What is Cricopharyngeal Muscle Dysfunction? When a person swallows, the upper esophageal sphincter (UES), sometimes called the cricopharyngeus, which is a semi-circular muscle in the neck, relaxes to permit food to pass through to the esophagus and eventually the stomach. When not swallowing, the UES is usually contracted. If Cricopharyngeal Muscle Dysfunction (CMD) is present, […]
Head and neck cancer refers to cancer that develops in the nose, neck, mouth, nose, salivary glands, or sinuses. These cancers will typically develop in the cells lining the throat, mouth, or nose (squamous cell carcinomas). Approximately three out of every four head and neck cancers are associated with tobacco or alcohol use. Symptoms and […]
Asthma is a condition that causes inflammation or swelling of your airways. The inflammation or swelling of the airways leads to breathing difficulties, which contribute to shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing. Asthma can range from a minor inconvenience to a severe life-threatening asthma attack. Approximately 25 to 30 million Americans have asthma. Causes of […]
If you’re suffering from vertigo or balance disorders, you know that they can appear at any time and cause a multitude of issues. Beyond the feeling of dizziness, vertigo can make it difficult or stressful just doing normal everyday activities. Balance disorders can also lead to serious injuries from falling. Read on to learn more […]
Smell and taste disorders are usually not life threatening, but they can affect your quality of life. Your senses of smell and taste are linked, if a disorder affects one, it will usually affect the other sense as well. If you’re suffering from impaired taste, don’t worry too much, as it’s rare to lose your […]
Michael J. Sillers, M.D. graduated from the University of Alabama in 1984 and received his M.D. from the University of Alabama in 1988. He completed an internship in general surgery and a residency in otolaryngology-head and neck surgery at the University of Alabama-Birmingham in 1993. He completed his training as a fellow in rhinology and […]
Image-guided surgery refers to use of a probe that is tracked by a computer as the probe passes through the nose during a sinus surgery. A computer, which is attached to the probe either physically or remotely, provides the surgeon with a map of the nose and sinuses as he/she performs the operation. The map […]
The nasal turbinates are located on the inner walls of the nose on either side of the septum, the structure that divides the nostrils and nasal passages. They consist of three long, thin surfaces of bone on each side, covered by vascular soft tissue and mucous membrane. Blood vessels in the turbinates help to warm […]
Your body produces tears to protect your eyes from dust and other foreign materials. Tears are produced by your tear glands, which are located under your upper eyelids. They are then drained away through your tear ducts near the bottom of your eye. Watery eyes, also known as epiphora occurs when your body produces excessive […]
A hoarse voice is generally a symptom or result of some other underlying condition or cause. Hoarseness is described as a raspy voice, typically associated with a dry or itchy throat. A hoarse voice will usually prevent you from producing your normal smooth vocal sounds and words. Causes of Voice Hoarseness Hoarseness is typically a […]
Sinusitis is another name for a sinus infection. It occurs when the sinuses or four paired spaces in the head which keep the nose clean and free of bacteria become blocked and filled with fluid. While acute sinusitis only lasts a few days, chronic sinusitis can persist for more than 12 weeks and may require […]
If you have a partial or complete loss of smell, you may be living with hyposmia. This can take a toll on your everyday life as smell brings pleasure to day-to-day tasks and allows you to develop and remember memories. A sense of smell can also keep you safe as a loss of it can […]
Alabama Nasal and Sinus Center would like to welcome you to our blog. Here you will find informative and useful postings about your health and our practice. At Atlanta Spine Institute, we believe that educated patients are better prepared to make decisions regarding their spinal health and wellbeing. Our blog was designed to provide you […]
ENT Doctor lpadmin2020-12-29T15:52:58+00:00 Ear, nose, and throat problems make our lives unbearable, but which treatment is right for your condition? The doctors of Alabama Nasal & Sinus Center have had extensive training on leading therapies and technologies and can determine the best path for your ENT issues. Whether through appropriate medical therapy or surgical treatment […]