Eyes, Ears, Nose Throat Medicine & Health Pages
How iPods Can Make you Rich, Rich, Rich
By Dr. Gifford Jones
Anyone interested in a hot tip on how to make a lot of money without any risk? It’s not my job to pass along financial advice, but in this instance I can’t resist the urge. Invest in a hearing aid company, because the next generation is going deaf and they don’t know it.
A French proverb says, “I do not like noise unless I make it myself”. This proverb must have been uttered centuries ago when someone was enjoying a glass of chardonay in a sleepy French village. Today, we’re running out of quiet places to hide and escape noise. And excessive sound from MP3 players such as the iPod is a gift from Heaven for those selling hearing aids.
What To Know During The Allergy SeasonBy Dr. Gifford Jones
What’s the best way to stay symptom©free during the allergy season? It used to be an impossible task. But that’s past history. Here are some answers to the most common questions that arrive in my mail.
Question © What is an allergy?
Allergies are triggered by pollen, molds, food and dust. In some cases the body’s immune system is sensitized and over©responds to these substances. The most common condition is “allergic rhinitis” resulting in a runny, stuffy, and itchy nose.
The Tight Necktie SyndromeBy Dr. Gifford Jones
A 55 year old businessman complained of headaches, blurring of vision and a tingling sensation in his right ear. Harvard professors failed to make a diagnosis. So he journeyed to the Mayo Clinic , then to a famous Harley Street doctor in London, England. But none could diagnose his problem.
Several years later he was at a convention in Atlantic City still suffering from these annoying symptoms. Having forgotten to pack enough shirts, he walked into an unremarkable men’s store and asked for a size 15 shirt. A young salesman suggested a size 16.
The Do’s And Don’ts of SinusitisBy Dr. Gifford Jones
I must confess I’ve been putting off writing this column for a long time. Sinusitis seems to be such a dull, boring, uninteresting topic compared to most medical troubles. But nevertheless this condition affects millions of people and it’s a damn annoying condition when it strikes. There are also some important do’s and dont’s in treating sinusitis.
Dr. Ron Fenton, Otolaryngologist-in-Chief at St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto, reports in the University of Toront o Health News that one in 200 colds will be complicated by an attack of sinusitis. And the number of cases is increasing.
Socioacusis” The Case Speaks For Itself Against The ACCBy Dr. Gifford Jones
Centuries ago, Diogenes Laertius wrote, “We have two ears and one tongue in order that we may hear more and speak less.” Now an increasing number of people are having difficulty hearing more with either ear. Noise induced hearing loss (socioacusis) is primarily due to constant and excessive noise. And since it appears anyone can sue for anything these days why doesn’t somebody start a class action suit against Toronto’s Air Canada Centre (ACC). It’s a prime example of needless, senseless and harmful noise.
Today, according to the National Institutes of Health, one in three North Americans over age 60 has hearing loss. And the problem often starts during student days.
Careless Use of Contact Lenses Can Cause BlindnessBy Dr. Gifford Jones
It’s estimated that 38 million people in North America wear contact lenses (that’s 76 million eyes). Owners love the benefits. They’re great for sports. They don’t break, fall off or steam up. Most people find them more comfortable than glasses and more flattering. And they’re a great boon following cataract surgery. But placing foreign objects anywhere in the body has a dangerous downside.
I was recently in Washington D.C to attend a research seminar on the prevention of blindness. One of the speakers, Dr. Dwight Cavanagh, Professor of Ophthalmology at the University of Texas Southern Medical School, has been warning for years that users of contact lenses should use them the way porcupines make love, very, very carefully. And that failing to do so can result in serious eye infections.
The Sneak Thief of SightBy Dr. Gifford Jones
The statistics are frightening. Three million North Americans suffer from glaucoma. The National Eye Institute estimates that 120,000 are blind because of this disease. And half the people with glaucoma do not know they have it. Glaucoma is also the leading cause of blindness in African-Americans and the second leading cause of blindness in North Americans.
The underlying cause of glaucoma is not known. For years doctors believed the primary problem was increased pressure within the eye. And that this pressure suddenly or slowly destroyed the optic nerve that carries images to the brain. However, 20 percent of patients with glaucoma have normal eye pressures yet the nerve cells still die.
To Hear Or Not To HearBy Dr. Gifford Jones
Why would a deaf person not want to hear? After all, I’ve never met a blind person who doesn’t want to see. Or a paralyzed victim who doesn’t want to walk. One would think this matter would be as clear as 2 +2 = 4. But life is never that simple. Some people who are deaf are vehemently opposed to the use of cochlear implants, an electronic device that introduces deaf people to the hearing world. Are they right?
Cochlear implant surgery is in effect, another type of bypass surgery. An electrical device is inserted into the ear which allows sound to jump across the diseased part of the organ. But it does not cure deafness. Hearing is present only when the implant is turned on.
A Simple Painless Way To Stop Snoring?By Dr. Gifford Jones
“Giff, would you look at my throat?”, a medical colleague recently requested. He had been in great pain for several days after being treated for snoring by a new method called laser assisted uvula palatoplasty (LAUP). He was not amused by his doctor’s remark that “it’s a simple, painless, office procedure”. And he uttered a few choice remarks about the doctor that cannot be repeated in this column.
It was the first time I’d looked at a patient’s uvula and soft palate following this treatment. I was aghast at what I saw. It looked like a bomb had exploded in his throat. A “Silent night”, it seems, comes with a price!
Is Laser Eye Surgery Worth The Risk?By Dr. Gifford Jones
“Caveat empor” (let the buyer beware), was good advice in Roman times. It’s still sound counsel today. Last year, I cautioned readers about the possible complications of LASIK eye surgery. Now, a report from London, England, shows it remains prudent to think twice about throwing away your eye glasses. And that laser surgery may affect the death toll on our highways.
Those who advocate LASIK surgery make it very appealing. After all, who wouldn’t prefer good vision without glasses or contact lenses? Laser surgery, they say, can make this dream come true.
Are You Using Contact Lenses Safely?By Dr. Gifford Jones
Today 35 million North Americans wear contact lenses. They don’t fall off, break or steam up. They’re great for sports. Most people find them comfortable and more flattering than glasses. And they’re also a great boon for patients following cataract surgery. But there is a downside and it’s vital that users know about it.
Dr. Dwight Cavanagh, Professor of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, at Dallas, warns that contact lens wearers may be at risk of corneal erosion. In fact, in some patients infections can be devastating. Dr Cavanagh stresses that this complication can occur with either soft, hard, extended or disposable lenses.
10 Ways To Protect Your EyesBy Dr. Gifford Jones
How can you avoid losing your vision? According to the World Health Organization up to 80 percent of visual loss can be averted. Here are 10 steps that will help to protect your eyes from aging, disease and injury.
# 1 Watch for infection if you use contact lenses. Eye infection is indicated by redness, pain, blurred vision, sensitivity to light and the presence of sticky secretions. If you’re not sure an infection is present use this approach, “When in doubt take them out”. And see the doctor in case a corneal ulcer is present which can result in visual loss.
Is it a Floater or a Detached Retina?By Dr. Gifford Jones
Some people are prone to see pink elephants now and then for good reason. But others who never misbehave on Saturday night may suddenly start to notice spots, threads or cob-web like structures floating in front of their eyes. A few people find them terribly annoying. Others fret that they may herald the onset of a serious eye problem. Or even end in blindness. What causes these floaters? And when do they indicate an eye emergency has happened?
Many people are too embarrassed to admit they see floaters. The admission is more likely to set the stage for a joke than a helpful reply. Yet most people can see floaters, if they look for them, against a clear sky or a white wall.
Gable sweeps Vivian Leigh into his armsBy Dr. Gifford Jones
Are people backing away every time you talk to them? Are you having trouble getting a date? Or is your faithful dog starting to lie on the other side of the room? If so, you may be suffering from “halitosis”. What causes bad breath and how can it be prevented?
There’s a memorable scene in the movie, “Gone with the Wind”. The one in which Clark Gable sweeps Vivian Leigh into his arms and carries her up the stairs. It was obvious what Gable had in mind. Á But Vivian might have been thinking, “If only he didn’t have bad breath.” Gable, one of the world’s romantic actors suffered from halitosis.
What You Should Know About The Sore Throat Card?By Dr. Gifford Jones
Every year it happens several times to millions of North Americans. Someone in the household wakens with a sore throat. The dilemma is knowing what to do about it. Should you wait until nature cures it? Or is it prudent to see the doctor in case it’s a prelude to serious disease? Now there’s a sore throat card to help answer this common question.
I’ve always believed in Sir William Osler’s advice for a cold. He facetiously counselled his patients to put a hat on the end of the bed post. Then start drinking scotch until they saw two hats! Or Mother’s advice about chicken soup. You can also take two aspirins and gargle, and call your doctor in the morning. Or now EªMail him in the morning!
Next 15 Columns
