If that gorgeous bouquet of red roses doesn’t smell as sweet as you remember—or if you can’t seem to smell them at all---the culprit may be a grayish, grape-shaped growth in your nose called a nasal polyp. Not only do these polyps dampen your sense of smell, but they also make it difficult to breathe. Even worse, because your sense of smell is closely connected to your sense of taste, not being able to enjoy the aroma of your grandma’s homemade chili means you’ll likely not be able to enjoy its flavor to the fullest.

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Spring sneezes may be the last thing on your mind during the winter, but it’s important to have a health care treatment plan in place before allergy season starts. In many cases, a few preventative measures can help you avoid infections.  Following are the top ten questions you should ask your ENT before spring flowers start blooming!

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Health insurance can be confusing, and no one wants to be stuck with an unexpected bill or unplanned expenses. At Raleigh Capitol ENT, we’re also aware of these uncontrollable changes in health care, and we understand the increased pressure many patients are facing. We’re dedicated to providing any information we can to help patients better understand the multitude of changes that are taking place.

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There are times over the winter holidays when you expect to hear ringing: jingle bells on “Santa’s “reindeer, hand bell choirs preforming traditional carols, or the Salvation Army’s bell ringers. However, there’s an extreme difference between the ringing of outside noises and the constant, annoying buzz or high-pitched squeal associated with tinnitus. For millions of Americans, tinnitus has a devastating effect on the quality of their lives. Learn more about ringing in your ears and how it can be treated.

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Hold your breath for 60 seconds. Wait 30 minutes and hold it again. Now, do that twice an hour for eight hours. It’s difficult to get anything done, isn’t it? Now imagine doing that all night—there’s no way you would get a good night’s sleep! This is the case for many with obstructive sleep apnea. Those with sleep apnea can stop breathing hundreds of times during the night. The result can be deadly. See how it affects your health and how it can be stopped.

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It's a disgusting, gooey substance that builds up in the ear, creating a nasty yellow-brown clump. Earwax is considered gross and unappealing, so everyone makes an effort to keep ears clean. Most of the time, this involves a cotton "Q-tip"-type applicator. But did you know that ear, nose and throat doctors usually advise against using this method? Using cotton swabs could put your hearing at risk. Find out more about earwax, and how it can actually help you.

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For thousands of Americans, there is no relief from allergy season because for them, “allergy season” lasts throughout the entire year. If you’re one of these Americans, and you’re tired of popping allergy pills year-round (and repeated visits to the ear, nose and throat doctor to combat infections), you may be a candidate for immunotherapy. See why.

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You already know a lot about sinusitis. No one has to explain the annoying facial pressure, the stuffiness and clogged nasal passages that spell misery during allergy season and, for some, year-round. However, there’s much more to “Sinusitis 101” than symptoms. Learning more about the condition can help you speak to your doctor about the best course of treatment.

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Runny noses, itchy eyes, and nasal congestion can all have a dramatic impact on the quality of life for those who have year-round allergies and
sinus problems in Raleigh. This misery puts a damper on vacations, outdoor activities and can even affect performance at work! Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) occurs when there is persistent inflammation of the nasal and sinus passages that has continued for three months or longer. Read on to better understand the symptoms of CRS and find out if Balloon Sinuplasty is a possible treatment for you.

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Does your child have frequent nosebleeds? While they can be unsettling, they're rarely a cause for concern. Nosebleeds are extremely common in children, especially those between the ages of 3 and 10.  Most of them easily stop after applying direct pressure, while a few require an appointment with an ear, nose, and throat doctor. Find out what causes them and how to stop them in our latest blog post!

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