According to Medical News Today, it is estimated that the number of people over the age of 18 suffering from diabetes in the United States is approximately 30.2 million. Diabetes is a condition that can arise when your blood glucose, also known as blood sugar, is too high. If left untreated, the condition can cause strokes, heart attacks, nerve damage, and kidney failure, among other health issues.
Fortunately, it can be managed when caught early.
Today, your trusted McAllen sinus relief specialists at the Glatz Group of Valley ENT will discuss diabetes and how it can be a risk factor for hearing loss.
Diabetes is a chronic health condition that takes place when the pancreas is no longer able to properly make insulin. When the body lacks the right amount of insulin, it results in there being too much sugar in your bloodstream.
When this occurs it can cause vision impairment, gum disease, fatigue, and foot ulcers.
Type 1, type 2, and gestational are the three main types of diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body fails to produce insulin. Type 1 diabetes impacts approximately 5-10% of those suffering from diabetes. Children, teens, and young adults are typically the ones diagnosed with type 1. There is no way to prevent type 1 diabetes and those who have it must take insulin daily.
Type 2 diabetes appears when your body does not use insulin correctly, thus causing blood sugar to rise to an abnormal level. Roughly 90-95% of people with diabetes suffer from type 2 diabetes, which can be diagnosed in adults, children, teens, and young adults.
The causes of type 2 diabetes vary but the most common variables include an unhealthy lifestyle, being overweight, family history, genetic factors, and even ethnicity.
Gestational diabetes shows up in pregnant women who have never had a history of diabetes. Gestational diabetes puts your baby at a greater risk for health issues, including obesity and the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Gestational diabetes often goes away after childbirth but can increase the risk of the mother developing type 2 diabetes in the future.
Diabetes and hearing loss have been correlated. In a study conducted by the National Institutes of Health, it was shown that hearing loss is twice as common in those who suffer from diabetes than those who do not.
Researchers believe that hearing loss presents itself in those who have diabetes because of the damage it inflicts to nerves and blood vessels. By not managing your diabetes, you become more susceptible to suffering from hearing loss.
If you believe that you might be losing your hearing, it is important to know the signs so that you can begin seeking solutions to slow down or stop the issue:
When diagnosed with diabetes, it is especially imperative to do everything possible to protect your hearing. Some approaches include:
If you or a loved one believe that you might be suffering from hearing loss due to diabetes, it is in your best interest to speak with your primary care doctor and a specialist that focuses on hearing problems.
A hearing exam can be done to assess hearing loss. Once the test is completed you will be able to learn more about the condition and how it can be treated.
If you believe that you could potentially suffer from hearing loss due to diabetes, get in touch with Glatz Group today to get professional help from specialists you can count on.
Nearly 30 million Americans suffer from sinusitis on a yearly basis, accounting for roughly 12% of the population. With so many suffering, finding relief started to become much more of a priority a few years ago, causing many experts in the field to innovate new operations and techniques. One recent, non-invasive procedure, however, is taking the ENT world by storm.
There are various options when it comes to how to resolve chronic sinusitis, but today, Physician Assistant Jonathan Lerma and his team of sinus relief specialists will take a look into why balloon sinuplasty could be the best choice for you.
Chronic sinusitis is a condition that interrupts the proper drainage of mucus, ultimately making your nose all stuffed up, and your eyes swollen and tender. It is typically caused by the inflammation or swelling of the tissue lining the sinuses because of exposure to allergens, bacteria, or viruses.
One is typically diagnosed with chronic sinusitis when their symptoms persist three months or longer even with treatment. Some common symptoms of chronic sinusitis can range from nasal inflammation and discharge, ear pain, sore throat, bad breath and even physical pain throughout the face.
Allergens, foregin bacteria, and viruses can all contribute to the inflammation of the inner linings of the sinuses. This results in congestion that prevents mucus from flushing it out of your sinuses. This causes unwanted bacteria in your sinuses that can spread and lead to severe infections and chronic pain.
There are multiple causes to chronic sinusitis but a few of the most notable ones are:
Allergies/hay fever: Foreign substances in the air like pollen and unwanted toxins can travel to through your sinuses causing inflammation in the nasal passageways.
Nasal polyps: Nasal polyps are painless, non-cancerous growths that line your nasal openings or sinuses. Although they’re painless, they can block nasal passages, making it tough to breathe.
Deviated nasal septum: A deviated nasal septum takes place when the bone and the cartilage that divide the nasal cavity in half is off center and crooked. This condition makes you struggle more to breathe and happens either at birth or following injury to the nose.
Respiratory tract infections: Viruses including the common cold and the flu are considered respiratory infections, which are bugs that attack your respiratory tract. These infections impact mucus drainage and can cause inflammation in your nasal membranes.
Other conditions such as asthma, cystic fibrosis, and HIV can all cause irritation within the nasal pathways which leads to mucus blockage over time.
Balloon sinuplasty is an endoscopic nasal surgery that uses a small balloon to open up your nasal sinuses slightly and gently to improve drainage. Approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2005, balloon sinuplasty has been performed on over 375,000 people and is mildly invasive with little downtime required upon surgery. Balloon sinuplasty has been proven effective in diminishing symptoms of chronic sinusitis.
If you think that balloon sinuplasty might be the optimal alternative for you, reach out to us to set up your consultation with the Glatz Group today! If eligible for the surgery, balloon sinuplasty can be done by our very own McAllen ENT doctors and staff right here in the office.