BAHA Implant
Bone Anchored Hearing Aid (BAHA) is a device surgically implanted to help people suffering from a loss of hearing. Most conventional hearing aids transmit sound through air conduction. The BAHA device is suitable for conductive or mild-moderate mixed hearing loss.

Problems with hearing in the middle or outer ears can be helped with the BAHA device. The sound waves received by the BAHA device bypass the middle ear and get delivered straight to the functioning cochlea in both ears.

A BAHA device comprises of two parts:
a) The processor 
b) A fixture which is surgically implanted behind the ear in the bone.

The implant is embedded in the bone. The processor, which remains outside, is attached to the implant. There is a microphone on the processor that picks up sounds. The sounds are passed on to the implant. The implant vibrates which triggers the Cochlear. You can consider wearing a BAHA implant if other conventional hearing aids do not work for you. BAHA implants are also given to people with collapsed or irritated ear canals.

Cochlear Implant Surgery

A complex, small electronic device that helps hearing in people with severe hearing loss or deafness is used in the Cochlear Implant Surgery. The cochlear implant comprises of an external piece behind the ear and another piece that is surgically implanted under the skin. A cochlear implant comprises of four parts:
1. A microphone which picks up sounds from the surroundings
2. A speech processor which chooses and arranges the sounds the microphone picks up
3. A receiver/stimulator and transmitter that picks up signals from the speech processor and changes them into electric impulses
4. An electrode ray, a bunch of electrodes, receives impulses the stimulator sends and transmits them to different areas of the auditory nerves.
The implant does not cure deafness; it only gives you a useful portrayal of sounds in the environment and considerable aid in understanding speech.

The surgery is done in the following way:
i. The area around the site of the implant is shaved or cleaned
ii. The patient's vital signs are monitored through cables, patches and monitors attached to him or her
iii. General anaesthesia is administered through IV or through a face mask
iv. After the device is implanted, the patient is taken to the recovery room for the anaesthesia effect to lessen.

BAHA Implant and Cochlear Implant Surgery

Allergies and the common cold afflict everyone. Every person comes down with either of these or both multiple times a year. Children, adults and the elderly all are equally vulnerable to both these minor ailments. And one of the chief complaints of both is a sore throat. But, how can you tell whether your painful throat is a result of an allergy or a cold? Read on to know more.

How are Allergies and Common Cold Similar?

Sore throat is not the only commonality between cold and allergies. There will be other similar symptoms as well.

  A runny and itchy nose

  Coughing

  Sneezing

  Blocked nose

  Painful sinuses

  Postnasal drip

  Conjunctivitis

That is why similar symptoms like sore throat and all the rest make it very hard to tell allergies and a common cold apart.

Can you tell the Difference between Sore throat caused Common Cold or Allergies?

There are a few questions that you will have to ask yourself to find the answer to whether your sore throat is triggered by cold or allergy.

  How did your sore throat manifest itself? Have you been feeling it coming for quite a while now? Maybe, your throat has been feeling itchy for a few days before a full-blown painful throat came along. Or did it start suddenly without a warning? If it is the former, then it is a case of a common cold. But the latter is possibly an effect of allergies.

  If other symptoms are periodic, that is they manifest at certain times of the day like early in the morning or during sunset, your sore throat could be because of allergies. But if the other symptoms last all day, then your sore throat owes its origin to the common cold.

  Are you feverish? Does your thermometer register an above normal body temperature? Then it is a case of a common cold. Allergies do not trigger a fever.

  Have your sore throat and other symptoms started abating in six or seven days? Then it is possibly common cold. The duration of allergies lasts much longer. Or they come and go   depends on the presence of allergens in the air. Treatment for the two kinds of sore throat Common cough and cold have no cure. Your doctor will suggest paracetamol to help manage the symptoms of the common cold and this will bring relief from a sore throat as well. Allergies can be treated with antihistamines. Talk to your doctor who will recommend the necessary medicines.

A sore throat can be a very painful and annoying problem. It could be triggered by both allergies and the common cold. However, there are medicines that can help with both.

How To Tell If A Sore Throat Is From An Allergy Or A Cold?

A nasal polyp is a growth within the nasal cavity, which may cause problems with your health. Smaller polyps don't tend to create any problem, but larger ones can cause breathing difficulty, sneezing problems, losing the sense of smell and a dampening of taste as well. Conventional medicine usually prescribes surgery, but homeopathy has effective cures to reduce the polyp and lessen the symptoms over time.

Cures for nasal polyps in homeopathy

 Phosphorus: this medication is especially effective if you have nasal polyps that bleed. This is effective with people who have a tall and slender build and tend to develop a thirst for cold water as the polyp grows within them. The polyps may bleed regularly and also block the nostrils in such a way that they get a circular motion when breathing. 
 Lemna minor: this medicine is very effective when there is an intense level of nasal blockage and you are experiencing anosmia or a loss of the sense of smell. These kind of nasal polyps tend to worsen during the wet season and can even cause a thick white discharge from the nose which has a foul smell.
 Calcarea carbonica: useful in the cases of people who are overweight, some homeopathic doctors tend to prescribe this medication in cases where a person may be quickly affected by seasonal changes, such as hot to cold or cold to hot weather. Other symptoms where this medication is applicable are:
 Frequent sneezing
 Profuse sweating during the night
 Sore nose
 Small amounts of white discharge
 Nostrils are mostly dry
 Conium maculatum: this medication is very effective if you have a dry nose, which seems to get sudden discharges irregularly. Instead of a loss of smell, you may develop a more acute sense of smell. If the patient is suffering from frequent sneezes and complains of nasal blocks in the morning, conium can be an effective remedy
 Sanguinaria canadensis: this medicine is know be a great remedy primarily for polyps, which are right sided or occur within the right nostril of the nose. Some of the symptoms where sanguinaria canadensis is very effective are:
 Profuse amounts of nasal discharge
 Frequent sneezing
 Swollen nasal membrane
 Right sided headache along with right sided blockage of nostrils.

Homeopathic Medicine for Nasal Polyps Treatment - Safe Remedies

One of the irritating conditions that can affect the mouth of a person is sores, which can be quite painful. These sores can affect anyone of any age group or gender. Sores may make it difficult for a person to eat, speak or even swallow. Here are a few ways through which you can get rid of mouth sores quickly or at least alleviate the symptoms to lessen the pain:

1. Topical Products - There are various types of creams and lotions which are available in the market as over the counter drugs for treating or at least lessening the symptoms of mouth sores. Some of the common chemicals used to treat the sores are Fluocinonide, Benzocaine and Hydrogen peroxide.

2. Food and nutritional supplements - In many cases the sores are caused within the body due to deficiency of nutrients such as Zinc, Vitamin B12 or B6 and the doctor may prescribe special medications to supplement the need for those within the body.

3. Rinses - Certain special types of oral rinses are prescribed by the doctors when treating mouth sores. Most of the rinses prescribed by the doctors have a steroid, namely dexamethasone, which proves to be effective in the treatment of mouth sores.

4. Cauterizing or destroying sores - In certain cases where topical or oral treatments haven't worked it may be necessary to correct it by cauterizing or using a special device to burn and destroy the sore so that new tissues can grow in its place.

5. Oral medications - Certain oral medications may be prescribed for sores which are caused due to underlying physical conditions such as ulcers.

6. Avoiding spicy food - Spicy foods are also a leading cause for canker sores as it may cause chemical imbalances within the stomach as well as inside the mouth and hence should be avoided as much as possible.

7. Improving general oral hygiene - Regular brushing, flossing, and proper oral care will definitely reduce the chances of getting oral sores.

7 Ways to Get Rid of Mouth Sores

The inflammatory condition of your sinuses (marked by inflammation of your nasal cavities) caused due to viral, bacterial or fungal infection; any autoimmune disorders or allergic reaction is known as sinusitis. This condition is also referred to as 'rhinosinusitis' as nose inflammation occurs. Sinusitis can be either acute, sub-acute or chronic in nature. Acute sinusitis is generally caused due to the common cold and lasts not more than four weeks. Sub-acute sinusitis is more prolonged in nature and lasts for about eight weeks. Chronic sinusitis is more severe in nature and can last for up to twelve weeks or even more.

The most common symptoms of sinusitis are as follows: 

Severe headache
Nose blockage
Release of yellowish green fluids from your nose.
Fever
Difficulty in breathing
Painful sensation in your eyes, ears and forehead.
Post nasal discharge
Frequent cough
A sore throat
Nausea
Body fatigue
Neck stiffness
Tastelessness and anosmia (loss of smell)
The treatment methods available for sinusitis are as follows:

Intake of painkillers like paracetamol can give you temporary relief from your aches. But consuming too much of these can cause side effects such as loss of appetite and drowsiness.
Keep yourself hydrated by drinking about 2 to 3 liters of water every day and take proper rest.
Steam inhalation can give you relief from nasal congestion.
Using nasal sprays like Oxymetazoline can also give you temporary relief.
Your doctor may advise you antibiotics like Amoxicillin in your sinusitis is chronic in nature.
Immunotherapy helps to treat sinusitis if your sinusitis is caused due to allergic reactions.
Your doctor may also recommend an endoscopic surgery of the sinus if your condition is found to be very severe.

Symptoms and Treatment of Sinusitis

Hoarseness in the simplest sense means, 'hoarse voice'. It may be defined as an abnormal voice change. It is experienced in the form of strained, rough, thick, harsh and grating voice. Variations can be felt even in the loudness and pitch of the voice.

Hoarseness is a temporary infection associated with the larynx, which is also known as the voice box in animals as well as humans. Vocal cords are present inside the voice box. Depending on the vibration of the vocal cord, different sounds are produced.

What are the general causes of hoarseness?

Hoarseness may be caused by common cold, viral infection, cough, irritation due to screaming, smoking, allergy, thyroid problem, acute laryngitis and benign tumor. In adults, the stomach asset comes up to the throat causing hoarseness. Heartburn can also be one of the causes.

When hoarseness arises due to common cold and cough, it will last for 2 to 3 days and will subside using cough suppressant and home remedies like salt water gargling, drinking hot milk with turmeric and pepper powder. As cough or cold suppress, hoarseness will also reduce.

When to see an Otolaryngologist (ENT specialist)?

ENT stands for ear, nose, throat. Serious infections in these areas are treated by an otolaryngologist. It is very essential to consult this specialist if hoarseness lasts for more than 2 to 3 weeks; pain in ENT is not due to cold or flu, coughing up blood, lump in the neck.

Evaluation

The medical specialist starts his diagnosis by physically examining the vocal cord. Flexible light weight fiber optic tube scope is also used to visually examine the larynx area. Videotaping, acoustic analysis is also done to study voice irregularities, airflow to guide treatment.

How can hoarseness be treated?

The mode of treatments depends on underlying the cause of the problem. The patient may be advised:

In most cases, hoarseness can be treated just by resting your throat or modifying the use of your voice.
To avoid smoking or passive smoking
Referred to a speech therapist to improve sound of voice.
In case of benign tumor the nodule or polyp is removed by surgery.
How can you prevent hoarseness?

We've all heard the phrase, 'prevention is better than cure'. Alas, it is. Preventing hoarse voice and throat is a much better option than treating it. Here are some tips on how to prevent hoarseness:

Avoid smoking
Avoid overconsumption of caffeine and alcohol.
Consume plenty of water
Avoid eating spicy food.
Avoid speaking loudly for long intervals of time.

How Hoarseness Can be Treated

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