There is an astute adage that loosely reads “to a hammer, everything is a nail.” Applied to sinus surgery this means that a procedure may be overutilized to treat conditions outside of its evidence-based efficacy bubble. As an inadvertent consequence of misleading advertising, the balloon sinuplasty procedure has attained mythical status as the cure-all hammer for everything from headaches to the common cold. Case and point, there is a good chance that you, or someone you know, has already had it done for vastly incongruent reasons. In my practice, I have seemingly endless patients inquiring a ..read more

Many of us are bothered by seasonal allergies. But how can you tell the difference between allergies or a more chronic sinus problem? If you have a frequent stuffy nose or other allergy symptoms, it is important to understand when to seek out an evaluation with a doctor. Dr. Arjuna Kuperan, a fellowship-trained Rhinologist and board-certified Otolaryngologist (ENT) in Houston, Texas, explains how seasonal allergies work and what you need to know about nose and sinus conditions. Dealing with Spring Allergies Just as you decisively put away that winter jacket, an insidious dusty yellowish-green ..read more

Are There Different Types of Nosebleeds? There are two types of nosebleeds. Nosebleeds, also known as epistaxis, happens when the blood vessels in the nose sustain an injury or become damaged in a way which causes the nose to bleed. The two types of nosebleeds are classified as anterior and posterior. Anterior nosebleeds occur due to damage to the tissues at the front of the nose. Posterior nosebleeds arise due to damage to the tissues at the back of the nose and tend to have heavier blood flow. What Causes Nosebleeds? The lining of the nose contains many tiny blood vessels. These small blood ..read more

Not every doctor or ENT in Houston is fellowship trained. Being accepted into a fellowship training program is a privilege reserved for the top doctoral graduates. A physician that chooses this path is committing to extra education and is devoted to providing the best medical care possible. What Is a Fellowship-Trained Doctor? Doctors are typically split into two categories: general physicians and specialists. When an individual has a complex condition, they’ll seek the help of a specialist. A specialist spends years of education and training focusing on a specific aspect of medicine. Fellows ..read more

What Are Skull Base Tumors? Skull base tumors are abnormal growths that are benign, non-cancerous, or malignant, cancerous. The skull base separates the brain from other structures in the face and forms the cranial cavity floor, the base of the skull. What Does It Mean to Be Fellowship Trained? Is There More Than One Type of Skull Base Tumor? Skull base brain tumors include the following types. Acoustic neuroma: the two types of acoustic neuroma are unilateral and bilateral. A unilateral neuroma is the most common type of neuroma and only affects one ear. Bilateral neuroma affects both ear ..read more

To protect your spinal cord and brain, these organs are surrounded by clear spinal fluid. This fluid is known as cerebrospinal fluid, or CSF, and contains glucose, protein and many things that are also present in your blood. A cerebrospinal fluid leak is a condition that occurs when the CSF leaks through a hole on the covering of the brain, the dura, and flows out into the nose or ear. A hole or tear on the dura can result after a head injury, brain injury, sinus surgery or after lumbar puncture, which is also known as a spinal tap. Spontaneous cerebrospinal fluid leaks can also occur for unk ..read more

Deviated septum refers to a condition where your nasal septum, which is the tissue that divides the nasal cavity in half, becomes crooked or off-centered, causing a blockage to your nasal airways. Causes of Deviated Septum There are several causes for having a deviated nasal septum. Many people are born with a slightly and often unnoticeable crooked nose; this is due to compression on the nose during birth. Severe cases of the deviated septum are usually a result of a heavy blow to the face causing impact trauma. This could be a consequence from a direct hit, fall or accidental bumping. While ..read more

The constant lingering annoyance of facial pressure and pain associated with it affects tens of millions of Americans every year, many of whom have to deal with this condition chronically. While this facial pressure can be due to a number of different issues, it generally has to do with the sinuses, the hollow cavities in the skull located in the forehead and behind the cheekbones. These areas can become filled with fluid, inflamed or infected, leading to various forms of sinusitis. There are several reasons why this might happen. Allergies The most common sinus-related ailment is allergies ..read more

Reasons to Get Sinus Surgery Sinus surgery is an effective option for people who suffer from chronic sinus infections or diseases that do not respond to noninvasive medical treatment. Severe sinusitis, sinus/nasal polyps, structural abnormalities within the nose and/or nasal passages and, more rarely, cancer of the sinuses are common reasons why sinus surgery is recommended. Immediate Sinus Surgery Benefits A functional endoscopy of the sinuses allows a surgeon to examine the interior of nasal passages, enlarge passageways to enhance drainage and remove tissue that may be promoting sinusitis ..read more

If you suffer with sinus problems, chances are good you’ve struggled to find accurate answers to your questions about the cause of your sinus symptoms and which sinus treatment options work – or don’t. To help you get the answers you need, our team of compassionate, skilled medical experts here at Houston Advanced Nose & Sinus has put together this list of the most common myths about sinuses: 1) Aren’t sinus symptoms always caused by a sinus infection? One of the most common myths about sinuses is that any type of irritation, inflammation and/or nasal discharge must be caused by a sinus i ..read more