close to us to prevent spreading diseases.
3。Going to Crowded Places
Again, avoiding close contact with anyone who may be carrying bacteria or viral infection in them may help prevent acquiring anything which may cause pharyngitis. Some infectious and contagious diseases are airborne and people working in healthcare are constantly exposed so it is best to avoid crowded places altogether unless one’s job calls for it. If that is the case, the person must always protect himself by avoiding close contact and eating immune boosting food.
4。Having Poor Hygiene
People who are unable to make it a habit to wash their hands often before eating and after coughing or sneezing can be a contributor in the spread of disease. They can also get it easily by not washing after exposing themselves or touching infected areas.
5。Not Using Disinfectants
Simply keeping themselves and their surroundings clean may not be enough in preventing infection completely. Using alcohol-based hand sanitizers when soap and water aren’t available is highly recommended to keep the usual culprits of throat infections away.
6。Exposing Oneself to Smoke
Exposure to secondhand smoke can increase the risk of getting pharyngitis so one should avoid inhaling second hand smoke and avoid smoking too. Again, anything which is bad for the overall immunity can cause pharyngitis and this is especially true when people smoke.
If you have been experiencing symptoms such as voice changes, constant coughing, pain when swallowing, ear pain and sore throat that has not disappeared for more than two weeks, get yourself checked by a qualified doctor. It could be nothing but it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.
For details of the ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
http://www.hkentspecialist.hk
6 Risk Factors of Chronic Laryngitis
Laryngitis is the inflammation of the larynx or voice box which contains the vocal cords, causing it to be irritated and swollen.
When the vocal cords are swollen, the sound produced by the air passing through them becomes distorted. The sound of the voice becomes hoarse as a result and in some cases, the voice can even become undetectable.
It can be caused either by a respiratory infection, such as a cold, bronchitis or sinusitis; exposure to irritating substances – cigarette smoke, alcohol, stomach acid or harmful chemicals; and excessive singing, shouting and talking.
Laryngitis is preventable if every person knows how to take care of their voices. Keeping oneself healthy to fight off viral infections that cause colds, sinusitis and bacterial infections as well as not overusing one’s voice by constant yelling and not engaging in activities that cause vocal strain, can all contribute to the prevention of acute laryngitis that usually leads to chronic laryngitis.
Being aware of the risk factors will also help you stay away from bad habits that lead to this disease.
1.All Kinds of Smoke
Smoking can cause irritation of the vocal cords. Cigarette and tobacco smoke are the common culprits but all kinds of smoke must be avoided, especially second hand smoke or burning leaves. Inhaled irritants, like chemical fumes and allergens can cause chronic laryngitis.
2.Dehydration
Excessive alcohol use can drain the body of water causing the throat to be dry. Caffeine can also make you lose more body water than usual.
Both can lessen the amount of total body water. It is advisable to drink plenty of liquid as fluids keep the mucus in the throat thin and easy to clear.
3.Stomach Acid
Stomach acid can go into the throat and esophagus and cause acid reflux, heartburn or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). Spicy food is one of the number one culprits of this. Stomach acid is one of the causes of chronic laryngitis.
4.Unhealthy Diet
Not including a variety of healthy foods in their daily intake can make people prone to chronic laryngitis. Fruits, vegetables and whole grains have very useful vitamins such as vitamins A,E and C. These vitamins are very important for overall health and they keep mucous membranes in the throat healthier.
5.Clearing the Throat
Clearing the throat does more harm than good. It causes the throat to secrete more mucus and it becomes more irritated. Doing it will only make the person want to clear his throat again. This also causes an abnormal vibration on the vocal cords and the strain can increase swelling.
6.Exposure to People with Upper Respiratory Infections
Upper respiratory infections and colds are highly contagious and with any illness, its the throat that manifests symptoms of infection first.
It is safe to stay away from crowded places and it is advisable to wash hands often.
Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.
For details of the ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
http://www.hkentspecialist.hk
4 Ways to Remedy Post-Nasal Drip
Some of us wake up with a dry throat and all it takes is one glass of water. For the unfortunate ones, it’s a trip straight to the bathroom sink and an ensuing session of hacking throat noises every morning. In this article, we’re going to show you some of the most common remedies to help ease the post-nasal drip and how to avoid it in the future.
Drinking water.
If you suffer from post nasal drip, your instinct to grab a glass of water is well founded. Most of the time, post nasal drip occurs because there’s a lack of moisture in your throat and nasal cavities and the body compensates by producing mucus. Mucus is naturally thick and drinking healthy amounts of water helps it thin down, making it easier for you to clear your throat.
Drinking water also helps stimulate little hairs in your windpipe called cilia that push secretions up and out from your lungs. Drinking water and the cilia work together to clear your nasopharyngeal tract of mucosal remains.
Sleeping with more pillows.
It’s not just for the neck and back pain – sleeping with pillows propped up help support your airway and prevent mucus from accumulating at the back of your throat. This will also promote proper and unobstructed breathing.
Aside from helping avoid post nasal drip, this reduces your risk for sleep apnea. Sleep apnea and post nasal drip can be a bad combination for people with existing heart problems, so making sure you sleep right (and semi-upright) also contributes to a longer lifespan, in addition to a clearer airway.
Pop that Benadryl.
This is very useful for people with allergic rhinitis. Postnasal drip is one of the problems people with rhinitis have to deal with, in concurrence with endless episodes of sneezing. Allergic rhinitis occurs in response to dust, pollen, and certain chemicals. During allergic rhinitis, the body fights back by producing more mucus to trap the allergens.
To help your body tone down the overreaction, you can take antihistamines. Benadryl, Allegra, or Claritin reduce the activity of the immune system and eventually minimize the production of mucus. This should help you breathe easy in the mornings.
Using humidifiers.
If you prefer dealing with post nasal drips with the least effort possible, investing in a good humidifier at home can help. Post nasal drips become cling to the back of your throat better in dry weather.
It’s the same concept as drinking water, except the application is external rather than a process started by the body. Some manufacturers also include essential oils for you to mix in the humidifier. Aim for the warm setting in a humidifier if you have thick mucus, or if you have a sore throat, use the cool setting.
Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.
For details of the ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
http://www.hkentspecialist.hk
3 Best Cures for Allergic Rhinitis Symptoms
When you’re sneezing non stop after a dusting session at home, or you find yourself with an itchy and runny nose after visiting the pet shop, chances are, you have allergic rhinitis. It’s a very common disease and it affects 20% of the human population.
Medical experts can only explain how it happens but they don’t have an idea what causes it in the first place. There are several remedies, and thanks to medical advances, rhinitis is just one antihistamine pill away. If you opt for homeopathic remedies, some ingredients are readily available at a supermarket. Read more to find out.
Avoiding your allergens.
We’ll start off with preventive measures because “prevention is the best cure.” The very first step to not suffer allergies is to find out which allergen your body reacts to. Thankfully, you can go to a clinic for some tests but if you’d like a fancier experience, you can visit an immunologist and allergy expert.
They will conduct several tests so you can find out which allergen you’re most averse to. We’ll give you a heads up – the most common cause for allergic rhinitis are either of the following: dust, pollen, and dander. The first allergen can be avoided by keeping your home clean, the second one – by staying indoors, and the last one by opting for short haired or hairless breeds, or other pet alternatives (if you still want to keep a pet, that is)
Antihistamines.
Over-the-counter brands for antihistamines include Claritin, Benadryl, and Allegra. Most of these histamines work the same way – they reduce the activity of histamine receptors that are the primary cause for the sneezing, runny nose, and itchy eyes and throat.
Because they limit the production of an immune response, that means an absence of defensive barriers like mucus. You’ll probably need to drink water or use a humidifier in addition to taking the medications because your nasal passages and your throat will dry out. As with any other medication, always consult your physician prior to taking these drugs.
Corticosteroids.
If the antihistamines only acted on receptors, corticosteroids are medications that act on the hormones associated with producing histamines. This means that you won’t suffer the symptoms of rhinitis and the added benefit of not having to experience dryness in your mucous membranes.
The only downside to this is that it has to be taken as a preventive medication. It means that once the allergies have started, taking corticosteroids will reduce the severity of existing symptoms but at this point, taking an antihistamine is the better option.
Some popular corticosteroids for allergies include dexamethasone, prednisone, prednisolone under the brand names Dilacort, Pevanti, Decadron, or Dexpak.
These are just some of the few medications to the symptomatic treatment of allergies. There are homeopathic remedies too, but be careful as some of these all natural remedies still remain untested and may not be medically approved.
Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.
For details of the ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
http://www.hkentspecialist.hk
4 Self-Help Options for A Choking Accident
People usually rush into panic when they’re choking and will instinctively ask for water if they can still speak. If people are around, they can ask for help either by calling an ambulance and letting them perform a Heimlich maneuver. If choking is not resolved, it can lead to loss of consciousness, and possibly death.
In the extremely rare case you choke and you are alone, the following steps ensure your chances of survival.
1．Stay calm and do not expend unnecessary effort.
You want your body to not demand too much oxygen and the best way to do this is by moving only as much as necessary. Your blood has limited oxygen supply and you’re only conscious as long as your heart is able to pump blood efficiently.
Any erratic behavior or forceful movements can increase your heart’s activity and your body will respond by consuming more oxygen to burn energy, and in turn, this will signal the brain for you to breathe more. This places you at a greater risk by letting the object go down deeper in your airways.
2．Call 999 immediately.
WIth the limited amount of time on your hand, calling for a first responder is important. If you’re able to talk, that’s good news. Waste no breath in telling your name and address (and of course the fact that you’re choking).
3．Perform Heimlich maneuver on yourself.
Your body is amazing at self-preservation. If you find yourself coughing, do not attempt to suppress it. Cough forcefully until the foregin object drops out. If it doesn’t work in the first few quick tries then it’s time to perform a Heimlich maneuver.
Position yourself so your body is parallel to the floor. You can do this by resting the upper half of your body on a counter or chair. Using one of your hands balled up in a fist, position it above the navel and cover it with your other hand. Try to push inwards and upwards at the same time in quick thrusts.
4．Ask for help from the nearest person.
If you live with neighbors in an apartment, it’s usually smarter to rush for help to allow them to do the Heimlich maneuver on you. This is the best method as you will no longer be able to perform Heimlich on yourself if you’re unconscious. The person in charge of an unconscious individual can do CPR until help arrives.
Nobody has to undergo these tedious steps so the best way is to avoid the risk of choking altogether.
5．How to avoid choking:
- Eat food slowly and in bite sized amounts only.
- Refrain from eating too much while drunk.
- Refrain from getting drunk.
- Be careful with sticky food i.e. prepare water or beverage to help push down the food.
- Avoid talking while chewing.
- Alternate eating and drinking to help facilitate swallowing.
Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.
For details of the ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
http://www.hkentspecialist.hk
4 Things To Do Immediately When You Lose Your Voice
Loss of voice or a hoarseness in the voice isn’t life threatening but when it gets in the way of communicating with your family or friends, it can be very inconvenient. Perhaps you’d stayed longer than usual at a karaoke place or you may have gotten too excited at the winner of the World Cup Series.
Laryngitis happens for a number of reasons. It can be caused by an infection, a strained vocal cord, or a combination of the two. Regardless of the reason, here list 4 things to do when you lose your voice to help you get your voice back.
1．Zip it, Thanos.
The very first thing you want to do after losing your voice is refraining from talking. Your larynx has muscle components and gets worked out very similar to how you train your muscles in the gym. Making sure it gets ample rest gives it time to heal itself.
Laryngitis resolves itself in a week and usually does not need hospitalization or medications. Keeping quiet is all you need to do.
2．Avoid coffee.
Hot beverages are supposed to help someone with a sore throat right? The answer to that is yes, and the reason why coffee isn’t helpful despite being a hot beverage is that it does more harm than good.
Caffeine is a diuretic – it will make you have frequent visits to the bathroom and the only way to get back what you’ve lost is drinking lots of water. That’s why vocal coaches stress on the importance of keeping hydrated. It’s the same method in the fitness industry where hydration is very important to muscle recovery. Your ability to speak is possible because of these muscles.
3．Sleep.
More often than not, laryngitis is an aftermath of a very tiring cheering squad practice or an intense singing lesson. Sleeping will help direct your body’s efforts in repairing the damaged parts.
It’s also easier for the heart to pump blood when you’re horizontal, and blood rich with nutrients and oxygenated red blood cells will help repair your voice box.
4．Use a humidifier.
These devices work by delivering moist air into the surrounding area. They’re not only useful for people afflicted with allergies, but they’re also good for people who have lost their voice. If drinking water is painful, then delivering moisture by breathing it in is an alternative.
If your humidifier has an option to use a cool or warm mist, choose the cool one if you’re experiencing severe inflammation. If the laryngitis is caused by an infection, it’s more ideal to use the warm mist setting. The additional warmth will kill most bacteria as they don’t survive above normal body temperatures.
Did you find the information useful? If so, continue reading our posts.
For details of the ENT services, diagnosis, and treatment, please consult our ENT specialist.
Source:
HK ENT Specialist Ltd.
Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre
For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,
Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,
Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services
http://www.hkentspecialist.hk
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另所有文章內使用的人名均為化名。