Lyme Disease Awareness

In the Northeastern United States, deer ticks are carriers of the Lyme disease bacteria and can pass the disease onto adults or children by biting. The good news, though, is that it takes a day or two after a tick attaches to the skin before Lyme disease will spread. Therefore, it is super important to do regular skin check on anybody in your household during the aforementioned months, especially if you spend a lot of time outdoors or have animals that go outside.

What is Hyperacusis?

Imagine having a hypersensitivity or intolerance to everyday sounds like that of running water, a crying baby, a doorbell, or a television turned on at an appropriate volume. Those suffering from hyperacusis experience the above scenario on a daily basis and often also complain of pain or discomfort in the ears. Hyperacusis is a reduction of normal tolerance for everyday sound and can greatly impact one’s quality of life.

All the Info on Adult Onset Allergies

Spring is on the horizon which means warmer weather, longer days, and less shoveling!    With spring comes allergens and, even if you’ve never fallen victim before, it is possible to develop allergies as an adult. If you find yourself suddenly dealing with a runny nose, scratchy throat, and a never-ending feeling of fatigue, don’t count out spring allergies.

What You Should Know About Sleep Apnea

There is no denying that getting a good night’s sleep is beneficial to our health and well being. Those experiencing unrestful nights due to sleep apnea are at a higher risk for conditions such as depression, high blood pressure, and diabetes. In addition, those that share a bed with a sleep apnea sufferer generally experience wakeful and restless nights.

Beware of Winter Allergies

People generally associate seasonal allergies to the onset of the warmer months and high pollen counts. But, for those that suffer from indoor allergies, the winter months, when more time is spent indoors and the windows are closed, can be just as bad.

Learn More About Tinnitus and the Plymouth ENT Audiology Team

Did you know that over fifty million Americans experience some form of tinnitus? A tinnitus sufferer would typically complain of hearing ringing, buzzing, hissing, or whistling in their ears. Tinnitus is a symptom of an underlying condition such as noise induced hearing loss, age related hearing loss, ear infections, ear injury, or a circulatory system disorder. Most people generally adjust to chronic tinnitus over time but the condition can be much more bothersome to others. Those that aren’t able to adjust may experience side effects such as insomnia, depression, anxiety, and irritability.

Plymouth ENT to Add Food Testing to Allergy Program

Plymouth Ear, Nose and Throat is excited to announce that, in addition to diagnosing and treating seasonal and perennial allergies, we will be adding food testing to our allergy program! Our doctors and nurses are looking forward to expanding our allergy program and welcoming new patients that might be suffering from food allergies. Let’s chat a bit more about the specifics of food allergies, their symptoms and how we can help to diagnose and manage them.

Ragweed Season and How to Manage your Allergy

The cooler weather is upon us, the leaves are changing color, and pumpkins are adorning our front steps. Fall is a time of year that many people look forward to after a hot, sticky summer. However, if you’re one of the estimated 26 percent of Americans who suffer from allergies to ragweed, you may not be so psyched about Autumn knocking on your door.

Dr. Patel Appointed as President of Medical Staff

We, here at Plymouth Ear, Nose and Throat, are thrilled to congratulate our very own Dr. Anit Patel on his recent appointment as President of Medical Staff at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth! Dr. Patel is honored and humbled to have been chosen by his peers to fulfill this two-year term. His main goal will be to continue improving, and maintaining, the highest level of quality care available to the hospital’s patients. In working towards achieving this goal, Dr. Patel will assist Beth Israel Deaconess-Plymouth in becoming the leading community hospital in Massachusetts.

Thyroid Cancer Symptoms

Thyroid cancer symptoms are not always easy to detect, which occasionally makes it hard to diagnose as well. However, all symptoms are not necessarily caused by thyroid cancer at all, but rather by a thyroid nodule. And thyroid nodules are not always cancerous--as a matter of fact, nearly all of them are benign and develop later in life. The following are some symptoms of thyroid cancer that can start as nodules and develop into something more serious.

Watch Out for Summer Allergies!

Here at Plymouth ENT, we’re so excited that it’s finally June and summer is upon us! However, the warm weather and beach days are not always a piece of cake. Summertime allergies can cause severe symptoms for some folks, and can occasionally be just as bad as the spring and fall seasons. Furthermore, the symptoms are not always the run of the mill sniffling and sneezing, and can be a bit more serious if certain factors are in play. It is important to remember that anyone can get allergies and they can appear at anytime, so even if you haven’t had them in the past, be sure to get checked out if you experience and of the following symptoms along with your sniffles.

How You Can Beat Spring Allergies

At last, winter is behind us and the warm weather is on the way! However, the higher temperatures aren’t entirely cause for celebration. For some people, spring brings the worst allergy season of the whole year. In some cases, these allergies can start as early as late February and last until the end of June. In order to be equipped for the months ahead, here are some best practices to effectively cope with your seasonal allergies.

Is it a Cold or an Allergy?

As the temperature drops and the snow starts to fall, you’ll hear lots of people around you start sniffling and sneezing--it may even be you! While colds and allergies have different symptoms, it’s so important to know the difference so you can seek proper treatment.  It’s sometimes a tough call to figure out where that coughing and sneezing is coming from, but how long your symptoms last can be indicative of what is ailing you.

Winter Ear Infections

There’s no denying it — winter has arrived and is here to stay for the foreseeable future! One of the most common cold-weather illnesses is an ear infection, which can be painful and unexpected, especially when you have snow to shovel and errands to run. While some ear infections do subside on their own, most require professional assessment and treatment to ensure full recovery. Generally, an infection should clear up within five days of adequate treatment.

Going on a Noise Diet

Fall’s in full swing, meaning most of us are back into our school and work routines – and reaching for the ear buds. Studies show an increasing number of us are attempting to reclaim personal space in busy offices and school environments by plugging into phones and iPads, using music and podcasts to drown out ambient noise around us and promote concentration.

How to Manage Ragweed Symptoms

The start of fall usually promises more comfortable sleeping weather. Unfortunately for many of us, the combination of cool nights and warm days also brings out the ragweed, fall’s most prominent allergy trigger. Since nearly 1 in 5 of us are affected, we thought we’d share with you some facts about ragweed and strategies for managing symptoms.

Top 6 Tips for Back to School Sleep

With many pediatric patients heading back to school this month, we’re hearing from parents who are concerned about making the transition from a carefree summer to stricter school hours – particularly when it comes to sleep habits. If you’re willing to start a few weeks early, cycling back to a regular sleep schedule can be quite doable!

What You Need to Know About Swimmers Ear

If you or your family members love to swim in the summertime, take a minute to learn some important facts about otitis externa, or Swimmer’s Ear – a painful and preventable ailment we see a whole lot of at Plymouth ENT during South Shore summers!

Allergies and Gardening Help Guide

Do you love the thought of gardening but don’t dare to because of seasonal allergies? Believe it or not, there are ways to manage allergy symptoms and still spend quality, comfortable time digging in the dirt! It all comes down to being prepared, and knowing which plants to choose and which to avoid.