Popular Nasal Decongestants Associated with Birth Defects

Researchers have discovered that there is a very small, but significant association between birth defects and use of nasal decongestants in the first trimester of pregnancy. Unfortunately, decongestants  (ie sudafed, afrin, etc) are also one of the most popular medications purchased over-the-counter to treat symptoms of nasal congestion , runny nose, and allergies . In particular, three strong associations were found: • Phenylephrine and endocardial cushion defects • Phenylpropanolam…

7/23/2013 0

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Beyonce Cancels Concert Due to Dehydration (and Exhaustion)

Image by Jingjing Cheng from Wikipedia Media has reported the superstar pop singer Beyonce cancelled her May 14, 2013 concert in Belgium on the advice of her doctors "due to dehydration and exhaustion". Though the rumor mill is churning with the possibility of a pregnancy, I was more interested that a concert was cancelled due to dehydration concerns. Why is hydration so important for voice production, especially in as athletic activity as singing? With hydration, the glan…

5/16/2013 0

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Nasal Congestion or Obstruction During Pregnancy

When a woman becomes pregnant, it is not unusual for the nose to become quite congested ... uncomfortably so, even to the point of being unable to breath through the nose. This condition known as "rhinitis of pregnancy" affects as many as 30% of pregnant women and can start in the second month of pregnancy; it tends to worsen later in pregnancy. The nasal congestion should ease up soon after giving birth and be gone completely within two weeks after delivery. The nasal congest…

8/08/2012 2

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Pregnant Woman Finishes Law Bar Exam While In Active Labor

Kudos to perhaps one of the gutsiest man or woman of sheer intellectual will-power that I know of past or present... and that includes ENT surgeons  ;-) An Illinois lawyer, Elana Nightingale Dawson, in July 27, 2011 was taking the notoriously difficult Law Bar Exam when she went into active labor halfway thru the second day of the exam. Apparently, she went into active labor around 1PM and finished the test early at 4PM after which she was escorted by a test proctor to a hospital across t…

8/14/2011 0

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Miscarriage During Pregnancy Is Murder Committed by the Mother (According to One Lawmaker)

I know... I know... I'm an ENT, so why am I doing a post on miscarriages? Well, I could not help myself given how outlandish this is... And I did put a picture of a pregnant woman who is smoking and smoking is an ENT problem! In any case... So most people in the United States would not bat an eye regarding how abortion can potentially be considered murder. Most people also would agree with the idea of involuntary manslaughter if a person died due to acts of recklessness or criminal …

2/26/2011 0

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Nasal Irrigation Beneficial for Pregnant Women With Allergies

Italian researchers have reported in the International Archives of Allergy and Immunology in Sept 2009 that saline nasal rinsing is a safe and effective treatment option for nasal problems in pregnant women with seasonal allergic rhinitis. In their paper titled " Nasal Lavage in Pregnant Women with Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis: A Randomized Study ," the researchers instructed the study group to perform hypertonic saline lavages to the nose 3X per day. Of note, HYPERTONIC saline solutio…

10/17/2009 1

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