No one is immune to one of the most common medical aliments in the world: a stuffy nose. Many things can cause it, from structural abnormalities to irritation from dust or dander. Only your ear nose and throat doctor can determine the precise cause of a stuffy nose, but following are some of the most common causes and some tips to keep you healthy.

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There’s nothing like the smell of fresh cut grass or the sweet scent of flowers at the Raulston Arboretum. Perhaps the fragrance of fresh cut grass reminds you of playing baseball. Have you ever been tempted by the aroma of fresh funnel cakes at the NC State Fair? If you smoke, you can say good-bye to these because smoking can damage your sense of smell. Learn more about how smoking affects your sense of smell and what you can do to fix it.

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If you lived 100 years ago, a "portable" hearing aid was the size of a filing cabinet that weighed 220 pounds. Not exactly ideal if you're trying to catch the latest show at Raleigh Little Theatre. Hearing aid technology has revolutionized assistance for those who are hard-of-hearing, and it has come a long way since its humble beginnings. Learn more about the history of hearing aids and how they work.

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Triangle residents are all too familiar with Raleigh’s beltline traffic. When everything runs smoothly, cars zip easily to their destinations. Now imagine that a lane is closed. Traffic slows, transforming your drive into a frustrating delay. Something similar happens with a chronic sinus infection. When your sinuses are irritated or swollen, nasal passageways swell, preventing drainage. This causes a “traffic jam” in your nose, which causes irritation or infection. See four common causes of sinus problems and how to resolve or manage them.

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Listening to your favorite band during a gym workout can inspire you through those last five minutes, but it may be doing irreversible damage to your hearing. One in 5 Americans experience hearing loss, but a staggering 80 percent do nothing about it. Hearing loss can lead to other problems such as tinnitus, social isolation, and sleep disturbances. It can also triple your risk of falling. How loud is too loud? We’ve compiled some useful information to take the mystery out of sound measurement.

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Some of the most common—and annoying—allergens aren’t in your back yard---they’re lurking in your living room! And staying indoors doesn’t automatically reduce your chances of hay fever symptoms. Don’t worry. While it may be impossible to completely “allergy proof” your home, we’ve got some suggestions that will help you breathe easier---literally.

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Imagine allergy relief with no needles required. For millions of Americans, immunotherapy eliminates problems with year-round allergies. It’s sometimes referred to as “allergy shots.” But did you know that there is an allergy treatment that doesn't require shots? Whether you dislike needles yourself or are the parent of a child who is uncomfortable with needles, this treatment may be right for you! Read on to discover more about SLIT.

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Inadequate sleep is often due to sleep apnea, a condition where the sleeper stops breathing in short intervals hundreds of times during the night.  This disorder affects more than 18 million American adults; it can even affect children. While snoring is a symptom of sleep apnea, not everyone who snores has the disorder, which is why it is important to be evaluated by your ENT for an accurate diagnosis. Read about the symptoms and solutions here.

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Did a runny nose keep you from going on that weekend hike? Perhaps a scratchy throat or watery eyes put a damper on your vacation. Seasonal allergies are not only an inconvenience, but they also keep you from enjoying the activities you love. If this sounds familiar, the good news is there’s hope. Through allergy testing, your ear, nose and throat physician learns more about your specific allergy and is able to develop a customized plan for you.

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Under normal circumstances, your nasal and sinus passages work together with streamline efficiency. The sinuses are lined with small, hair-like structures called cilia. When the cilia sway back and forth, they gently escort dirt, mucus and other irritants out of your nose. However, when the sinus passages are swollen due to allergies or sinusitis, the cilia can’t do their job properly, and the resulting mucus buildup could easily result in an infection. In other words, your sinuses become like a slow-draining bathtub. Thankfully, a little salt water can make a huge difference. See how.

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