Ear, Nose and Throat (ENT) Otolaryngology
The Role of an Ear,NoseandThroat(ENT)
Specialist(Otolaryngologist)
An ear, nose and throat specialist, commonly known as an ENT, also called an otolaryngologist, specializes in conditions of the head and neck. As their title suggests, ENTs deal with ears, noses and throats, but they also work with the sinuses and the respiratory system. A person might go to an ENT for something as simple as a sinus headache or as complex as sleep apnea. Other reasons you might see an ENT are ear infection, tinnitus, allergies, nasal obstruction, gastroesophageal reflux disease and airway disorders.
Recommended
Trustworthy Resources
To Use When Researching ENT (Otolaryngology)
American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery www.entnet.org ENT Health www.enthealth.org
BreakthroughDiagnostic/Treatment for:
Chronic Rhinitis
The 25 million people who suffer from chronic rhinitis — an inflammation of the nasal tissue characterized by sneezing, congestion, runny nose and post-nasal drip — saw a game changer in 2017 with the release of ClariFix. The nasal device uses cryotherapy technology to freeze the irritated nasal tissue, thus providing fast and long-lasting relief of symptoms. How is this
New Diagnostic/Treatment
Different/ImprovedOver Existing/PastOne(s)?
Gastroenterology TheRoleofa
Recommended
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How Virginia Ear, Nose & Throat’s Specialty Care is Changing for the Better.
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Trustworthy Resources
To Use When Researching Gastroenterology
American College of Gastroenterology www.gi.org American Gastroenterological Association www.gastro.org
BreakthroughDiagnostic/Treatment for:
Colorectal Cancer Screening
In recent years, alternative screening options for colorectal cancer have gained prominence for their ease and noninvasiveness. A fecal immunochemical test (FIT), which uses antibodies to detect blood in a patient’s stool, is deemed the screening test of choice by European Union Guidelines. A similar screening option is the stool DNA tests, which looks for altered DNA in a patient’s fecal matter. These screenings can be done once a year, and if they come back positive for colorectal cancer, a gastroenterologist can schedule the patient to have a colonoscopy for a more definitive answer.
Option
Before the release of ClariFix, people with chronic rhinitis had to rely on short-term solutions that treated their symptoms but did not bring any longstanding relief: common over-the-counter medications such as antihistamines or nasal decongestants, as well as neti pots and nasal sprays. These required continual administration or use, unlike ClariFix, which is a one-and-done treatment option for this chronic problem.
Gastroenterologist
A gastroenterologist diagnoses and treats conditions of the digestive tract, which encompasses the esophagus, the stomach, the small intestine, the colon and the rectum, as well as related digestive organs like the pancreas, gallbladder, bile ducts and liver. In short, this is a medical specialty concerned with the breakdown of food, the absorption of nutrients and the elimination of waste. A gastroenterologist can help patients who are fighting colon polyps and cancer, heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), colitis, peptic ulcer disease, gallbladder and biliary tract disease, and nutrient malabsorption.
How is this
New Diagnostic/Treatment
Different/ImprovedOver Existing/PastOne(s)? Option
Before these noninvasive procedures, a colonoscopy was the only way to screen for colorectal cancer. The procedure involves sending a thin tube up inside a patient’s colon to check for polyps or cancer; in addition to being expensive, it requires inconvenient pre-procedural preparation consisting of a bland diet for several days, followed by a liquid diet for a day, then drinking a solution that cleanses the colon by means of diarrhea. Simple screenings like FIT and stool DNA tests make it practical for more people to get screened annually, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends a colonoscopy only once every 10 years for people who do not have increased risk of colorectal cancer. Continued on page
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