Throat Disorders You Should Not Ignore

Throat Disorders You Should Not Ignore

Throat problems are not exactly rare. In fact, millions of people all over the world are affected by some sort of throat disorder. While most throat problems are harmless, there are those that must really be diagnosed and evaluated by an ENT specialist to ensure that the condition doesn’t worsen and lead to life threatening illnesses.

Here are some problems you should not ignore:

Vocal Polyps
Vocal polyps are growths that may occur due to straining of the voice, radiation therapy in the neck, hypothyroidism, or long-term sinusitis. Usually, the initial symptom is hoarseness of the voice, which occurs when the growth is already affecting the flow of air in the vocal cords.

Leukoplakia
Leukoplakia refers to thick abnormal tissues usually grouped in white patches, often caused by chemical irritation from alcohol or tobacco. Leukoplakia often has no symptoms but gradually develops into cancer.

Tonsillitis
The tonsils are masses of tissue found at the back of the throat which filter everything that goes into your body. They also produce antibodies so as to prevent infection. However, there are times when they become infected as well so they become inflamed and swollen. Infection is caused by various kinds of bacteria and viruses. If you notice symptoms of tonsillitis, see your doctor so treatment can be given.

Pharyngitis
Also known as the inflammation of the pharynx, pharyngitis cause sore throat and itchy throat. It also causes difficulty in swallowing. The triggers of this condition are usually viral infection and bacterial infection. If you have the symptoms of pharyngitis, make an appointment with your doctor so that the right treatment can be given.

Heartburn and GERD
Heartburn is not exactly a throat problem but sometimes when your condition worsens, the symptoms affect your throat. Heartburn is a symptom that you experience when stomach acids flow into the esophagus, a condition known as GERD. The esophagus is the tube carrying food from the throat to the stomach and if you have gastroesophageal reflux disease, you will often experience heartburn in the form of burning pain in the chest going up to the breastbone and even to your throat.

People with heartburn and GERD should be checked by their doctor so that the appropriate treatment will be given. If left untreated, complications will occur and some even lead to cancer.

Throat Cancer
Throat cancer is the collective term for cancers occurring in the throat area. There are many kinds of throat cancer depending on where it is located – oropharynx, nasopharynx and the hypopharynx. Some cancers also affect the voice box. The people who are at high risk for throat cancer include those who drink and smoke. Symptoms often include: frequent headaches, trouble breathing, difficulty speaking, pain in the ears, difficulty swallowing and ringing in the ears. If you suspect you have throat cancer, make an appointment with an ENT doctor ASAP.

Source:

HK ENT Specialist Ltd.

Hong Kong based ENT clinic centre

For ENT Services, Audiology & Speech Therapy,

Sleep Disordered Breathing Management,

Hearing Aid Prescription & Medical Cosmetic Services

https://www.hkentspecialist.hk