Does Cold Weather Affect ENT Issues? As temperatures drop, the cold weather brings ear, nose and throat (Ent) issues for Colorado Springs area residents. Are colds, sore throats and ear infections caused by cold weather?
Many people experience an illness during the cold weather months. But the weather is just a contributing factor that worsens the condition.
Sinus issues and the common cold are frequently caused by viruses. Another winter illness is the flu. Which is caused by the influenza virus. The cold weather does play a key role in the virus spreading and how the immune system responds.
Common Sinus and ENT problems that are impacted by cold weather:
Runny Nose
Postnasal drip can cause problems for you and your loved ones during winter. People frequently assume that the issues are related to cold weather. But the symptoms can be caused by many other issues. This includes allergies to something they are encountering.
Sore Throat
A sore throat can be caused by different viral infections. And colder weather conditions make them worse. The spread of germs and dry air can dry out the throat tissue and inflict irritation.
Ent treatments can reduce this irritation quickly. Spending a great deal of time at home may be exposing you to winter allergies, dust, mold, and pet dander. Here are some sore throat remedies.
Ear Infections
Ear infections are frequently caused by illness, cold, flu or allergies, that have moved into the middle ear. Some signs of an ear infections are ear pain, drainage of fluid from the ear and trouble hearing.
Lower temperatures can cause a decrease in blood circulation and make the ear infection more severe. Make sure to keep your ears covered and get help from one of our Colorado ENT Physicians if your symptoms last for more than a day. Or if the ear pain is severe, and you observe discharge of fluid from the ear.
Sinus Infections or colds
Cold weather encourages more people to stay home and indoors. The more people that are living close together makes it easier for a virus to spread. The heater also causes the air to dry out. The dry air affects the mucous membrane that prevents viruses from getting into the nasal passages. Studies show that lower temperatures lead to a higher risk of rhinovirus infection.
If you are suffering from ENT issues, we need to track down the cause of the problem. Various ENT treatments can reduce pain and put you back on the road to recovery. The winter weather may be making the problem worse. Visiting one of our ENT Doctors is the first step to a happier healthier winter.
Learn how to keep your asthma under control in the winter.
ENT issues that are left untreated can cause the severity to worsen in the future. Don’t wait to get treated.