Dr. Francisco Vazquez de la Iglesia answers readers’ questions this week via section Your expert answers. The doctor is a reputed specialist in Otorhinolaryngology.
doctor francisco vazquez de la iglesia He has a degree in Medicine and Surgery from the University of Navarra (1992-1998) and is a specialist in MIR. Otorhinolaryngology by the University Clinic of Navarra (2000–2004).
In addition, he is a Doctor of Medicine and Surgery from the University of Navarra, whose thesis has been unanimously praised as excellent: “Anatomical basis of the pharynx-esophagus segment. Characterization of the arygmophonic voice on the basis of its acoustic and aerodynamic parameters”.
Otorhinolaryngology is the medical specialty in charge of diseases of the ear, nose and throat, Important issues of our daily life such as speaking, hearing, breathing and balance depend on it.
Here are the doctor’s responses to readers’ questions:
What to do for itchy throat?
If it is due to allergies, we can take antihistamines. If the cause is due to the irritating effect of gastric contents in the throat (gastric reflux), we will treat it with an adequate diet and gastric protectors. In most cases this may be non-specific (viral picture or local irritation), in which case mouthwash, local spray or oral tablets may be used.
Is it ok to use cotton to clean ears?
This is not recommended as we will be pushing earwax into the ear canal. In addition, we can damage the skin of the ear or even the tympanic membrane.
To what extent are surgical interventions effective in eliminating snoring?
If there is an obvious anatomic abnormality, such as a deviated septum or very loose soft palate, surgery may be effective, although snoring is often a multifactorial problem.
Will my hearing loss stop at age 49? I have been wearing hearing aids since then till my current age of 73
From the age of 40-45, age-related hearing loss (presbycusis) begins, which affects all of us to a greater or lesser extent. It is a slow but progressive change, which cannot be reversed.
When to take a 3 year old child to a specialist with frequent otitis?
With more than 4 otitis media in 6 months and/or 5 otitis media per year, or when we suspect hearing loss for more than two months following an episode of otitis media.
Sometimes I get water in my ears while taking a shower, should I use earplugs?
Earplugs are indicated when the ear is pierced or there is a problem with the skin of the external auditory canal (recurrent otitis externa or eczema).
Profound hearing loss. Tinnitus in that case?
Tinnitus (noise in the ear) is a symptom that sometimes appears in people who suffer from hearing loss due to changes in the inner ear (sensorineural). The more profound the hearing loss, the greater the sensation of tinnitus. Sometimes a fitting of hearing aids can help.
What are the early symptoms of hearing loss?
If the damage occurs in the inner ear, that is, the neurosensory area where the cells that encode hearing and the auditory nerve are located, the first symptom is usually poor verbal discrimination, that is, hearing but not understanding, especially in harsh environments. noisy.
hello. I am feeling ringing in my ear since about 6 months, what do you think is the reason?
The first thing to do is a hearing test and if there is a significant difference between the two ears, we will request a brain MRI. If everything is normal, it is probably due to stress or anxiety.
Is there any cure for tinnitus?
There are medicines that can help reduce this. Avoiding toxins such as tobacco and alcohol, getting enough sleep, and playing sports regularly also help a lot. Behavioral psychotherapy may be helpful in some cases. More than 70% of tinnitus or tinnitus get cured.
Is there a solution to deal with recurrent uvulitis?
Taking oral corticosteroids in the event of significant uvula oedema. This is recommended in order to avoid possible food allergies.
Is it common to have sudden hearing loss? What could be the reasons?
This is called “sudden hearing loss” and has an incidence of 2-20/100,000 inhabitants/year. Cerebral nuclear magnetic resonance is recommended to rule out a benign tumor of the auditory nerve called a neurinoma. The most common cause is a viral infection and in patients with vascular risk factors (diabetes, hypertension) it may be due to alterations in the capillaries supplying the inner ear.