Monday, October 24, 2011

Beautiful fall weather in Texas....Welcome to Flu Season 2011

When the weather turns cool and crisp, I look forward to upcoming holiday season.  And I also begin recommending the flu vaccine.

Flu season typically starts quietly in October, gains momentum over the holidays, peaks in December-Janurary, and can linger on through May.   Like the common cold, the flu is a viral infection: flu hits fast and symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny/stuffy nose, body aches, and fatigue.  Some people will have a mild illness, sometimes even without fever!  But sometimes flu can cause severe and life-threatening illness.

The seasonal Flu Vaccine is valuable protection from influenza, preventing illness or at least ameliorating symptom severity.  Here are some Key Points regarding flu vaccine:

   * Your protective antibodies will develop 2 weeks after vaccination, reaching high levels at 4         
      weeks. 
       Getting your flu vaccine early in the season (ie. October) will ensure strong antibody levels
       during the peak months.
       But even getting the shot late in the year is helpful, since flu can last
       as late as May.
 
   * You will not "get the flu" from the vaccine, this is true even with the nasal-spray vaccine.

   * 3 types of vaccine:
          Regular flu shot approved for 6 mo and older.
          Nasal-spray flu vaccine (weakened, live virus) for 2 years - 49 years old.
          High-dose flu shot approved for people 65 years and older.

   * Caution: you should not be vaccinated if you have a severe allergy to chicken eggs or
         a history of Guillain-Barre Syndrome.

Of course, good habits also protect you and prevent spreading flu:
 
   * Wash your hands frequently!  Embrace hand sanitizers or sanitizing wipes!
   * Cover your cough!


For more information, click here.




Sunday, October 9, 2011

Adele: Vocal Cord Hemorrhage, cancels U.S. tour

British phenom, Adele, recently announced that persistent problems with vocal cord hemorrhage has forced the cancellation of her U.S. tour.   Hoarseness and other voice disorders can be a huge problem for all of us, not only those who are professional singers.

Here are a few tips for how to care for your voice:

1. Avoid overuse.  Try to speak in low to moderate volumes.  Avoid screaming and avoid whispering -- both strain your vocal cords.  If you must speak for many hours a day, then try to rest your voice for 10 minutes every few hours -- this will help preserve your voice over the long term.

2. Hydration.  Ample water intake is extremely important for your voice!  You can always tell if your body is adequately hydrated: your urine will be pale and clear.  Hydration helps maintain the lubricating mucus on your vocal cords.  Dehydrating drinks tend to cause dehydration, so try to avoid these (ie. coffee, soft drinks, energy drinks).  Use a humidifier if needed.

3. Avoid throat clearing: it is traumatic to the vocal cords, leading to excessive strain.  Sometimes throat clearing is a sign of gatroesophageal reflux (GERD) and your physician can help treat this condition.  While most folks with GERD experience "heartburn", many people do not experience this and their only sign of GERD is excessive throat clearing.  

4. Antihistamines/Decongestants: these commonly used medications are often found in cold or allergy treatments.  They often cause dryness to the vocal cords, which brings us back to tip #2.

5. Avoid smoking or second-hand smoke.  Smoking can cause chronic laryngitis/hoarseness, vocal cord polyps, and even cancer of the throat or vocal cords.    If you are a smoker, this is yet another reason to consider smoking cessation if you are a smoker -- please see your health care provider for help on smoking cessation.

If you have any voice concerns, please call Dr. White for an appointment at the Texas ENT Center.
Dr. White has a special interest in voice disorders, and he will develop a treatment plan designed for your voice needs.  For further information on voice hygiene and vocal cord services, please click here.

Click here for a link to the Texas ENT Center in Keller, Texas.

ENT care comes to Keller!

Head and Neck Surgeon brings personalized ENT care to the Keller, north Fort Worth, Roanoke, and surrounding areas.  Dr. Stephen White is proud to live and work in Keller -- and he has a special interest in pediatric otolaryngology, allergy, voice disorders, thyroid surgery, sinusitis, and hearing disorders.  

What is allergic rhinitis?


Allergic rhinitis, often called allergies or hay fever, occurs when your immune system overreacts to particles in the air that you breathe—you are allergic to them. Your immune system attacks the particles in your body, causing symptoms such as sneezing and a runny nose. The particles are called allergens, which simply means they can cause an allergic reaction.

People with allergies usually have symptoms for many years. You may have symptoms often during the year, or just at certain times. You also may get other problems such assinusitis and ear infections as a result of your 


For more details, go here.