Ashford Clinic Blog | Dr. Alex Ashford

08 May

What is Balloon Sinuplasty?

What is Balloon Sinuplasty?
Balloon Sinuplasty is a minimally invasive procedure that  gently opens sinus passages restoring air flow and providing immediate relief for pressure from the sinus passages. It is a short, in-office procedure (typically one hour) to dilate the inflamed passages and flush the infected sinus cavities. 

Most patients report that nasal breathing improves during the procedure and sinus and head pressure are immediately lessened. Because this is a minimally invasive procedure under light sedation, recovery is much shorter and less painful than traditional sinus surgeries. 
20 Apr

Updated Covid-19 Statement - April 20, 2020

Beginning Monday, April 20, Ashford Clinic will start seeing patients in need of ENT services during our normal office hours, Monday - Friday 8 am - 5 pm. Only one patient will be allowed in the building at a time to ensure the safety of our patients and staff. We kindly ask that patients who are experiencing symptoms of Covid-19 (Coronavirus) or have been near someone with Covid-19 to refrain from coming into our offices. For questions or to schedule an appointment, please contact us at 706-248-6860.

15 Jul

What's Causing My Sinus Headaches?

Sinus headaches are awful. Those who have them regularly know that they can ruin your day and bring your productivity to a grinding halt. Often mistaken for migraines, sinus headaches are more often associated with sinus infections, facial pain, discolored mucus, and even fever. So, what causes them, and what can be done to treat them? Let's find out.
28 Oct

Air Travel and Sinus Infections

If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s safe to fly with a sinus infection, you’re not alone. While sinus infections are painful enough on their own, changes in air pressure can make sinus pressure even more uncomfortable. While this can make the infection worse if you’re not careful, there are steps that you can take to avoid changing or canceling your travel plans.
04 Nov

Is Balloon Sinuplasty Right for You?

You’ve probably heard us mention Balloon Sinuplasty more than once, but why should YOU consider it? Well, let’s go over what it is, how it works, and what the benefits are. It has helped many of our patients with sinus issues that they've struggled with for years. So, if you have sinus infections that keep coming back, this may be an option for you.
23 Dec

Do I Have Chronic Sinus Infections?

Anyone can suffer from sinus infections from time to time, and it really doesn’t matter whether you’re generally healthy, young, old, or avoid travel. At some point, something will probably trigger a sinus infection at least once in your lifetime. For those who experience sinus infections regularly, how do you determine whether or not you are suffering from chronic sinus infections?
27 Jan

Are Sinus Infections Contagious?

You wake up with a headache, sinus pressure, coughing, a sore throat, and you’re exhausted. Is it a sinus infection? Maybe you have an important appointment, but are you contagious? These are all questions likely going through your mind as you try to determine the best course of action so you can get better and keep those around you from getting sick.
03 Feb

Can Sudden Weather Changes impact Your Sinuses?

Does it seem like you experience sinus pain when the weather changes? Sudden changes can trigger chronic nasal congestion, sinus infections, headaches, and intense seasonal allergies. This is not uncommon, but there are things that you can do to find relief. Let's take a look at what causes these symptoms and what you can do to counteract them.
10 Feb

What's the Difference Between a Sinus Infection and Chronic Sinus Infections?

Sinus infections can come and go for anyone, regardless of age, activity, or lifestyle. They can be triggered by things like stress, allergies, changes in humidity, or flying. These are just a few common examples of triggers. Generally, a sinus infection can be treated with over-the-counter medication, or your doctor can prescribe medications such as antibiotics if needed. Chronic sinus infections, or chronic sinusitis, is a bit different and can often require minimally-invasive surgical treatment. So what is the difference between a sinus infection and chronic sinusitis?
17 Feb

How To Deal With Sinus Symptoms Caused by Pet Allergies

For many of us, pets are family members. They bring joy, companionship, and comfort to our lives, so why wouldn’t we want to keep them inside where it’s comfortable? Sometimes though, their presence can trigger allergies leading to sinus issues. If you suspect that your precious pet is causing your sinus symptoms, there are steps you can take to create a better situation for everyone involved.
04 Mar

Is it a Sinus Headache or a Migraine?

Have you ever experienced what you thought was a sinus headache, but with no congestion whatsoever? If you have, then there’s a good chance that what you actually were experiencing was a migraine. Migraines vary between individuals, and there is still a great deal that we still don’t know about what actually causes them. The commonly accepted theory is that they are caused by neurological issues in the brain. Still, many migraine symptoms are similar if not the same as other types of headaches. This of course makes them more difficult to correctly identify.
10 Mar

Benefits of Balloon Sinuplasty

Sinus infections that keep happening, medications that cause drowsiness, fatigue, or don’t seem to work when you need them to, and the agonizing discomfort of sinus pressure. There are times when traditional treatments just don’t work for everyone the way that they’d like, and even medications can be disruptive to everyday life. There is an effective alternative, though.
17 Mar

Why Does the Bridge of My Nose Hurt?

There are a number of reasons for areas of your face to hurt, and some are fairly common. When the bridge of your nose starts to hurt though, focusing can be difficult and you might not know what to reach for. Of the various reasons for the bridge of your nose to be in pain, the most simple cause is ill-fitting glasses. If you can’t adjust them yourself, then an optician certainly can. If your glasses aren’t the cause, then here are some other potential causes.
14 Apr

Nasal Swelling: What is it and Why does it happen?

Nasal swelling is a symptom that happens as a result of a whole range of illnesses, but have you ever wondered why it actually happens? Not just the symptom itself, but also the actual cause behind it. It’s fairly uncommon that nasal swelling ISN’T a symptom of some other illness. Typically, a patient will ask what they’re suffering from and list nasal swelling as a symptom instead of the actual illness. Still, the swelling itself can make the other symptoms (or even the illness itself) worse.
12 May

When Should You See a Doctor about a Sinus Infection?

If you’ve ever wondered whether you should wait out a sinus infection or see your doctor, you’re not alone. It’s certainly tempting to skip the office visit when you feel terrible and don’t think that you’ll be told to do more than get some rest and take an over-the-counter medication. There are times when skipping that visit to the doctor can actually make things worse.
16 Jun

Do I have Allergies, a Sinus Infection, or a Summer Cold?

It could be a stuffy feeling, congestion, or even a sneeze that triggers that first question... “Am I sick, or are these allergies?” It’s certainly not unreasonable to wonder - so many symptoms can overlap when it comes to allergies and illnesses. How can you tell these conditions apart? Most of the time, you can probably go through your symptoms and rule out one or the other.
30 Jun

Swimmer's Ear 101

Swimmer’s ear is typically caused by water that sits in your ear after swimming - hence the name “swimmer’s ear”. This wet, warm environment is the perfect place for bacteria to thrive and multiply, causing an infection. It should be noted though that this same type of infection can occur if the thin layer of skin lining the ear canal is damaged from putting things into the ear canal. This could be a finger or other foreign object such as a cotton swab.
01 Sep

What Kind of Cough Do I Have?

At times, it might feel like a cough is a cause for alarm. Coughing is one of your body’s ways of clearing irritants, so a cough could just mean that you inhaled some dust or other irritant. It’s a defensive reflex after all! Coughing can also be a symptom of illness or allergies, so it’s helpful to recognize when the cough is just a cough and when it’s an indicator of something else.
29 Sep

What Does Balloon Sinuplasty Help With?

As it’s a fairly new procedure compared to other medical procedures, you might not be all that familiar with Balloon Sinuplasty. Or it could be that the thought of the word “balloon” and your sinuses just sounds strange or even painful. In reality, Balloon Sinuplasty is an incredibly safe, non-surgical, and effective procedure that brings relief to many patients.
13 Oct

“Why does my Face Hurt?” A Guide to Facial Sinus Pain

Pain from sinus pressure doesn’t always present itself in the sinuses alone - the pain and discomfort can also appear in the areas of the face surrounding the sinuses. So, if you are experiencing pressure or an aching feeling in your brow, cheeks, or forehead, it’s likely that you’re experiencing a sinus headache. The pain is usually worse if you’re leaning forward, as that puts more pressure on your sinuses. You might even feel pain in your teeth - this is because of the proximity of your jaw to your sinus cavities.
11 Nov

Sinus Headache Help

Sinus headaches are no fun. When your sinuses become blocked, one of the uncomfortable side effects is a sinus headache. The pressure is usually felt around your eyes, between your eyes, and above your nose. To get rid of a sinus headache, you’ll need to address whatever is causing the blockage in your sinuses, and that could require a trip to see your ENT. In the meantime though, there are ways that you can treat the pain and soothe those painful sinuses.
26 Nov

We're Thankful for You! Our Commitment to Our Patients

The holiday season is a time to reflect on the many joys and blessings in our lives, whether they are a smile from a friendly face or the generosity of a dear loved one. At the Ashford Clinic, we are so thankful to have such wonderful patients, and we want to provide each and every one of you with the highest level of care possible.
16 Dec

Sinus Ear Pressure Tips

Pain from sinus pressure is bad enough when it affects your eyes, cheekbones, nose, and forehead. When that pressure is also causing pain in your eyes, you just want it gone, and fast. When it comes to ear pain from sinus pressure, the trick to pain relief is generally the same as treating other forms of sinus pressure. This is because the pain itself is due to how close your ears are located to your sinuses. Here are some ways that you can treat and relieve that sinus ear pain.
06 Jan

New Year, New You - Get to the bottom of your sinus issues in 2022

Sinus issues mean a LOT of different things. We know this. And it can seem easier to brush them off if you think that the only long-term solution involves painful, invasive surgery and a long recovery time. That’s not usually the case though. In the vast majority of cases, sinus issues are due to inflammation and congestion in the sinus cavities. So if you can find out why you’re congested in the first place, you can begin to address the underlying issue.
View More