ENT Disorder Prevention

Many ENT disorders can be prevented using common sense and good basic hygiene.

• Wash your hands to help prevent many infections.
• Avoid exposure to illness.
• Cover your nose and mouth when you sneeze, yawn or cough.

Prevent Ear Infection

Ear infections are common, especially in children. These steps may cut down on your or your children’s risk of ear infection.

• Turn off the TV, computer or video games and exercise regularly, at least 30 minutes five days a week, as a family
• Serve and eat smaller portions
• Learn about calorie and carbohydrate content
• Eat a diet of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, beans, fish and lean meats
• Limit high-fat, processed or sugar-sweetened foods such as butter, oils, desserts, whole milk, cheese and sugar-sweetened drinks
• Eat breakfast every day
• Get seven to nine hours of sleep every night
• Manage stress

Prevent Sinus Infection

If you have allergies or a cold, you can often keep them from becoming a sinus infection by doing the following:

• Use an over-the-counter saline nasal spray to keep your nasal passages from becoming blocked when you have a cold.
• If you must fly, consider taking a decongestant and using a nasal spray 30 minutes before take-off.
• Treat allergies before they become sinus infections.
• Try using a saline nasal spray daily for chronic sinusitis, an inflammation and irritation of the sinuses.

Prevent Sleep Apnea

If snoring is a problem for you, it could be or become sleep apnea. Methods that can help prevent or keep sleep apnea at bay include:

• Maintain a healthy weight.
• Avoid alcohol or sedatives near bedtime.
• Identify and treat disorders that can block your airway, such as tonsillitis and nasal polyps.
• Quit smoking.