Home Remedies for Reducing Acid Reflux
If you’ve ever experienced a painful burning sensation in the chest after you’ve eaten, you’re not alone. Acid reflux, commonly referred to as heartburn, affects 60 million people across the U.S. That means almost one out of every five people in Boone and Jefferson frequently reach for antacids after mealtime. There are some natural remedies…
Could a Strep Throat Vaccine Be Closer to Reality?
We’re betting that pretty much everybody has experienced a sore throat in Boone at some point in their lives. They usually occur in conjunction with a cold or flu and, while symptoms typically clear up quickly, that itchy, scratchy sensation is never pleasant to deal with – even when it’s brief. Worse still is strep…
When Hearing Loss Affects Only One Ear
The majority of people with hearing loss in Boone experience an impairment in both ears. For a small percentage, impairment is confined to one ear. You might think this is preferable to being affected in both ears, but single-sided hearing loss presents unique challenges that often make it even more difficult to communicate. What is…
When Should You See an ENT?
If you’re like most people in North Carolina, you are probably unfamiliar with the term otolaryngology. This fancy and difficult-to-pronounce word refers to the medical specialty that deals with ear, nose and throat disorders and is better known by the acronym ENT. An ear, nose and throat specialist, or ENT doctor, sees patients with a…
What is Earwax?
Earwax is often the butt of many an ill-conceived joke on a Saturday morning cartoon. Your Boone audiologist is here to set the record straight – earwax is important. Cerumen is the medical term for the waxy, yellowish substance found in healthy ears. It not only protects your ear from bacteria, water and foreign particles,…
The Baffling Booger
Deposited into a tissue and then thrown away, boogers are typically never given a second thought. But do you know what they are? What they’re made of? What your Boone physician can tell about you from them? What are Boogers? So let’s start from the beginning. A booger is a mixture of water, mucus and…
A Good Thyroid Diet
Your thyroid is a gland in your neck that sits in front of the trachea and below the larynx. It is responsible for controlling metabolism by producing thyroid hormone (TH) that controls your body’s energy production and consumption. Genetics, stress, environmental toxins, an autoimmune condition and the food you eat all play a role in…
The Mysterious Thyroid
Have you ever thought about the role your thyroid plays in your life? Your thyroid is a butterfly shaped gland that sits in the lower front of your neck. It uses the iodine from your food to produce three hormones that your body uses as energy, to stay warm and to keep your brain, heart,…