ENT

Hyperparathyroidism affects every system in the body. Common symptoms include fatigue, mood changes, irritability, depression and even memory loss. Generalized symptoms of ill health are also very common with hyperparathyroidism.

Elevated calcium levels are never normal. Although there can be many reasons for elevated calcium levels, the most common is primary hyperparathyroidism, though the symptoms are vague and often go unnoticed. If left untreated, hyperparathyroidism can cause osteopenia, osteoporosis, and a generalized feeling of malaise and fatigue. In most situations, we can correct these problems with a minimally invasive, simple procedure.

This is a surgical technique to remove the abnormal gland under local or general anesthesia. In most cases, this procedure is done through a very small incision that is camouflaged and results in minimal to no scarring. In some cases, it can also be done with robotic assistance without any neck incision. At ChicagoENT, the procedure is simple and requires approximately 15 minutes to remove the abnormal gland.

No. Most thyroid nodules do not need to be removed; however all thyroid nodules should be biopsied to help rule out other factors. The biopsies are done with a technique known as fine needle aspiration, a simple blood test. The results of this test will determine if the nodule has to be removed.

Minimally invasive thyroid surgery is done to avoid scarring. Incisions are camouflaged into natural skin creases and are therefore minimized. Plus, the minimally-invasive technique allows for faster recovery. Typically, this technique also involves new technology that protects the important superior and recurrent laryngeal nerves near the gland. It can be performed as an outpatient or inpatient with local or general anesthesia.

Robotic surgery is available for select patients who want to avoid any incision on the neck. It is a relatively new technique that is among the leading-edge surgical options .

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the lungs in which the airways narrow. This usually occurs in response to a trigger such as exposure to an allergen, exercise, or emotional stress.

Common asthma triggers include allergens (dust, pollens, molds, animal dander), medications, air pollution, industrial chemical compounds, early childhood infections, perfumes and strong smells, cold air, exercise, and emotional stress.

Since asthma symptoms can closely resemble symptoms of other respiratory problems such as emphysema and bronchitis, asthma often remains undiagnosed for long periods of time. Some people live with asthma for years, thinking they have a bad cough or chronic bronchitis. Doctors diagnose asthma with laboratory tests such as spirometry (which measures the air inhaled and exhaled from the lungs), peak flow monitoring (which measures how much air a person can expel from the lungs), chest x-rays, blood tests, and allergy skin tests.

The experience differs among individuals. Some asthma sufferers say an asthma attack feels like they are taking deep breaths of cold air and others describe it as feeling suffocated. Asthma attacks make it painful and difficult to breathe, and the asthma sufferer often coughs and wheezes during an attack.

When an asthma attack is brought on by a trigger, muscles around the airways become inflamed, swollen, and constricted, making it difficult to breathe. Excess mucus in the airways makes it even more difficult to breathe.

Allergic asthma is asthma that is triggered by an allergen. Approximately 60% of asthma sufferers have allergic asthma.

There is no cure for asthma, but it can be controlled with medical treatment, education, and allergen avoidance.

The best way to treat asthma is to avoid the allergens or triggers that cause an asthma attack. However, allergen avoidance is not always possible. Drug therapy, consisting of anti-inflammatory medications, reduces inflammation and swelling.

Some people stop having asthma attacks as they get older, but in the majority of cases asthma is a chronic disease that requires treatment. If you have asthma, your best plan is to learn how to manage the asthma and to avoid triggers.

Sinusitis is an inflammation of the sinuses, which may or may not be due to infection and can occur in any of the sinuses. Patients usually feel a combination of pain, pressure or headache. Sinusitis can be acute or chronic—if it’s acute sinusitis, it can usually be treated with medication.

Sinus surgery is often necessary when a person with sinusitis does not get better after trying medication or other treatments.

Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils. Symptoms of tonsillitis include severe sore throat, difficulty swallowing, headache, fever and chills.

An allergy is an abnormally high sensitivity to a certain substance, such as dust, pollens, foods, pet dander, or drugs. Symptoms of allergies usually include inflammation, sneezing, itching, and skin rashes.

An allergic reaction occurs when your immune system reacts to a foreign substance from the outside world. When your immune system mistakes these normally harmless foreign substances as dangerous invaders, your body sends out antibodies to attack them.

The most common allergens include dust mites, molds, pollens, animal dander, cockroaches, peanuts, milk, eggs, latex, and penicillin. The dust mite is the most common cause of allergies.

An allergist or immunologist can diagnose your allergies using allergy skin tests. This test indicates if your immune system reacts to specific allergens.

Allergies can be treated with medicine that alleviates symptoms, or with immunotherapy (allergy shots) that desensitize the patient to specific allergens. However, the best method of treating allergies is allergen avoidance. If you’re allergic to dust mites, for instance, your most effective path to wellness would be to eliminate the dust mites from your home.

Usually. There is a genetic factor in the development of allergic disease. If one parent has allergic disease, the estimated risk of a child to develop allergies is 48%; if both parents have a history of allergies, the child’s estimated risk grows to 70%.

When most people talk about “allergy season,” they’re referring to springtime, when plants bloom and tree pollen counts soar. People with seasonal allergic rhinitis (hay fever) only experience symptoms during the time of year when certain allergens are in the outdoor air. However, summer is the season for grass and weed pollen allergies, and autumn is the time for ragweed and mold allergies. Perennial allergies, or year-round allergies, are typically caused by indoor allergies to dust mites, mold, cockroaches, and pet dander.

Not necessarily. But any hearing loss should be checked out by an audiologist.

An ear infection occurs when there is improper drainage of the fluid that collects behind the ear drum during a cold, allergy or upper respiratory infection and is accompanied with the presence of bacteria or viruses.

Otitis externa is a bacterial infection of the outer ear and ear canal causing inflammation which causes an earache. It is typically caused by exposure to water.

Some patients say it sounds like buzzing, clicking, hissing or humming. It can be perceived in one or both ears. It is usually caused by wax, allergy, ear infections, certain medications, circulatory problems and most commonly, prolonged exposure to loud noises.

Dizziness and imbalance can have both vestibular and non-vestibular causes. The inner ear’s vestibular organs signal to your brain whether you are moving, and how your head is oriented relative to gravity. Your brain then integrates these signals with those received from your eyes, muscles, and joints. When any part of the vestibular system malfunctions, this process of integration breaks down, and dizziness and other symptoms may result. Medical evaluation from one of our qualified vestibular specialists is essential to determine whether your dizziness is caused by a vestibular problem, some other cause, or a combination of factors.

Yes. Tobacco, alcohol and prolonged sunlight exposure are the most common risk factors.

It depends on the location of the cancer. Sometimes there are no warning signs. Having any of the following symptoms for more than two weeks warrants visiting one of our specialists:

• A sore or lump on the lip or in the mouth that doesn’t heal
• A white (leukoplakia) or red patch on the gums, tongue or lining of the mouth
• Unusual bleeding
• Pain or numbness in the mouth
• A sore throat that does not go away
• Difficult or painful chewing or swallowing
• A change in the voice like hoarseness

The precise definition of vertigo is an illusion of motion. But most vertigo sufferers would agree that it refers not just to illusions of motion but chronic or intermittent sensations of loss of balance.

Many things can cause vertigo, but it is commonly caused by cold viruses, head trauma, or Meniere’s disease.

These are all conditions that affect the inner ear. The inner ear is responsible for our sense of balance and also our sense of position in space. When the inner ear malfunctions, we lose our sense of balance and frequently suffer symptoms such as falling, vertigo, nausea and vomiting.