When it comes to sinuses or allergies getting out of hand, the procedure known as balloon sinuplasty is designed as a promising alternative to medications that can only do so much.

The science and technology behind this operation wouldn’t be possible without the Medtronic company having launched the NuVent electromagnetic (EM) sinus dilation system for the Fusion ENT navigation system back in 2014.

Today, our McAllen certified physician assistant Jonathan Lerma and the skilled team of sinus relief specialists at the Glatz Group will explain how this Medtronic Balloon Sinus tool has shaped the way we perform balloon sinuplasty. With Dr. Frank R. Glatz’s guidance throughout 6 months of tutelage and one year of working alongside him, Jonathan ensures that the special brand of patient care specific to Glatz Group will remain the same.

About Medtronic

Medtronic is a company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, with one of the world's greatest sources for medical technology, services, and solutions - relieving pain, renewing health, and enhancing the quality of life and longevity for millions of people on a global level. 

Medtronic also has more than 85,000 employees internationally, helping physicians, hospitals, and patients in about 160 countries. The company’s mission is to collaborate with stakeholders worldwide to improve the state of healthcare for humanity.

Two Systems Combined For Effective Treatment

The balloon sinus dilation system called NuVent has built-in electromagnetic surgical navigation technology that allows us to fully see the anatomy, avoid sensitive areas, and prepare the placement of the balloon during balloon sinuplasty. This procedure essentially aids in opening your sinus passageways and is an effective treatment for people who suffer from chronic sinusitis.

By integrating the NuVent system with the Fusion ENT Navigation technology, we are able to spot the exact location of the NuVent tool’s tip through the help of the Fusion image guidance screen.

Once we’ve confirmed the placement with the help of the Fusion navigation system, the NuVent sinus balloon is inflated in order to expand the groove. Here’s a more detailed, broken down explanation as to how these systems are useful:

These innovations let us lightly expand tissues and bone in the openings of the frontal, maxillary, and sphenoid sinuses in order to improve drainage without being too invasive.

 

Is It Safe?

The Nuvent system is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and it was designed to work with Fusion ENT’s Navigation system so that physicians can use it as a guide when performing balloon sinuplasty.

The passageways are dilated with the help of this image-guided system used with NuVent. This technology gives us a detailed view of the sinus anatomy, not only making the procedure possible but also enhancing precision and allowing our team to help more patients like you in our very own office without the use of anesthesia.

Why You Should Consider Balloon Sinuplasty

Sinusitis and allergies can cause significant physical discomfort and emotional difficulties such as headaches and facial pain. At times, symptoms can be so bad that it can cause you to miss out on hours at work, personal engagements, physical activity, or sleep.

When antibiotics, decongestants, and saline sprays fail to alleviate your symptoms, balloon sinuplasty has been proven to control and reduce overall symptoms to minimize headaches, help you make it to school or work, lessen your visits to the doctor, and lessen the chances of getting a sinus infection, with recovery time after the procedure generally lasting around 24 hours.

Glatz Group: Delivering Quality Care During Times of Uncertainty

To certified physician assistant Jonathan Lerma, you are not just another patient. He values what people remember from their visit, the experience with every patient, and the high impact he leaves on someone’s life. He can evaluate your symptoms and see if you are eligible for balloon sinuplasty in your in-office consultation. 

Because your ear, nose, and throat health is our top priority, we will continue to see patients in person during the COVID-19 pandemic, taking extensive care and caution for your safety and the safety of our staff.

We understand that the uncertainty of the coronavirus or quarantine may keep you from receiving relief from your allergy and sinus concerns, but we are doing everything we can to ensure that you don’t have to live with that fear. At Glatz Group, we embrace telemedicine for this specific reason, and we can help diagnose your allergy and sinus symptoms through an initial over-the-phone consultation.

From there, online consultations may also be arranged in order to meet your needs remotely. Should you need a balloon sinuplasty or an in-person examination, that could be arranged as well.

 

Reduce Sinusitis Symptoms Through Our Innovative Balloon Sinuplasty Technolgy

Schedule a Consultation Now

Health officials from McAllen to Brownsville have warned citizens to stay in their homes in an effort to stop the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), but allergy season in the Rio Grande Valley is unrelenting and unforgiving. We are here to help!

Certified physician assistant Jonathan Lerma, trained and mentored by our McAllen ENT Dr. Frank R. Glatz, and the savvy team of sinus relief specialists at the Glatz Group want to encourage those with severe allergy or sinus symptoms to continue to reach out to us so we can help you find relief. 

While we will still provide in-person consultations with all the necessary care and precautionary measures taken, we will also be offering telemedicine services. After an initial phone consultation to discuss your symptoms, patients will be able to utilize an online video application for their appointment with the doctor.

What is Telemedicine?

The World Health Organization (WHO) refers to telemedicine as healing from a distance. It is a tool that we use to be more accessible to our sinus and allergy patients that cannot come into the office, saving them from the stresses of arranging for travel during a time when staying at home is the best way to avoid exposure to the coronavirus.

With this innovative telemedicine software, we are able to take care of 90 to 95 percent of sinus symptoms our patients experience and develop a treatment plan from the safety of their own homes, effectively addressing their concerns and preventing them from being at risk of COVID-19 exposure.

Expanding on How Telemedicine is Delivered

The way we use telemedicine is normally through a video call, but other ways that telemedicine is used include:

In some instances, medical data can also be drawn through portable telemedicine kits that use computer and mobile medical devices like electrocardiograms (ECGs) or vital signs monitors. High-resolution digital cameras are also an option for physicians to share detailed medical photos with specialists that are miles away.

The last option is robust telemedicine software that makes everything from data storage to live video conferencing possible. In a nutshell, there are many options for innovative telemedicine equipment to meet the various needs of patients today, especially in times like these where some may need it most.

Even Through the COVID-19 Pandemic, Your Sinus Team is At the Ready

The sinus relief team at Glatz Group take your allergy and sinus concerns seriously, and we are more than willing and ready to help you get the relief you need, whether you are in our office or through innovative telemedicine services.

 

Sinus relief while you stay at home. Contact us at (956) 631-2957 to schedule your appointment. 

You’ll be Glatz You Did!

 

As we enter another month into the pandemic, the coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to affect people in our country and around the globe. In times like these, we must remain calm, be rational, and do our best in being aware of the symptoms and methods of prevention.

While much of the virus’ symptoms may seem like something more common like allergies or the flu, your local McAllen certified physician assistant Jonathan Lerma, and the skilled team of sinus relief specialists at the Glatz Group are here to help crack down the facts regarding this virus.

Symptoms of COVID-19 Vs Allergy or Flu Symptoms

The symptoms of the coronavirus should not be confused with those of allergies or the flu. While we cannot stress enough that the public must make note of any possible signs of coronavirus, however, similar symptoms can result in confusion about what may be the primary illness. Here's how you can differentiate between allergies, the flu, or the virus.

1. Allergy Symptoms

The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology lists the following symptoms of allergies as:

2. Flu Symptoms

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that influenza (flu) may lead to mild to severe illness and, at times, can cause death to those who come across it. Symptoms of the flu involve:

3. COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Symptoms

The CDC and World Health Organization (WHO) mention the following in their list of COVID-19 symptoms:

Other Key Differences Between the Virus and Other Illnesses

1. Coronavirus and flu symptoms can be more systemic.

The flu and the coronavirus can impact other systems along the upper and lower respiratory tract. If your nose isn’t runny but you notice a sore throat, a cough, a fever, or shortness of breath, that is how you can determine if what you have is related to the symptoms presented by the flu or COVID-19.

Keep an eye on your temperature, as it's highly unlikely that allergies would lead to a fever. They often don't create a shortness of breath either, unless you’ve got a preexisting condition such as asthma.

2. Allergy symptoms can happen on a regular basis.

If you encountered the same symptoms at the same time every year, you're more than likely dealing with seasonal allergies. If that’s the case, we can provide you with the right medication as well as other typical treatment options like Balloon Sinuplasty to help you feel better.

3. Coronavirus and flu symptoms can physically drain you.

If you catch the flu or the coronavirus, you’ll feel extremely exhausted and achy, so much so that getting out of bed could feel nearly impossible. Allergies can cause your drowsiness, but they won’t make your muscles or joints ache.

4. Cold and mild flu symptoms tend to simmer down over time.

With regular illnesses, you can expect to feel better with adequate rest and care within a matter of days, unless you’re elderly or face any underlying health issues where even less severe illnesses can take more time to overcome.

5. Coronavirus and flu symptoms can worsen as time goes on.

If you have a bad case of the flu or coronavirus, you might get worse when you’re anticipating getting over it. That is when you should seek medical care if you haven’t already. The main cause for concern of COVID-19 would be if you felt a shortness of breath. Individuals can also get pneumonia from the flu, so either way, your best interest is to receive medical attention immediately.

6. Early symptoms of allergies, cold, flu, and coronavirus could be similar.

Unfortunately, the beginning stages of allergies, colds, flus, and the coronavirus can be related, and some coronavirus and flu cases can be so minor that they may not cause much concern. That's why you must pay attention to the severity and duration of your symptoms, then find out if you’re part of an at-risk party.

Elderly people, people with asthma or other lung problems, people with heart disease or diabetes, and pregnant women may be more susceptible to contracting the virus and are also among the individuals that are often more at risk of succumbing to the virus.

7. Coronavirus cases generally have a bit of context.

If you believe you have the coronavirus, you must consider the following:

What You Can Do to Prevent Illness and Protect Yourself

As there currently is no existing vaccine to prevent COVID-19, the best method to prevent illness is to avoid any potential exposure to this virus. The virus is said to spread from person-to-person, whether it’s between those who are in close contact with one another--within approximately six feet--or through respiratory droplets made when an infected individual coughs or sneezes. Once airborne, these droplets can travel into the mouths, noses, or eyes of those who are in close proximity.
Here are some steps you can take to prevent and protect yourself and those around you from COVID-19:

Wash your hands as much as you can, and use hand sanitizer if you aren’t near a sink or soap. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with dirty hands.
Avoid close contact with those who appear to be sick.
Keep a safe distance between yourself from others if COVID-19 is spreading in your community.
Stay home if you feel sick.
Cover your mouth when coughing and sneezing.
Wear a facemask.
Clean and disinfect surfaces you touch frequently.
Dr. Glatz also mentioned that chloroquine, an antimalarial drug, has been shown to slow down viral replication, reproduction, and maybe early survival. However, don’t see this information as a reason to live in fear. See it as an opportunity to be proactive, hygienic, and safe rather than sorry. The best thing we can do is take the precautionary measures necessary.

To learn more about what you can do to prevent a COVID-19 infection, or to differentiate the symptoms from allergies, the flu, or other ear, nose, or throat illnesses, set up a consultation with us today.

You’ll be Glatz You Did!

 

YOUR TEXT

As we approach the Spring season in a matter of weeks, most of us are anticipating the beauty and warmth of the great outdoors. Unfortunately, millions of Americans who suffer from seasonal allergies are in for a stormy vengeance of sniffling, sneezing, and itchy eyes the season.

It might be time to start stocking up on tissues for your sinus issues. Today, our local McAllen ENT Dr. Frank R. Glatz, trusted and certified physician assistant Jonathan Lerma, and the diligent team of sinus relief specialists here at the Glatz Group will go into what to expect this season and how to prepare for the worst.

What to Expect This Spring

According to AccuWeather meteorologists, those who suffer from seasonal allergies should prepare themselves for a long, intense season this spring. Pollen levels are expected to be above average for a large section of the US, a region with a population of 193 million people that stretches from Texas to Michigan and on eastward.

With more than 50 million Americans experiencing the discomfort of seasonal allergies, it is predicted that this spring’s more-than-average rainfall, coupled with near-average temperatures, will promote the production of grass, weed, and tree pollen.

Areas Affected: Types of Allergy Sufferers Affected

Those who suffer from grass pollen may have a long, unforgiving season ahead of them into the summer. These weather and growing conditions also mean that the season may come a-knocking even earlier than we normally would anticipate, for the first time since 1986. 

The same stands for tree pollen from the mid-Atlantic spread through the Gulf and the Southern Plains. The East and the Gulf coastline should expect a harsher tree pollen season this 2020.

The forecast in those regions will also be a concern for those whose allergies are triggered by weed pollen, since levels are way above average and could continue on right into the fall.

The rest of the country will not be affected as severely, but allergy sufferers in a couple of locations should probably have their tissues ready and available for use.

Trust Your McAllen ENT to Help Treat Your Allergies

The best method to handle spring allergy symptoms is to visit our board-certified ENT at the Glatz Group, who can gladly help you develop a treatment plan catered to your specific needs which may require taking recommended medicines prior to the season starting.

Another option that either Dr. Glatz or Jonathan may propose, depending on the severity of your symptoms and how they react to medications, you may want to consider if you qualify for a procedure done in our very own office known as balloon sinuplasty. The purpose of this operation is to make your sinus passages expand, enabling your sinuses to drain more efficiently while they flush away allergens. This procedure functions as a longer-lasting alternative for patients with symptoms that don’t seem to cooperate or simmer down with the help of medications.

Anesthesia is not mandatory for this procedure, and patients are usually able to resume their daily lives after at least 24 hours of recovery have passed.

The best way to choose the treatment that will work most effectively for your particular symptoms is by speaking with our skilled sinus relief team at Glatz Group in order to prepare for the worst allergy season sooner rather than later.

We also highly suggest limiting or avoiding going outdoors at peak times of the day for pollen, which generally can range from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. to dusk. At the same time, warmer, breezy days tend to exacerbate conditions for allergy sufferers.

Do not wait until spring has sprung to manage your allergy symptoms. Schedule a consultation with Dr. Frank R. Glatz by calling (956) 631-2957 today. You’ll be Glatz you did!

 

 

 

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