Lend this your ear: Food choices, lifestyle and allergens can lead to ENT ailments

Dubai: Excessive use of mobile phones is a significant cause of the rise in ear-related health problems, experts say.

Dust allergens and a sedentary lifestyle are also leading to a rise in ear, nose and throat (ENT) ailments among UAE residents, warn ENT specialists. This can have long-term health impacts, they said.

“Patients are frequently complaining of airborne allergies that cause allergic rhinitis, snoring and sleep apnoea, acid reflux and complicated ear problems. The last ailment is often caused due to overt use of the mobile phone and constantly holding the device to one ear. This action rubs against the salivary and parotid glands near the cheek, causing irritation and inflammation,” said Dr Vikas Nehru, ENT specialist and surgeon, head and neck surgeries, Deira City Centre Clinic.

Dr Murtaza Najmi, specialist ENT surgeon at the iCare Clinics, Dubai, seconds this opinion. “Today, nearly 50 per cent of ENT patients who come to my clinic suffer from allergic rhinitis and blocked nose.”

Cellphone-triggered conditions such as cluster headaches and burning sensation around the ears are caused due to the constant rubbing of the mobile phone on one side of the face. Although this can happen due to exposure to any radio frequency (RF) emitting gadgets such as laptops, computers and video games, it is usually mobiles held close to the ear that irritate the soft cartilage and skin around the ear, studies have indicated.

Dr Nehru said he has many anecdotal references of patients complaining of burning pain in the ear, followed by migraines that could be traced back to long-term use of mobile phones.

“I have patients complain of a weird sensation around their ears, like an intense burning the moment the mobile is put to the ear. In many cases, a numbing of that area, headaches, disorientation, mood changes, irritability and inner ear imbalance are also experienced.”

If the damage resulting from exposure to radio-frequency electromagnetic waves has exceeded a critical limit, the consequences may be inescapable. said Dr Nehru.

“Patients need to realise that proximity to radiation-emitting gadgets is a problem. A minimum distance of 4 inches will help radio frequency fall well below critical levels. Use of earphones or a speakerphone would be ideal. Currently, there is a better alternative to earphones called Air Tube which does away with the risk of exposure altogether. Duration of time spent using such devices should be reduced,” Dr Nehru said.