What is Snoring? Snoring is a common disorder that occurs when a sleeping person breathes and tissues in the back of the throat vibrate. Often, the snoring sound is produced by vibrations of the soft palate, which is located in the tissue in the back of the mouth. Sometimes snoring sounds can be produced by the tongue base moving during sleep. Snoring implies that there is a partial obstruction of the airflow during sleep.

Is it Serious? Snoring is not always serious, but it is never normal. When one snores, it indicates that there is some obstruction of airflow during sleep. When snoring is extremely mild, it often doesn’t require treatment, but it does require further assessment to determine if it is potentially serious. It is important to note that the mildness of the snoring does not always correlate with the severity of the airway obstruction.

How is primary snoring different from sleep apnea? In primary snoring, oxygen levels are maintained at a normal level and there is not a significant airway obstruction. In addition, the obstruction is not enough to cause arousal and sleep is not disrupted. In sleep apnea, there is partial obstruction of airflow that causes oxygen levels to drop.

What is sleep apnea? Sleep apnea is a disorder in which a person has obstructed airflow during sleep. The obstructed airflow causes damage because oxygen levels drop during the disrupted breathing. This drop in oxygen levels causes a change in the pulse and blood pressure, which causes damage to the cardiovascular system and may cause disrupted sleep that is not detected by the patient. Sometimes, sleep apnea occurs without snoring.

What happens if sleep apnea is left untreated? The long-term effects of untreated sleep apnea include weight gain, fatigue, irritability, depression, sexual dysfunction, hypertension, and heart disease.

What are the symptoms of hyperparathyroidism? 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.

My calcium levels have been elevated. Does this mean that I need to have my parathyroid gland removed? 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.

What is sinusitis and how is it treated? 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.

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

What is tonsillitis and what are its symptoms? Tonsillitis is an infection of the tonsils. Symptoms of tonsillitis include severe sore throat, difficulty swallowing, headache, fever and chills.

What is an allergy? 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.

What causes an allergy? 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.

What are the most common allergens? 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.

What is the best treatment for allergies? Allergen avoidance is the best treatment for any allergic disease. Avoid the allergen and you’ll avoid the allergic reaction. Diagnosis and education are crucial steps in allergen avoidance.

I think I’m losing my hearing. Does that mean I need hearing aids? Not necessarily. But any hearing loss should be checked out by an audiologist.

What causes an ear infection (otitis media)? 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.

What causes swimmer’s ear (otitis externa)? 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.

What is ringing in the ear (tinnitus)? 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.

Why am I dizzy? 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.

Are there specific risk factors for head and neck cancers? Yes. Tobacco, alcohol and prolonged sunlight exposure are the most common risk factors.

What are the warning signs of head and neck cancers? 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

What exactly is vertigo? 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.

What are common causes of vertigo? Many things can cause vertigo, but it is commonly caused by cold viruses, head trauma, or Meniere’s disease.

What do these conditions do to cause this problem? 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.