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Dr. Michael Burnett Specializes in Problems of the Ear, Nose, Sinuses and Throat.

An ear, nose and throat specialist (ENT) is a physician trained in the medical and surgical treatment of the ears, nose, throat, and related structures of the head and neck. They have special expertise in managing diseases of the ears, nose and nasal passage sinuses, larynx (voice box), oral cavity and upper pharynx (mouth and throat), as well as structures of the neck and face. ENT is the oldest medical specialty in the United States.

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Category Archives: Hoarseness

Extreme Snoring or Hoarseness of the Throat

If you are suffering from extreme snoring or hoarseness of the throat, read on to learn more about these. conditions and treatment options. ENT specialists treat conditions of the throat and are often consulted by patients to alleviate the often painful symptoms of these conditions.

Extreme snoring or hoarseness of the throat treatment info NY
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What is Snoring?

Snoring is the hoarse and harsh sound that’s produced when air flows past your throat’s relaxed tissue and causes them to vibrate. The vibration produces a sound as you breathe, resulting in a snoring sound. Snoring is relatively common nowadays, but for some people, it may indicate a serious health condition. Not only can it prove to be a chronic problem, but it can also be annoying for your partner.

Snoring Symptoms

Most doctors associate snoring with a sleep disorder known as Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). Below are a few symptoms that could alert you about the seriousness of the complication.

  • Excessive sleeping (especially at daytime)
  • Difficulty in concentrating
  • Headaches when you wake up
  • Sore throat
  • Difficulty sleeping
  • High blood pressure

OSA is identified as loud snoring, a sound that occurs when you breathe in your sleep. Some of the cases may cause breathing to stop, which ultimately wakes you up. Oftentimes, patients suffering from OSA may wake up gasping for air. These patients regularly face such issues, causing them to wake up, up to five times per night.

Risk Factors

There are numerous factors that increase your chances of developing OSA or becoming a snorer. We have laid down a few factors for you:

  • Being Overweight: If you are obese or very overweight, you are more likely to develop OSA and snoring problems.
  • Narrow Airway: Some people may not have a big enough air passage to prevent snoring. Meanwhile, others may have large tonsils, which narrow down the airway, resulting in snoring.
  • Drinking Alcohol: Drinking alcoholic beverages may cause your throat tissues to relax, increasing your risk of snoring.
  • Family History: In numerous cases, one of the significant factors is heredity.

Treatment Options

Looking at the severity of your issue, your doctor may suggest a few ways to overcome snoring; they include:

  • Oral Care
  • Airway Surgery
  • CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure)

During the treatment, your doctor may ask you to avoid certain things such as avoiding alcohol and losing weight

What is Hoarseness?

Hoarseness is a condition that makes your voice croaky and increases your pitch. In the majority of cases, hoarseness is not directly linked to any major issue and can be treated with the help of speech therapy. However, if the case is severe, professional care is necessary.

What Causes Hoarseness?

There are numerous causes of hoarseness, but it is often related to laryngitis. This happens when your vocals swell from an allergy or a respiratory infection. Issues of hoarseness issues can be the result of smoking as well.

Often, these cases arise from speaking too loud, shouting, or singing in a high-pitched voice. Moreover, as the person gets older, their voice gets raspier as vocal cords get thin.

Treatments for Hoarseness

Your doctor may suggest a variety of treatments. They include:

  • Antibiotics
  • Corticosteroids
  • Speech Therapy

The treatment option may differ according to the patient needs and severity of the case

Extreme Snoring or Hoarseness of the Throat: Conclusion

Dr. Michael C. Burnett, principal doctor at Ear, Nose & Throat of New York, is one of the best ENT doctors in NYC that treats extreme snoring or hoarseness issues. If you are facing these problems, give us a call today to book an appointment.

EAR, NOSE & THROAT OF NEW YORK
115 East 57th Street
Suite 600
New York, NY 10022
212-867-4813

Sore Throat: Causes, Prevention, Symptoms & Treatment

A sore throat is one of the most common symptoms that many of us go through due to a few reasons. A sore throat usually gets better after a few days, but in some cases, it keeps progressing, leading to a bigger health risk. Sore throat is the feeling of a dry and itchy throat that is sometimes quite painful. For some, sore throats are highly unbearable, and there are a few things you can do to cure the pain you experience due to a sore throat. To learn more about a sore throat and deal with it, you must read this article further below.

Sore Throat | Causes, Prevention, Symptoms & Treatment
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What Causes a Sore Throat?

1.     Bacterial Infection

If you’re suffering from a bacterial infection such as strep throat, then you’re most likely to experience throat ache. Strep throat is an infection that directly affects the tonsils and throat.

2.     Viral Infections

One of the most common viral infections that we experience is a cold and flu. You will sometimes notice that it’s also your throat that starts hurting whenever you’re suffering from the flu. According to research, about 90% of sore throats derive from viruses. Other than a common cold and flu, viruses like measles, mumps, chickenpox, COVID19, and mononucleosis may cause a sore throat.

3.     Chemicals

Unfortunately, the air we breathe has many chemicals due to poor care cleaning practices and industrial wastes, smoke, etc. Different chemicals and substances from air pollution, cleaning products, and smoking ignite throat infections such as a sore throat.

4.     Allergies

If you’re allergic to pollen, pet’s fur, and grass, you’re most likely to develop a sore throat. When these allergies get triggered, you experience many symptoms such as congestion, sneezing, watery eyes, and sore throat.

5.     Gastroesophageal Reflux

Gastroesophageal reflux is a stomach infection in which all the gases start to gather in your stomach, causing slight inflammation. The acid reflux and goes up to your esophagus tube, which causes sore throat.

6.     Injury

You could also suffer from a sore throat if in case you get an injury on your throat. This injury could include a cut on your neck or getting something stuck in your throat. Sometimes injuries in the throat take place by talking too much or screaming too loud for long hours.

Common Symptoms of Sore Throat

Mentioned below are some of the common symptoms you may experience during a sore throat. The symptoms vary depending on the cause of throat soreness.

  • Difficulty in swallowing food
  • Unable to talk properly in your normal voice
  • Itchy throat
  • Slight burning and pain in the throat
  • Swollen neck glands
  • White patches on tonsils
  • Swelling on tonsils

Treatment for Sore Throat

There are many treatment options available for a sore throat, and you can carry all of these treatments at home. You will need to grab a few ingredients from your kitchen and use them till you feel better and achieve instant relief.

The best home remedy for sore throat is by gargling your throat with saltwater. All you have to do is get a glass of water and mix one teaspoon of salt. Repeat this twice a day to achieve quicker healing. You should also stick to a warm diet that involves drinking fluids such as warm soup, tea with honey, and different herbal teas. Keep chewing in lozenges or a hard piece of minty candy as this provides instant relief from the itchiness and burning caused by a sore throat.

ENT Doctor for Sore Throat
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The easiest way to achieve quick healing is by resting your vocal cords. Avoid screaming or talking unnecessarily as this is when your voice box needs the most rest. You can also keep a cool humidifier in your room as this helps add moisture to the air, making it good for breathing.

How to Prevent Sore Throat

You can do a few things to avoid a sore throat, and the best way to do that is by keeping yourself clean and avoiding germs. The spread of germs is one of the few reasons that make you prone to a sore throat, especially in children.

There are a few basic hygiene practices that you must regularly maintain to avoid this painful condition. These include regularly washing your hands, using hand sanitizers, and avoid touching objects in public places. You should also not share food or utensils, especially with someone who is sick. Besides, regularly disinfect things around your house that you make the most contact with.

Bottom-Line

Now that you’re aware of what a sore throat is and how to treat and prevent it, you must educate others around you as well. It is always good to maintain a healthy lifestyle and avoid small health issues like this. If you need to get in touch with a good ENT specialist, consider top NYC ENT Doctor Michael Burnett MD at Ear, Nose & Throat of New York to achieve the best treatment for ENT related problems in NYC.

Hoarseness Of The Throat

If you feel like there’s been a major difference in your voice from your normal tone, you may be experiencing a vocal cord condition known as hoarseness. Hoarseness of the throat is a symptom that leads to changes in your voice, causing a pitchy strained voice whenever you speak. One of the major reasons for this type of symptom is a disorder related to the larynx. Hoarseness is a condition that goes away quickly if you get the right treatments. However, sometimes hoarseness can prolong, and if it doesn’t go away within two weeks, you need to seek medical help immediately. To learn more about hoarseness, continue to read this article further.

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Causes that Lead to Hoarseness of the Throat

There are a few reasons you may experience hoarseness, which is when your larynx starts to harden up. Mentioned below are a few major causes of Hoarseness:

1.     Laryngitis

Laryngitis is a health condition in which your vocal cords get inflamed. This issue derives from an infection in your upper respiratory tract or constant yelling and signing. Laryngitis is quite common and gets cured within a few days. Not to mention, it is one of the most common reasons behind voice hoarseness.

2.     Acid Reflux

Acid reflux is a common gastric problem that usually triggers hoarseness. When experiencing gastroesophageal reflux, the acid in your stomach starts to gather up and tends to reach the food pipe through which you swallow. This, in turn, comes in the way of your vocal cords, causing hoarseness.

3.     Allergies

Certain allergies, such as pollen or thyroid issues, tend to trigger the larynx causing hoarseness.

Other Reasons

  • Smoking
  • Larynx Cancer
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • Vocal cord paralysis
  • Cysts or Polyps in vocal cords

Best Ways to Treat Hoarseness

A few treatment options are available to treat hoarseness instantly. Usually, some people don’t require treatment as hoarseness may not last that long and gets better within a few days. If you’re suffering from an upper respiratory tract infection, the hoarseness fades away itself. However, you can use cough suppressants to fasten the healing process and sit around an air humified environment to encourage fresh and clean air.

One of the best treatments for hoarseness is staying silent. This is sometimes impossible if you’re a student or if your job requires you to speak a lot. The best you can do is to speak less and give a break to your voice box. This will give your vocal cords sometime to relax and gets better for you to scream next time.

If you’re suffering from hoarseness because of bad smoking habits, consider quitting smoking or reducing it. A few medications help treat gastroesophageal reflux and allergies that are the reasons for your hoarseness.

Surgery is the last treatment option available that you can only consider if your doctor feels like you have polypus triggering your vocal cords. Often, people who have larynx cancer receive surgical treatment.

Prevention Methods for Hoarseness

Mentioned below are a few ways you can avoid hoarseness next time:

  • Drink ample amounts of water daily to help clear your internal system and prevent you from many other illnesses
  • Quit smoking and avoid being in areas where you can passively smoke
  • Maintain a healthy diet, and avoid foods that encourage too much spice. It’s also best to avoid high consumption of alcohol
  • Speak in a subtle tone, and don’t overuse your voice by screaming and yelling too much unnecessarily
  • Use home humidifiers that will promote clean air and reduce the possibilities of a throat infection and symptoms like hoarseness
  • Reduce consumption of caffeine
  • Seek treatment as soon as possible if you sense any signs of hoarseness. Delaying professional help may just make your condition worse.

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Diagnosis of Hoarseness

There are a few tests that your health professional will conduct to give you a final diagnosis of the issue you’re facing. The best way to diagnose hoarseness is through a laryngoscope. This is a medical instrument that doctors use to check signs of hoarseness. The doctor will place it at the back of your throat to examine the tissues in your throat and the voice box. You can also use a mirror to identify this by a laryngoscope that is much more reliable.

If you visit a doctor, they will first take your medical history and make a diagnosis. You will also have to go through a few lab tests and x-rays that may help make a clearer diagnosis of your condition. An ENT specialist tests your voice and can tell whether you have hoarseness or not.

Hoarseness of the Throat: Conclusion

Hoarseness can get a bit unbearable at times for a few people. Hence before it worsens, you must attain immediate medical help, preferably from a professional ENT. If you’re searching for an ENT specialist in NYC, get in touch with none other than Dr. Michael C. Burnett, MD, for immediate and effective consultation and relief.

Hoarseness: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

What Is Hoarseness?

Hoarseness is a change in the pitch or volume of your voice. The abnormal change can include your voice being harsh, deep, raspy, weak, strained, or even breathy. It can also include any other change in volume or pitch of your voice that you consider to be abnormal. Hoarseness can occur due to a wide range of reasons. However, it most commonly happens when the larynx or vocal folds in your throat are suffering from any disorder.

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While Hoarseness itself isn’t a disease, it is known to be a symptom of many diseases, which is why it is a good idea to know more about it,and find out and find out what the causes are how you can treat it.

What Cause Hoarseness?

Hoarseness can happen due to several reasons. However, the most general cause of Hoarseness lies in the disorders of the larynx or the vocal cords.

The vocal cords are present in the larynx, also known as the voice box, which is a part of our respiratory tract. You might have heard of the outer layer of the larynx since it is most commonly known as the “Adam’s apple.” Inside the larynx, the vocal cords form a very prominent “V” shape, with two bands of muscles. It is these bands or vocal cords that vibrate and produce sound every time we speak or sing. If your vocal cords were to suffer from any disorder, the quality of the sound they create would be different from what you are used to.

In other words, injury, irritation, or inflammation to the vocal cords can result in hoarseness. Fortunately, the causes of this hoarseness usually are viral, temporary, and tend not to last long. If it lasts less than two weeks, then that is normal. However, if hoarseness causes difficulty in breathing or if it lasts longer than two weeks, then that can be a sign of a more serious issue. For that reason, consider booking an appointment with an ENT specialist immediately.

Apart from this most common cause of Hoarseness, other causes may include:

  • Vocal cord paralysis
  • Cysts, benign vocal cord nodules or polyps
  • Allergies, or the common cold
  • Respiratory tract infection
  • GERD or the gastroesophageal reflux
  • Thyroid problem
  • Smoking
  • Trauma to the vocal cords or larynx
  • Inhaling respiratory tract irritants
  • Larynx cancer
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Neurological disorder and conditions like Parkinson’s disease
  • Vocal abuse

Signs and Symptoms

The dead giveaway of Hoarseness is the quality of your sound. Hoarseness typically gives your voice a harsh or raspy sound. Other associated symptoms, and the rapidity of the onset of those symptoms, all depend on the underlying cause of it.

The signs, symptoms, or any other abnormality that you might notice, are your body’s way of telling you that something is wrong. You would do well not to take this lightly.

Hoarseness Doctor

Hoarseness that is recurring or persistent can very well be a warning sign of larynx cancer. The degree and severity of your diagnoses will depend entirely on your physical examination and your medical history. For this reason, we advise you to consider getting a diagnosis from a certified health care provider rather than self-diagnosing it.

Treatment of Hoarseness

While you can take easy preventive measures for Hoarseness like avoiding strenuous use of your voice and ceasing smoking, the proper treatment is somewhat tricky. The course of treatment for Hoarseness varies with each underlying cause.

For example:

  • Acute laryngitis can require conservative treatments.
  • Irritation and injury to the vocal cord can demand vocal rest.
  • GERD or gastroesophageal reflux can require medication.
  • Treating a Trauma to the vocal cords, Polyps or benging nodules, and larynx cancer may require surgery.

Final Thoughts

If Hoarseness persists for more than two weeks or is causing difficulties in breathing, then have it evaluated as soon as possible. Moreover, certified Otolaryngologist and ENT specialists like Dr. Michael C. Burnett, MD, highly suggest urgent medical attention to Hoarseness that is associated with throat pain.

In any case, you should not take Hoarseness lightly. You can get more information about your Hoarseness from Dr. Burnett by calling 212-867-4813 and visiting us at 115 East 57th Street
(Between Park + Lexington Ave.) Suite 600, New York, NY 10022.

Michael C. Burnett, MD

115 East 57th Street
(Between Park + Lexington Ave.)
Suite 600
New York, NY 10022

212-867-4813