Expert Ear, Nose & Throat Care in Dubai

You should consider seeing an ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) specialist if you have persistent or recurring problems involving your ears, nose, throat, sinuses, hearing, balance, voice, swallowing, snoring or sleep.

Common reasons to see an ENT specialist include persistent nasal blockage, recurrent sinusitis, frequent tonsillitis, repeated ear infections, hearing loss, tinnitus (ringing in the ears), dizziness or vertigo, persistent sore throat, hoarseness, difficulty swallowing, nosebleeds, snoring and suspected sleep apnoea.

You should seek prompt medical assessment for symptoms such as sudden hearing loss, severe or rapidly worsening dizziness, difficulty breathing or swallowing, significant bleeding, or a new neck lump.

An ENT specialist can examine the ears, nose and throat, identify the likely cause of your symptoms and recommend appropriate investigations such as hearing tests, nasal endoscopy, imaging or sleep assessment when required.

If your ENT symptoms are persistent, recurrent or affecting your sleep, hearing, breathing or quality of life, an ENT evaluation can help identify the underlying cause rather than simply treating the symptoms.

A  blocked nose can have several causes. Common causes include allergic rhinitis, chronic sinusitis, a deviated nasal septum, enlarged turbinates, nasal polyps and other forms of nasal inflammation or obstruction.

If your nasal blockage is worse during certain seasons, around dust, pets or other triggers, allergies may be contributing. If one side of your nose is consistently more blocked than the other, a structural problem such as a deviated septum or turbinate enlargement may be involved.

Persistent nasal obstruction can also lead to mouth breathing, poor sleep, snoring, reduced sense of smell and daytime fatigue.

An ENT specialist may examine your nose and, when appropriate, perform nasal endoscopy to look deeper inside the nasal passages. Treatment depends on the cause and may include saline irrigation, allergy treatment, nasal medication or treatment of an underlying structural problem. Surgery is considered only when appropriate.

Do not assume that a blocked nose is simply “sinus.” Identifying the actual cause is important for choosing the right treatment.

Sinusitis and nasal allergies can cause similar symptoms, but they are different conditions and sometimes occur together.

Allergic rhinitis commonly causes sneezing, an itchy nose or eyes, watery nasal discharge and nasal congestion, often triggered by allergens such as dust, pollen, mould or animal dander.

Sinusitis, particularly chronic rhinosinusitis, can cause nasal blockage, facial pressure or pain, thick nasal discharge, reduced sense of smell and post-nasal drainage. Symptoms that persist or repeatedly return may require further evaluation.

The distinction is important because treatment differs. Allergies may respond to allergen avoidance, saline rinsing, antihistamines or appropriate nasal medication, whereas persistent sinus disease may require additional medical treatment or investigation.

An ENT specialist can assess your symptoms and examine the nose and sinuses. Nasal endoscopy or imaging may be recommended when clinically appropriate.

If you have frequent “sinus infections,” persistent congestion or symptoms that keep returning despite treatment, it is worth finding out whether the underlying problem is allergy, sinus disease, nasal anatomy-or a combination of these.

Snoring occurs when airflow through the upper airway becomes partially restricted during sleep, causing surrounding tissues to vibrate.

Common factors associated with snoring include nasal blockage, allergies, enlarged tonsils or adenoids, excess weight, alcohol or sedative use before sleep, sleeping position and narrowing of the throat or upper airway.

Occasional snoring may not indicate a serious problem. However, loud habitual snoring, particularly when accompanied by pauses in breathing, choking or gasping during sleep, morning headaches, excessive daytime sleepiness or difficulty concentrating, can be associated with obstructive sleep apnoea.

Treatment depends on the cause. Addressing nasal obstruction or allergies may help some people. Other patients may benefit from weight management, positional measures, oral appliances, CPAP therapy or, in selected cases, surgical treatment.

The important point is that snoring should not automatically be treated as a simple noise problem. If it is loud, persistent or associated with disturbed sleep or breathing pauses, an assessment for sleep-disordered breathing may be appropriate.

Snoring can be a sign of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), but not everyone who snores has sleep apnoea.

Sleep apnoea occurs when the upper airway repeatedly becomes blocked or significantly narrowed during sleep, causing interruptions in breathing. These episodes can lead to repeated sleep disruption and drops in oxygen levels.

Possible warning signs include:

• Loud, habitual snoring
• Witnessed pauses in breathing
• Gasping or choking during sleep
• Excessive daytime sleepiness
• Morning headaches
• Poor concentration or memory
• Waking with a dry mouth
• Restless or unrefreshing sleep
• Frequent nighttime urination

If sleep apnoea is suspected, a sleep study may be recommended to assess breathing patterns, oxygen levels and other sleep-related parameters.

Treatment depends on the severity and underlying anatomy and may include CPAP/BiPAP, oral appliance therapy, lifestyle measures, treatment of nasal obstruction and, for selected patients, surgical options.

If someone has told you that you stop breathing during sleep, do not ignore it simply because you “only snore.” Snoring accompanied by breathing pauses should be medically assessed.