IPhone App for Tinnitus (White Noise)

While scanning for new iPhone apps of interest for ENT uses, I came across one called "White Noise." In essence, this program produces background white noise to help in noisy environments, but can just as easily be used to help reduce tinnitus. As many tinnitus sufferers are aware, the tinnitus is loudest when the environment is very quiet. White noise helps in this situation reduce a person's awareness of tinnitus.

The iPhone app alows one to customize the type of noise (waterfall, jungle, rain, etc) and for how long it should play for. There's other features where one can customize the sound itself (volume, balance, pitch) depending on the sound selected.

Click here to check it out on iTunes!

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iPhone App for Food Allergies!

It recently came to my attention of a new iPhone app that addresses food allergies. The app is called Allergy Guard and comes in two versions (one free and one paid).

Click here to check it out in iTunes.

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New Sleep Lab That Offers Sleep Studies From Age 2 Years to Adults!

I was recently informed that we finally have a sleep lab that can perform sleep studies not only in adults, but also in kids as young as 2 years of age. Prior to this lab, kids had to be sent to Charlottesville, VA or Washington DC in order to obtain a sleep study.

The sleep lab is called 1st Class Sleep Center and they are located in Gainesville, VA. They share the same parking lot as the Lake Manassas Cancer Center.

This is quite the boom in terms of convenience for patients.

You can check them out here.

Address:
7915 Lake MAnassas Drive, Suite 305
Gainesville, VA 20155

Phone:
703-385-9222

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Even Figure Skaters Get Nosebleeds (During Competition)!

If anyone was watching the figure skating short program for the 2010 Olympics last night (2/23/10), you may have seen American figure skater Mirai Nagasu get a bloody nose halfway through her program.

"Even though I felt the blood come down my nose, I said, 'Don't stop, keep going,' she said, blaming the dry air for her malady. 'I still did the best I could.'"

Read more about this in the NYT here.

Pictures can be found here.

Read more about nosebleeds and how one can treat them here.

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CNN: Head & Neck Cancer Afflicting the Famous

CNN on 2/19/10 published a story portraying Roger Ebert (film critic) and George Karl (Denver Nuggets coach) diagnosed with head and neck cancer and the problems, suffering, disability associated with its treatment.

Read the story here.

Read an earlier story of Roger Ebert specifically here.

Here's another story in Esquire.

The picture portrays tongue cancer (stage 2 squamous cell carcinoma).

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Did you know that a few US Presidents also succumbed to head and neck cancer? Ulysses Grant had throat cancer (heavy drinker and smoker). Grover Cleveland had jaw cancer (also a heavy smoker and drinker).

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New Webpage on Chronic Throat Clearing

We have added a new webpage to our practice website addressing a common complaint of patients called "Chronic Throat Clearing."

Check it out here!

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WSJ: Ear Candles Are Hazardous To Your Ears!

The Wall Street Journal published a story on 2/18/2010 and the hazards of using ear candles to remove earwax. In the story titled "FDA: That Wax in Your Ear Shouldn’t Be a Burning Candle," the FDA states that:

"Consumers should steer clear of ear candles — hollow cones that are about 10 inches long and made from a fabric tube soaked in beeswax, paraffin, or a mixture of the two.”

In fact, the FDA has seized some ear candles and sent warning letters to three big manufacturers saying that such products weren’t approved in the U.S. Read the FDA info here.

In our office, we see about one patient a month where ear candles were used with disastrous results including:

1) Burns to the ear canal skin
2) Burns to the eardrum
3) Eardrum ruptures
4) Hearing loss due to wax from the candle

It is worth repeating... do NOT use ear candles.

Read the WSJ story here.

Read more about earwax and its treatment here.

If earwax is a big problem, try a liquid earwax removal substance like debrox.

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New Webpage on the Phlegmy Throat!

A new webpage has been created to inform patients on the various causes of the phlegmy throat as well as treatment. The phlegmy throat is also described as a constant sensation of mucus in the throat leading some patients to also complain of constant throat-clearing, cough, and globus sensation.

Check it out here!

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"Say Ahh!" GE Commercial Acknowledging What ENTs Do Best

I saw this commercial while watching the Olympics last night. In a nod to what otolaryngologists do best, this ad by GE attempts to show their commitment to bring better health to more people all over the world. Say "ahh!"

For those curious, the music was taken from Beethoven's 9th Symphony, 4th movement, otherwise known as "Ode to Joy."

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New Paper Published by Dr. Chang Titled "Bilateral Aberrant Internal Carotid Artery"

Dr. Chang has published a new paper titled "Bilateral Aberrant Internal Carotid Artery." This paper was published in ENT Journal March 2010, pages 114-115.

Pubmed ID 20229475.

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New Webpage Has Been Created to Assist Patients Diagnose Their Dizziness!

A new webpage has been created in flowchart format to help patients diagnose what may be causing their symptoms of dizziness. The questions asked guide patients to a possible diagnosis that MIGHT be causing their dizziness as well as to get an idea of what kind of studies may be obtained when they see a doctor. Keep in mind that these questions are geared towards an ENT workup... ie, focus is on determing whether the ears may be playing a role or not.

Click here to check it out!

Of course, any information provided on the website should not be considered medical advice or a substitute for a consultation with a physician. If you have a medical problem, contact your local physician for diagnosis and treatment.

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New Webpage on Rhinitis Medicamentosa (Nasal Decongestant Spray Addiction)

A new webpage has been created and uploaded to our website on rhinitis medicamentosa, a devastating sinus/nasal condition with symptoms of severe chronic obstruction/congestion. This condition occurs when over-the-counter nasal decongestant sprays are used more frequently (every 12 hours) and longer (3-5 days) than directed.

Such nasal decongestant sprays include the common and popular Afrin and Zicam nasal sprays. These sprays contain one of these active ingredients: phenylephrine, neo-synephrine, oxymetazoline, and xylometazoline.

This condition has also been portrayed in the New York Times and the article can be read here.

Check out the webpage here.

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Fauquier ENT iPhone App Sold Thru iTunes!

Well... soon... someday...

There's a nifty website called AppMakr that creates a customized iPhone app based on Blog articles, YouTube feeds, and Twitter accounts via keywords or a web address. Though one can play around with the customized iPhone application virtually on a computer for free, to actually publish the app onto iTunes and download to an iPhone costs a bit of money. $199.99 to be exact.

You can play around with our virtual iPhone application here.

Once we hit over 100 subscriptions to our blog and/or 500 followers on our twitter account, we'll consider actually creating this iPhone app you can use on an iPhone (sold thru iTunes).

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