With mandatory shelter-at-home ordinances still in place, your team here at the Glatz Group believes everyone should make it a top priority to not only stay safe, but also to stay healthy - and getting enough sleep is essential to your health. 

If you’re suffering from interrupted sleep, this can result in all kinds of issues. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one condition known to negatively affect your sleep. This disorder makes it difficult for you to breathe properly while sleeping, which can cause serious health problems as it progresses.

If you or a loved one are dealing with sleep apnea, there’s no need to fret. Our certified McAllen physician assistant Jonathan Lerma and his right-hand team of sinus relief specialists at the Glatz Group are here to explain how our in-office procedure, known as balloon sinuplasty, can help you. 

Symptoms of OSA

According to the National Sleep Foundation, obstructive sleep apnea affects more than 18 million Americans. It is important to understand the symptoms of this condition to know what to look out for. 

Symptoms of OSA include but are not limited to:

Snoring and sleep apnea are often confused as one and the same. In general, individuals who have untreated OSA may snore, but only certain individuals who snore actually have sleep apnea.

Snoring occurs because of a vibration in one’s breathing patterns. While snoring may be a symptom of sleep apnea, true sleep apnea is when an individual experiences several pauses in their breathing as they sleep. 

Causes of Sleep Apnea

Causes of sleep apnea involve a number of factors and would require a thorough evaluation by our team. It is imperative to determine the causes as they are unique to every patient. Typical causes include the following nasal and sinus conditions:

Dangerous Outcomes if OSA Goes Untreated

If you have OSA and it goes untreated, you can face some serious health issues. These include:

How Balloon Sinuplasty Can Help

Your obstructive sleep apnea may be the source of your sinusitis. In sinusitis, sinuses are inflamed, therefore blocking the nasal passages, which impairs breathing, potentially leading to further health issues. 

A fairly common treatment for OSA is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Unfortunately, this method does not always give the best relief for your sinus problems. Another issue with CPAP is that the treatment takes place over a longer period of time, which is not an ideal option if you want quick relief.

For the most promising sinus relief, you may want to consider balloon sinuplasty as a treatment for OSA. This non-invasive procedure can be performed in our office with minimal pain.

Balloon sinuplasty helps by resolving chronic sinus congestion and recurring sinus infections, while also improving the state of nasal breathing, reducing snoring and improving issues related to your sleep apnea.

You’ll be Glatz to Catch Some Z’s!

With the Glatz Group, you can be on your way to sinus relief and catching up on sleep. You should always look after your health concerns to prevent future problems. 

Please be aware that we are taking all required precautions to ensure our staff and our patients stay safe and healthy. Right now we are using telemedicine to address the needs of our patients.

Online consultations or phone calls are also accepted.

If you need to schedule a treatment with balloon sinuplasty or an in-person examination for your OSA or sinusitis, we may also arrange an in-house procedure for you as soon as we can.

Rest assured with the help of the Glatz Group.

Schedule Your Consultation Now!

As we stay at home following the guidelines of world health officials, we have to also remember to maintain healthy habits and hygiene. In a recent article published by Valley Central that interviewed our McAllen ENT, Dr. Frank Glatz spoke about a few tips that we can do to stay safe from contracting the virus.

Take Extra Caution of What You Touch

Health experts have warned the public to avoid touching their face by all means, as COVID-19 can be transmitted very easily. Dr. Glatz highly suggests that whenever you leave your home, you should be extra cautious and attentive to what exactly you are touching. 

Since it is suspected that the virus can be either airborne or passed on through microdroplets of mucus or saliva, should these substances land on objects you touch, you could get it on your hands. Then, something as simple as rubbing your face, rubbing your eye, or scratching your forehead could send the virus can into the eye, through the eye duct down into the nose, and eventually down into your throat.

Stay Protected and Stay Clean

At the beginning of this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) made the announcement recommending all Americans to cover their mouths. If they do not own a mask, can’t purchase one due to the shortage, or if the store is out of stock, they must at least use any sort of scarf or cloth. 

This is a practice Dr. Glatz cannot stress enough for us in the Rio Grande Valley area. If you need to go out to get groceries, pick up some takeout, or pick up a prescription from your local pharmacy, refrain from touching your face. 

It is highly advised for everyone to wear gloves and masks as well when going out and about, even if doing so makes you feel uncomfortable from a social perspective. There is absolutely nothing strange when it comes down to protecting yourself and others.

And if you are wearing gloves, make sure you use them properly. Don’t touch items and then touch your face, as that can result in cross-contamination.

It is Always Wise to Sanitize

Many people may not have too many pairs of gloves to work with, but it is not necessary to have a cupboardful anyway. One thing Dr. Glatz highly recommends is to spray your gloves each time after use with isopropyl alcohol--or Everclear if in a pinch--from a spray bottle, as they’re effectively sterile. 

It is far more effective to spray the gloves than to spray your hands due to the fact that your hands have loads of nooks and crannies where bacteria can hide. On these protective gloves, however, there is nowhere for them to hide. Don’t forget to sanitize yourself along with your daily items like your car keys and debit/credit card. 

Remember that viruses may live on your daily items and surfaces for up to several hours to several days, depending on the surface. So it is always in your best interest to wipe them down as frequently as possible.

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In this time of crisis, many of us are staying home in order to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19),  but, unfortunately, this year’s allergy season isn’t going to be any lighter than usual, especially in the Rio Grande Valley.

Fortunately, if you or a loved one are an allergy sufferer, our certified physician assistant Jonathan Lerma and the caring team of sinus relief specialists at the Glatz Group in McAllen can help in person or via our telemedicine services for your safety. Below you will find the different types of allergies that are most prominent in the Rio Grande Valley, their symptoms, and solutions we can provide.

Allergy Types: Pollen in the Lead

Pollen, mold, dust mites, and animal dander are all common allergens, but the most common cause of spring allergies in Texas is:

The dry weather can only add to your sniffles as well. McAllen merely gets just about 26 inches of rain every year, which doesn’t help much to get rid of the pollen. Pollen counts are also predicted to rise over time. In fact, according to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI), pollen counts are anticipated to more than double by 2040. 

In addition, the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) releases a Spring Allergy Capitals report each year ranking hot spots for allergies across the U.S. In 2016 McAllen fell in fifth place among the 12 worst cities for allergies on the rise, with the prevalence of pollen and widespread use of allergy medication surpassing the average.

Common Allergy Symptoms

If you have a pollen allergy and are breathing in pollen-heavy air, you may encounter a variety of allergy symptoms. If you have asthma, pollen can also aggravate the symptoms associated with that health issue, making the coughing and wheezing more extreme. Common allergic reactions to pollen and other seasonal allergens include:

What Are Your Treatment Options?

There are many ways to manage allergy symptoms, from decongestants for running noses and over-the-counter medications like antihistamines for itchy, watery eyes or a runny nose. Your ENT doctor may also recommend immunotherapy shots or tablets if your pollen allergies are severe.

The shots are designed to build up the body’s resistance to pollen, while the tablets help for those suffering from grass and ragweed allergies. Aside from this kind of treatment, another option is a procedure done in our very own office called balloon sinuplasty. The minimally invasive operation helps to open up blocked or overly narrow passageways and drain out your sinuses more effectively before infection sets in.

Be Proactive: You’ll be Glatz You Did!

You can rest assured knowing that at Glatz, you are in good hands. It’s always best to take care of your health concerns before they have a chance to worsen over time. Your ear, nose, and throat health is important, and putting off taking care of problems in this area can be risky.

For us, the health of our patients is our number one concern. During this pandemic, we will be taking all available precautions to keep our staff and our visitors safe and healthy. While we are still seeing patients in person, wee are also here to help you and your loved ones find a way to receive relief from your allergy and sinus concerns in the midst of the shelter-in-place. 

We are taking advantage of telemedicine, where our remote services will be able to address 90 to 95 percent of all allergy symptoms. Give us a call to see if we can find a solution remotely for your problem. Online consultations can also be set up so your needs can be met from the comfort and safety of your home. If you’re in need of balloon sinuplasty or an in-person examination, we may also schedule you for an in-house procedure as soon as we can.

You can kiss those allergy symptoms “Goodbye!” knowing the Glatz Group has you covered.

Set Up Your Consultation Today.

As a child, you may have had a certain allergy, only to find later that the symptoms you experienced were minimal, if even present, when you grew older. That said, however, should you develop an allergy as an adult, it is likely that you will have that allergy for the rest of your life.

Allergies can be very unpredictable, but the service you receive from Glatz Group is ever-reliable, especially during these uncertain times. Certified physician assistant Jonathan Lerma and the trusted team of sinus relief specialists want to address this question just in case you’ve wondered about your own allergies but cannot visit us to ask because of the shelter-in-place.

How Allergies Emerge 

The vast majority of people develop allergies in their childhood or young adult years, but the truth of it all is, you can develop an allergy at any point in your life, even as you grow older into adulthood. As you are exposured to environmental allergens like pollen over time, your seasonal allergy symptoms may increase.

There is also a possibility that you will outgrow your allergies. Tolerance to allergens can grow if exposure to the allergen itself is kept at a minimum over time. This is comparable to the way vaccines function to build your immunity against particular bacteria and viruses, or the way allergy shots (immunotherapy) work to reduce a person’s allergic reaction to a certain allergen.

What Causes an Allergy

An overly sensitive immune system is what causes allergies. Your immune system is supposed to protect your body against illnesses and viruses, but, unfortunately, if your immune system is extremely sensitive, it will negatively respond to allergens like pollen, pet dander, and dust mites.

Your body reacts to these allergies by increasing the production of mucus, which then causes sneezing, nasal swelling, itchiness in your nose and eyes, and other types of symptoms. Your symptoms can also change as you get older.

People with allergies react to their allergens in ways that vary for each individual. Allergic reactions can also vary from one season to another or from one allergen to another.

Allergies are More Likely to Develop than Disappear

There are some people who have enjoyed springtime for many years and then, for whatever reason, the month of May hits, and their nose starts to run. Allergic reactions can ruin the springtime for those who have them by making them feel miserable.

Over time, you may lose your tolerance against pollen, pet dander, and other allergens. The immune system fluctuates all the time, and allergies can change. While growing out of an allergy sounds nice, but the reality is that for most people allergies are more likely to develop than disappear. They can decrease in severity, or reactions may happen less often as time goes on, but most allergy sufferers will remain susceptible.

Taking steps to build immunity, getting rid of the allergen from your environment as much as possible, and focusing on keeping your overall health at its best are all good ways to help minimize your allergic reaction.

Glatz Group: The Right Sinus Relief Team for You

The McAllen sinus relief team at Glatz Group would be happy to help you manage your allergy and sinus needs in these difficult times. We can help you find the relief you need, whether you prefer to come to our office or speak via telemedicine services.

Allergy or sinus relief is only a call away. Contact us today at (956) 631-2957 to set up your appointment.

You’ll Be Glatz You Did!

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Monday - Friday: 8:30 am to 5:30 pm
Saturday - Sunday: CLOSED

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(956) 331-8928

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enquiry@glatzyoudid.com

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