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Category Archives: Head/Eyes/Ears/Nose/Throat

Straight, No Chaser: Let’s Discuss Hearing Loss

As I muse, I wonder why we don’t take better care of our eyes and ears. Those cotton swabs and other things we place in our ears really are reckless acts. Then there’s
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD May 9, 2017

Straight, No Chaser: About Cold Sores and Herpes

Some of you are consumed with fear. Maybe for some it’s stricken with guilt. In any event this topic is simply another example of not being adequately armed with the knowledge yo
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD May 5, 2017

From the Health Library of SterlingMedicalAdvice.com: “Why would my doctor tell me not to take a decongestant?”

As you struggle from allergies season, the lede is a reasonable question, here is its answer. Based on how ubiquitous cold and flu remedies are, you would think they were the safe
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD March 28, 2017

Straight, No Chaser: The Medical Issues You Encounter While Flying

This week’s Straight, No Chaser posts have focused on the dangers presents by blood clots. Flying long distances presents a specific risk for development of blood clots. Howe
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD February 8, 2017

Straight, No Chaser: Ruptured Eardrums

The manufacturers of Q-Tips used to run a commercial in which they said “Never place anything in your ear smaller than your elbow.”  I wonder why they stopped the comm
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD December 6, 2016

Straight, No Chaser: LASIK Surgery

So you’re 40-ish, and your eyes are starting to act up on you. Or perhaps you’re younger and/or too vain to wear glasses. Or you have a phobia about having anything in your eye
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD November 16, 2016

Straight, No Chaser: Important Things to Know About Your Contact Lenses

You’d likely be surprised to know how often patients are seen in emergency rooms for complications related to use of contact lenses. If you or a loved one are using contact l
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD November 15, 2016

Straight, No Chaser: Questions About Color Blindness

Have you ever found yourself at school, work or elsewhere and discovered that you were wearing different colored socks or pants that you’d thought? If so, you may be experiencing
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD November 14, 2016

Prevention and Treatment Considerations for Diabetic Eye Conditions

Several of you asked about the treatment of the eye conditions resulting from diabetes. This last Straight, No Chaser addressing Diabetes Awareness Month will focus on treatment
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD November 12, 2016

Straight, No Chaser: Diabetic Retinopathy and Other Eye Problems

As you likely know, diabetics have a large amount of blood glucose (sugar) circulating in their blood. The high level of glucose can cause damage to many cells, including your eyes
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD November 9, 2016

Straight, No Chaser: What To Do If Your Tooth Comes Out

There’s nothing pleasant about having a tooth fall out of your mouth (aka avulsed tooth, dislocated tooth). Whether from trauma (e.g. a punch or other facial injury, a fall) or d
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD October 13, 2016

Straight, No Chaser: Sensitive Teeth

What goes through your mind when your teeth hurt (other than whether or not all of that Valentine’s Day candy is worth it)? Is it fleeting or constant? Are you easily agitate
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD October 12, 2016

Straight, No Chaser: How’s Your Dental Hygiene?

If you ignore your teeth, they’ll go away. Working in an emergency department is interesting for many different reasons. One thing in particular I’ve noticed over the years is
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD October 11, 2016

Straight, No Chaser: Understanding and Appropriately Stopping Thumbsucking

At first glance, you may be wondering what’s so significant about thumb-sucking that we need to discuss it. And then, I show you these two pictures. In most instances, thumb-suck
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD August 1, 2016

Straight, No Chaser: When Your Jaw Pain Could Be a Heart Attack

Several Straight, No Chaser posts have addressed jaw pain. We’ve separately discussed jaw trauma and TMJ syndrome. Unfortunately, that’s not the most important story of ja
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD June 14, 2016

Straight, No Chaser: Reacting to Broken or Dislocated Jaws

Should you ever suffer the misfortune of getting hit or falling onto your jaw, would you know what to do? Trauma to the jaw is more dangerous than you might imagine. The risk for b
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD June 14, 2016

Straight, No Chaser: TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) Syndrome

TMJ. Those of you have TMJ syndrome are likely already shaking your head in understanding. Those of you who don’t, be thankful. Take the advice of those who do and read this post
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD June 13, 2016

Straight, No Chaser: Broken Noses (Nasal Fractures)

It’s curious how many patients with broken noses come into the emergency room smiling. Usually they’re kids whose parents “just want to be sure.” In these cases not mu
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD June 12, 2016

Straight, No Chaser: Bell’s Palsy

We’ve spent a few days focusing on stroke recognition, but today we focus on a condition that often gets confused with a stroke. Bell’s palsy is a paralysis of the facial n
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD May 19, 2016

Straight, No Chaser: Addressing Hearing Loss and the Use of Hearing Aids

Again joining the conversation is my friend and colleague Greg Keeney, audiologist and owner of Affordable Hearing Aids in Texas. Addressing hearing loss is a humbling experience i
By Jeffrey Sterling, MD May 11, 2016
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