Skip to main navigation Skip to main content Skip to footer For Medicare For Providers For Brokers For Employers Español For Individuals & Families: For Individuals & Families Medical Dental Other Supplemental Explore coverage through work How to Buy Health Insurance Types of Dental Insurance Open Enrollment vs. Special Enrollment See all topics Shop for Medicare plans Member Guide Find a Doctor Log in to myCigna
Home Knowledge Center Wellness Library Ear, Nose, and Throat

Ear, Nose, and Throat

Learn about ear, nose, and throat health

When you have plugged ears, a runny nose, and a sore throat, you might just assume that you have a cold. But not all ear, nose, and throat symptoms are caused by the common cold. Checking up on your symptoms is important. What may seem harmless could turn into something more serious. Knowing what is causing your ear, nose, or throat symptoms can help you find the right treatment. Our topics can show you different health problems related to the ear, nose, and throat. Find the right treatment, or learn what you can do to care for yourself at home.

Find out more about your ear, nose, and throat symptoms in topics such as:

  • Sore Throat and Other Throat Problems.
  • Ear Infections.
  • Sinusitis.
  • Mononucleosis Tests.
  • Sleep Apnea: Should I Have a Sleep Study?
  • Allergies: Should I Take Allergy Shots?
Health Topics
  • Age-Related Hearing Loss
  • Allergic Rhinitis
  • Allergic Rhinitis: Common Triggers
  • Allergy Shots for Allergic Rhinitis
  • Anosmia
  • Bad or Changed Breath
  • Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo (BPPV)
  • Blocked Eustachian Tubes
  • Brandt-Daroff Exercise for Vertigo
  • Broken Nose (Nasal Fracture)
  • Cochlear Implants
  • Colds
  • Complications of Ear Infections
  • Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Therapy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  • Ear Canal Problems (Swimmer's Ear)
  • Ear Infections
  • Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 11 and Younger
  • Ear Problems and Injuries, Age 12 and Older
  • Ear Tube Surgery
  • Earwax
  • Endoscopic Surgery for Sinusitis
  • Environmental Illness
  • Epley and Semont Maneuvers for Vertigo
  • Esophagitis
  • Facial Injuries
  • Facial Problems, Noninjury
  • Harmful Noise Levels
  • Hay Fever and Other Seasonal Allergies
  • Hearing Aids
  • Hearing Loss
  • Home Ear Examination
  • Labyrinthitis
  • Laryngitis
  • Living With More Than One Health Problem
  • Medicines That Cause Hearing Loss
  • Ménière's Disease
  • Mitochondrial Diseases
  • Mononucleosis (Mono)
  • Motion Sickness
  • Neisseria Meningitidis
  • Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
  • Nonallergic Rhinitis
  • Nose Injuries
  • Nosebleeds
  • Objects in the Ear
  • Objects in the Nose
  • Oral Breathing Devices for Sleep Apnea and Snoring
  • Over-the-Counter Medicines for Allergies
  • Parotitis
  • Pregnancy: Nosebleeds and Bleeding Gums
  • Pressure Injuries From Scuba Diving
  • Radiofrequency Palatoplasty for Snoring
  • Repair of a Deviated Septum (Septoplasty)
  • Repair of Nasal Septal Perforation
  • Rhinoplasty
  • Ringing in the Ears (Tinnitus)
  • Rubber Bulbs
  • Saline Nasal Washes for Sinusitis
  • Scarlet Fever
  • Screening for Hearing Problems
  • Sinus Surgery for Sinusitis
  • Sinusitis
  • Sleep Apnea
  • Snoring
  • Snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  • Sore Throat and Other Throat Problems
  • Stopping a Nosebleed
  • Strep Throat
  • Swimmer's Ear (Otitis Externa)
  • Tonsillectomy
  • Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Snoring
  • Tonsillitis
  • Tracheostomy for Obstructive Sleep Apnea
  • Tracking Charts for Walking for Vertigo
  • Understanding Virtual Care (Telemedicine)
  • Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty
  • Vertigo: Staying Safe When You Have Balance Problems
  • Vertigo: Walking Exercises
  • Vestibular Neuritis
  • Voice Problems
Medical Tests
  • Bronchoscopy
  • Computed Tomography (CT) Scan of the Head and Face
  • Ear Examination
  • Electronystagmography (ENG)
  • Endoscopic Sinus Exam
  • Fiberoptic Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES)
  • Hearing Tests
  • Laryngoscopy
  • Mononucleosis Tests
  • Needle Puncture and Aspiration of Sinus Contents
  • Rapid Strep Test for Strep Throat
  • Salivary Gland Scan
  • Sleep Studies
  • Throat Culture
  • Tympanocentesis for Ear Infections
  • Tympanometry
  • X-Ray Swallowing Study
Make a Wise Decision
  • Allergies: Should I Take Allergy Shots?
  • Allergies: Should I Take Shots for Insect Sting Allergies?
  • Sinusitis: Should I Have Surgery?
  • Sleep Apnea: Should I Have a Sleep Study?
  • Sleep Apnea: Should I Have Surgery?
  • Tonsillitis: Should My Child Have a Tonsillectomy?
Take Action
  • Allergies: Avoiding Indoor Triggers
  • Allergies: Avoiding Outdoor Triggers
  • Cystic Fibrosis: Helping Your Child Cough Up Mucus
  • Vertigo: Balance Exercises

Current as of: September 27, 2023

Author: Ignite Healthwise, LLC Staff

Clinical Review Board
All Healthwise education is reviewed by a team that includes physicians, nurses, advanced practitioners, registered dieticians, and other healthcare professionals.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Ignite Healthwise, LLC, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.

© 2024 Ignite Healthwise, LLC. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Ignite Healthwise, LLC.

<cipublic-spinner variant="large"><span>Loading…</span></cipublic-spinner>

Page Footer

I want to...

Get an ID card File a claim View my claims and EOBs Check coverage under my plan See prescription drug list Find an in-network doctor, dentist, or facility Find a form Find 1095-B tax form information View the Cigna Glossary Contact Cigna

Audiences

Individuals and Families Medicare Employers Brokers Providers

Secure Member Sites

myCigna member portal Health Care Provider portal Cigna for Employers Client Resource Portal Cigna for Brokers

The Cigna Group Information

About Cigna Healthcare Company Profile Careers Newsroom Investors Suppliers The Cigna Group Third Party Administrators International Evernorth

 Cigna. All rights reserved.

Privacy Legal Product Disclosures Cigna Company Names Customer Rights Accessibility Non-Discrimination Notice Language Assistance [PDF] Report Fraud Sitemap Cookie Settings

Disclaimer

Individual and family medical and dental insurance plans are insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc., and Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Group health insurance and health benefit plans are insured or administered by CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC), or their affiliates (see a listing of the legal entities that insure or administer group HMO, dental HMO, and other products or services in your state). Accidental Injury, Critical Illness, and Hospital Care plans or insurance policies are distributed exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, are administered by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, and are insured by either (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT); (ii) Life Insurance Company of North America (“LINA”) (Philadelphia, PA); or (iii) New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (“NYLGICNY”) (New York, NY), formerly known as Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. The Cigna name, logo, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. LINA and NYLGICNY are not affiliates of Cigna.

All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations. For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna sales representative. This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico.

Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna.com to another website, which may be a non-Cigna website. Cigna may not control the content or links of non-Cigna websites. Details